Alliance for Albanians: Government anniversary spot erases Albanians and the Albanian language

The Alliance for Albanians has voiced strong concern about a government promotional video issued for the 35th anniversary of the country's independence, saying that Albanians are almost entirely excluded and the Albanian language is completely absent.

Party demands withdrawal and replacement

The Alliance called the omission unacceptable, arguing that an official piece financed in part by the taxes of Albanian citizens should not be built on a mono‑ethnic narrative that gives the impression the state belongs to a single community.

In its statement the party stressed that Albanians have been an inseparable part of the country’s most important political and social processes — from the period of independence, through the building of democratic institutions, NATO integration, and the path toward the European Union. It added that their contribution to political, economic, educational, cultural and social life is indisputable and cannot be ignored or erased from the official narrative.

The Alliance demanded that the Government withdraw the video and publish a new, dignified, representative and inclusive piece that respects the Albanian language and appropriately portrays the contribution of Albanians to the country’s history, construction and present.

It also expressed regret over the silence of Albanian representatives within the Government, noting that even when the dignity, identity and representation of Albanians are directly affected those representatives choose to remain silent.

The statement concluded with a reminder that the state belongs to all its citizens and that state symbolism should affirm that fact.

Photo: press material from the event