Nothing can stand above the freedoms and rights of Albanians wherever they may be Two days earlier, the ambassador of the Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia in Tirana, Mr. Faton Abdullai, explained a protest note to the Albanian Ministry of Foreign Affairs, saying that the protest addressed to and in front of Balkan countries regarding the deepening of the rights and freedoms of Albanians in Macedonia is “an unnecessary, unacceptable and harmful move.” In this spirit, the foreign minister, Tomisllav Nikolliq, also stated that regarding Albanians’ interest in their rights, he had made clear that this is an internal matter of Macedonia and that there is no place for outside interference. In fact, in this issue concerning Albanians in Macedonia, it belongs to the Albanian state to maintain comprehensive relations with Macedonians and Albanians in Macedonia. But while the boundaries of various relations between the two independent societies, on an international basis and on the basis of their rights in their own state, are not very difficult to define, the rights of Albanians with Macedonians continue to be rejected to a certain extent. Skopje has no claims to break away from the common society, and has accepted on behalf of its own state, as an integral part of a unitary state, the affiliation of Albanians and their relations in Macedonia. The new state of Macedonia does not have an extraordinary relationship regarding the Albanians living there, but there is also a why? If someone here has time to give advice, they should strongly draw attention to the relations the Albanian government has, rather than to the demands of the Macedonian state regarding Albanians, acting at these moments and not tolerating that any right concerning them remain unclear. This is our state’s right, and it is a right that must be indisputable and clear. Skopje, or if it expresses itself honestly, its position toward all the rights of Albanians in Macedonia, in this clear part, must lead to respect for all the rights of Albanians as a national minority, granting equal chances and full and equal rights in all fields, according to international standards. This certainly has nothing to do with the internal affairs of Macedonia, but with a just and proper international relationship between two states and two peoples, which is also the main issue of peace and stability in the Balkans. Often reality and the short-term situation do not matter to them, but they lead to a larger agreement and also to a wider path for the rights of Albanians, which should be discussed and advanced, through the government of Macedonia, to even higher standards. As the saying goes, Albanians in Macedonia should see their rights as part of the state, giving them a greater opportunity to defend their rights. In the past, on one hand and on the other, from the Albanian parliament, they also have rights, namely: to live in a fair and equal way, to use their language, to develop education and culture, and to preserve their national identity. If this problem is viewed as a matter of defending Albanian rights, it should not be used for political purposes or to incite tensions between states. Relations between Albania and Macedonia should be based on mutual respect, dialogue, and European human-rights standards. Any other approach would further damage the climate of understanding in the region. More than 1,000 students with their families in Tirana and other cities are involved in a movement of demands for the recognition of the educational and cultural rights of Albanians in Macedonia.