Andoni: Self-Determination exacerbates conflicts among Albanians in North Macedonia

Albanian journalist and analyst Ben Andoni stated that Kosovo Prime Minister Albin Kurti's decision to have the Self-Determination Movement participate in the elections in North Macedonia was a move to divert attention from internal issues in Kosovo, and he emphasized that the influence of this party would only increase conflicts and intensify the positions of the Albanian factor in North Macedonia.

Andoni points out that Kurti announced the expansion of Self-Determination to North Macedonia during his visit to Tetovo in August of last year.

"The expansion of the Self-Determination movement into North Macedonia more or less shows the intention Mr. Kurti expressed during his visit in August 2023 when he announced the unification of Self-Determination with three parties of the Macedonian opposition. However, this has created even more problems within the internal factors in North Macedonia," Andoni said to Kosovo Online.

He reminds that the Prime Minister of North Macedonia, Dimitrij Kovacevski, initially sought clarification on whether the Electoral Law allows the procedure for the participation of Self-Determination in his country.

The expansion of Self-Determination, Andoni added, has created a significant problem regarding the protagonism of Albanian political leaders in North Macedonia.

"I believe that Mr. Kurti's and the Self-Determination Movement's entry into North Macedonia will increase internal conflicts within the Albanian factor. I believe that these actions are, in a way, working to divert attention from internal issues in Kosovo, and on the other hand, they show Mr. Kurti's growing desire for leadership over the entire Albanian factor in the Balkans," he assessed.

He recalled that Self-Determination had tried to participate in the electoral process in Albania a few years ago, but the result had been disappointing.

"This happened in Albania a few years ago during the electoral process, but the result was extremely poor. At that time, Self-Determination claimed to influence voting, but the result was so disappointing and did not create any impression that such types of manipulations could be made. The arrival and competition of Self-Determination with Albanian political entities were received exceptionally poorly in Albania," Andoni said.