Official of the Democratic Alliance, Nikola Camaj, called on the Montenegrin Prime Minister to start fulfilling his promises to the Albanians after his return from the USA. At the diaspora gathering in Washington, he said that Albanians have done a lot to promote Montenegro in the USA, but that the government is still ignoring the demands of that minority for greater rights and a full-fledged Tuzi municipality.
"When it was necessary to open the door in Washington, the Albanians did it. It was a common interest and then we supported you because we thought that we would live better in Montenegro. It is not better for us. Learn something from this visit and return to Montenegro and tell the Albanians that you will give them what you promised, what the Constitution guarantees us and the gentlemen from this democratic country say," Camaj said in front of the Montenegrin embassy building in Washington.
He said that the citizens of Malaysia cannot accept a municipality that will not be like Petnjica and Gusinje, which gained independence even though they have fewer inhabitants than GO Tuzi. He said that all other solutions are humiliating the Albanians in Montenegro and cheating on decades of promises. "I invite you to learn something from American democracy, as the Albanians have learned. To welcome you as they welcomed us".
Demonstrators also gathered in front of the White House yesterday, carrying Albanian and US flags and occasionally chanting to the Kosovo Liberation Army. Protesters carried banners "Block Montenegro from joining NATO", "Djukanovic is the last European dictator", "It's time to fulfill your promise to Albanians", "Albanians are not second-class citizens"...
According to them, the protest was organized "against the discriminatory policy pursued by Montenegro against indigenous Albanians", reports the portal MalësiaJonë.com.
A protest by Albanians was also held earlier today in Plav.
The leader of the Self-Determination movement, Albin Kurti, supported the Albanian protests in Plav, saying that he is ready to support the efforts of his compatriots in Montenegro. Commenting on the protests in Plav, he said on his Facebook account that he was pleased by the decision of the Albanian youth in Plav to raise their voices in defense of national rights.
Protest in front of the White House, Photo: malesiajone.com
"I congratulate and encourage you to be as vocal as possible in your activities and justified demands. We will be pleased to provide you with any help we can provide from here. I wish you health and success and do not forget that all Albanians are with you if you sincerely fight for your the people," stated Kurti's message.
Protests in front of the Plava municipality building were organized today by the Union of Albanian Students demanding the improvement of the position of Albanians in Montenegro. The participants of the demonstrations carried the flags of the EU, Albania and Kosovo, as well as banners that read "Stop anti-Albanian politics in Montenegro", "There is no EU without us", "Djukanović, Albanians are not second-class citizens", "This is not the way to go in Europe", "We are few but we are not cattle", "Albania, Kosovo, we are your children".
The President of the Union of Students, Mem Baljidemaj, said that Albanians do not enjoy the same rights as other citizens of Montenegro, stating that the state usurped Albanians' lands, banned the use of national symbols and the formation of a full-fledged municipality in Tuza. He said that the state does not want to rehabilitate the landfill in the village of Martinaj, whose inhabitants are Albanians, while the borders of the Prokletije National Park make it impossible for the local population to engage in agriculture and animal husbandry on their properties. Baljidemaj said that the representatives of the Albanian associations will turn to international institutions if the government continues to ignore their demands.
Protest in blue, Photo: Alex Selimaj
"If the state remains deaf to our requests, we will demand help from Albania and Kosovo. We will ask the EU to condition Montenegro to respect the rights of minorities as required by European declarations," he said.
Baljidemaj said that the students will continue organizing protests, warning that Albanians in Montenegro are increasingly losing their patience. He also called on Albanian politicians to put aside their mutual differences when it comes to national interests.
Unlike the protests organized on Sunday in Tuzi, which were supported by the Democratic Forum of Albanians and the Malaysian branch of the Democratic Union, the demonstrations in Plav were supported by the Democratic Alliance and the Plav branch of the Democratic Union of Albanians.
Gallery
Bonus video:
