
The Speaker of the Albanian Assembly, Elisa Spiropali, has reacted harshly to the wild anti-Albanian calls that were made in Kumanovo, during the Basketball match between North Macedonia and Romania.
Elisa Spiropal's reaction:
"Yesterday's event in Kumanovo, where a basketball match was tainted by extremely offensive and exclusionary calls against Albanians, is unacceptable and a reminder that the path to a just, inclusive and mutually respectful society requires uninterrupted commitment.
Hate speech that incites violence, ethnic conflict and racism has no place in any public space, much less in sports, which at its core carries the spirit of unity, cooperation, fair play and respect for the other.
I appreciate the reaction of the institutions of the Republic of North Macedonia, while at the same time asking for an even stronger public reaction of the highest officials of the friendly country.
Inter-ethnic coexistence in North Macedonia is a common value on the European path, which must be preserved and responsibly cultivated by all factors in the region, through action, attitudes and example.
The correct behavior in the fields, in the stands and in the institutions speaks a lot about our vision for the future.
Albania and Albanians remain steadfast in promoting a model coexistence and away from the fashionable and dying divisions".
According to the Albanian media in the Republic of North Macedonia, which published the footage, in the calls of the fans can be heard saying: "Let the damned Albanians understand, the Macedonian name will not disappear, Macedonia pure, pure, pure".
The choirs continued despite the presence in the hall of Prime Minister Hristijan Mickoski, Kumanovo Mayor Maksim Dimitrievski, Foreign Minister Pancho Toshkovski, Deputy Prime Minister Ivan Stoilkovic and other senior state officials. This was not the only provocative moment during the match.
Throughout its development, other scandalous and inciting calls of ethnic hatred were heard, such as the infamous slogan "The good Albanian is the dead Albanian", as well as "Gas chambers for Albanians", commemorating the darkest rhetoric in European history.
After the end of the match, there was no official reaction, public distancing or apology from the organizers or institutional representatives for the incident.
The First Deputy Prime Minister of North Macedonia, Izet Mexhiti, reacted harshly to these calls.
"I strongly condemn the racist and anti-Albanian chants heard during the basketball game. Offensive words and songs that incite hatred have no place in our state and society," Mexhiti wrote in his public reaction.
He added that these actions constitute a direct attack on coexistence and equality which, according to him, make North Macedonia a unique state.