The Minister of Public Administration in Montenegro, Albanian Marash Dukaj, has reacted after the incident reported on Friday evening, where a convoy with representatives of the Albanian diaspora was stopped by Montenegrin authorities near Nikšić, while traveling towards Albania.
According to reports published on social media, authorities have asked passengers to remove Albanian symbols and flags placed on the exteriors of vehicles.
In his reaction through a post on the social network “X”, Dukaj opposes treating the Albanian flag as a problem or threat and demands that the law be applied equally to all citizens.
He emphasizes that the Albanian flag is a symbol of national identity and that respecting it is part of a democratic society.
Full reaction of Minister Marash Dukaj:
“The Albanian flag is not a threat, the law should be the same for everyone.”
Montenegro, as a democratic and European state, should have the same standards for everyone. The law should be the same for everyone.
It is not good that the double standards towards the Albanian flag by the Montenegrin Police continue.
There is no need to be afraid of Albanian flags. On the contrary, citizens who hold them should be respected.
We have witnessed interference during the summer because of the Albanian flag at weddings and parties, while last night the interference was against the Albanian diaspora at the border with Bosnia and Herzegovina. They have passed through all of Europe and only our police, that is, the Montenegrin Police, have been hindered by the Albanian flag!
Instead of such efforts, I call for a discussion about better rules and continued respect for what belongs to all peoples in Montenegro.
Only in this way can Montenegro move forward on the path to Europe.
The Albanian flag is not a threat to anyone. It is a symbol of identity, freedom and historical continuity of millions of Albanians – from Skanderbeg to the present day. It has existed for more than five centuries and no pressure will remove it.
I would like to remind the public that the placement of the Albanian flag in Montenegro is in accordance with the law and that the National Council of Albanians handed over the national symbols to the Speaker of the Parliament in 2021, more precisely on January 28, 2021.
The Speaker of the Parliament, Aleksa Bečić, was presented with the emblem and flag standards, as well as the score of the anthem of Albanians in Montenegro. The delegation consisted of Faik Nika, Lindon Gjelaj and Genci Nimanbegu. /Top Channel