TIRANA – The SDSM and DUI have reached an agreement on the ruling coalition in North Macedonia which was confirmed by the leaders of the two parties after intensive talks.
Mr. Zoran Zaev of SDSM, which gained the majority in the last parliamentary elections, was quoted as saying after the deal in a joint statement with Mr. Ali Ahmeti on Tuesday that he will be the next prime minister for 4 years while DUI’S leader added he will be the Albanian prime minister in the last 100 days of the coalition government.
Mr. Ahmeti stressed that this achievement was expected by international partners and all citizens.
This will be the first time that an Albanian will be the Prime Minister of North Macedonia, as the other details of the agreement are not known. It is rumored in the Macedonian media quoted by Balkan web that during Zaev’s tenure as Prime Minister, DUI will have a Deputy Prime Minister and the Ministry of Interior.
Albania greeted the deal with PM Edi Rama saying in a note on social networks on Tuesday that it was a significant day for Albanians. He extended special congratulations to Mr. Ali Ahmeti, who has done so much through the wisdom of his leadership over the years.
Below is Rama’s full message: “A significant day for the Albanians of North Macedonia, who, thanks to the agreement with the election winner, Zoran Zaev, gain a new weight in the political life of the neighboring country. Congratulations to everyone, especially to Ali Ahmeti, who has done so much through the wisdom of his leadership over the years.”
In the meantime the alternate Foreign Minister, Gent Cakaj, had a telephone conversation with the Secretary General of the DUI in North Macedonia, Artan Grubi, immediately after the end of the negotiations with their coalition partner, SDSM.
“I have expressed my sincerest congratulations on the historic agreement that will enable for the first time an Albanian Prime Minister in North Macedonia, even if only for 100 days as a start,” Cakaj said in a reaction on Facebook distributed by Ministry’s press office.
He also stressed that apart from the fact that the Speaker of the Assembly will continue to be an Albanian, it remains a historic achievement that the diplomacy of North Macedonia will be led by an Albanian. According to Cakaj, Tuesday’s agreement opens an unprecedented horizon for the strengthening of Albanians and the development of democracy in North Macedonia.
“Congratulations to all Albanians and special thanks to Mr. Ali Ahmeti and Mr. Artan Grubi for the valuable work they have done in terms of strengthening the Albanian factor, democracy and internal development and Euro-Atlantic processes in North Macedonia,” said alternate FM Cakaj.
He assured that the excellent bilateral cooperation and joint work of Albania with North Macedonia will continue within NATO and towards the path of membership in the European Union. /argumentum.al
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