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The President of the Macedonian Association “Ilinden”-Tirana, Nikolla Gjurgjaj, met with representatives of FUEN

Nikolla Gjurgjaj, President of the Macedonian Association “Ilinden”-Tirana, participated in the 70th Congress of the Federal Union of European Nationalities (FUEN), held from September 17 to 20, 2026, in Helsinki, Finland.

The Congress was attended by approximately 200 delegates from 40 countries, representing around 100 member organizations of the Federal Union of European Nationalities. During the event, views were exchanged regarding current developments and challenges concerning policies on national minorities in Europe.

The Macedonian Association “Ilinden”-Tirana has been a full member of FUEN for eleven years and regularly participates in the organization’s congresses, meetings, and other activities.

During the Congress, Nikolla Gjurgjaj held several meetings with representatives of European organizations and national minorities, exchanging views on current issues of interest to minority communities.

The President of the Macedonian Association “Ilinden”-Tirana, Nikolla Gjurgjaj, met with:

Ms. Olivia Schubert, President of the Federal Union of European Nationalities

Mr. Hartmunt Lipner, Chair of the Working Group on Slavic Minorities and Vice-President of the Federal Union of European Nationalities

Mr. Nabi Ibraimtzik, Deputy President of the Federal Union of European Nationalities

Z. Frank de Boer, Vice President of the European Literary Alliance (EFA)

Josef Buranic, President of the Croatian Cultural Association in Gradishke, and Mr. Martin Kerstinger, Secretary General of the Croatian Cultural Association in Gradishke, Burgenland, Austria

Ms. Tanja Novotny Golubić, Deputy Prefect of Bjelovar-Bilogora County, representing the Czech national minority

Ms. Natalija Ermakov, President of the Estonian Union of National Minorities in Tallinn, Estonia

Mr. Hartmunt Lipner, President of the Working Group on Slavic Minorities and Vice-President of the Federal Union of European Nationalities, and Mr. Eugen Ban, Operational Secretary of the Association of Slovenian Sports Clubs in Italy

The meetings provided an opportunity to continue cooperation with partner organizations and to exchange experiences regarding the status, rights, and activities of national minorities in Europe.

The participation of the Macedonian Association “Ilinden”-Tirana in the 70th FUEN Congress in Helsinki represents a continuation of its active involvement in the work of the European organization and in international activities dedicated to national minorities.