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The third day of the 29th Seminar of the Working Group of Slavic Minorities in Europe, organized by FUEN and the Macedonian Association “Ilinden”-Tirana

The third day of the 29th Seminar of the Working Group of Slavic Minorities in Europe was dedicated to getting to know the cultural, religious and historical heritage of Tirana.

The participants first visited the National Museum of State Security and Interception “House of Leaves”, where they were introduced to an important part of the recent history of Albania.

Then they visited the Orthodox Cathedral “Resurrection of Christ” in Tirana and met with His Beatitude, Joan, Archbishop of Tirana, Durres and All Albania. During the visit, the participants also venerated the relics of Saint John Vladimir.

The program continued with a visit to the Pyramid in Tirana, today a renowned cultural and technological center, which in the past was the mausoleum of Enver Hoxha.

As part of the seminar activities, a thematic walk through the capital of Albania was organized under the title “Traces of Minorities in Tirana”, through which the participants had the opportunity to become better acquainted with the historical presence and contribution of various minority communities in the city.

Music group ‘Bajrami’ from Oreshek, Gora region, performed at the gala dinner marking the 30th anniversary of the Working Group of Slavic Minorities (AGSM) in Tirana

Within the framework of the 29th Seminar of the Working Group of Slavic Minorities in Europe, organized by the Federal Union of European Nationalities in cooperation with the Macedonian Association “Ilinden”-Tirana.

A special moment was the gala dinner on the occasion of the 30th anniversary of the existence of the Working Group of Slavic Minorities (AGSM), where this important anniversary was marked in a solemn atmosphere.

To further enrich the program, the Macedonian musical group “Bajrami” from the village of Oreshek, Gora area, performed.

With the interpretation of traditional songs and authentic musical motifs from the Gora area, they brought special emotion and pride, worthily representing the culture and tradition of the area.

The event was another confirmation of the importance of cultural diplomacy and joint action towards the preservation and affirmation of the national and cultural identity of Slavic minorities in Europe.

The President of the Macedonian Association “Ilinden”-Tirana, Nikolla Gjurgjaj, presented the “Ilinden” Award to Dr. Hartmut Leipner, President of AGSM and Vice President of FUEN

The President of the Macedonian Association “Ilinden”-Tirana, Nikolla Gjurgjaj, within the framework of the 29th Seminar of the Working Group of Slavic Minorities in Europe, organized by the Federal Union of European Nationalities (FUEN) in cooperation with the association, presented the “Ilinden” Award to Dr. Hartmut Leipner, President of the Working Group of Slavic Minorities (AGSM) and Vice President of FUEN, and Matic Germovšek Žnidaršić, Coordinator of the Working Group of Slavic Minorities (AGSM) at FUEN.

The “Ilinden” Award for 2026 was awarded to the Slavic Minority Working Group (AGSM) at FUEN, for a special contribution to the Macedonian national minority in the Republic of Albania and for the support of the Macedonian Association “Ilinden”-Tirana.

“It was a great honor for me, on behalf of the Macedonian society and national minority in the Republic of Albania, to personally present the honorary award to the respected Dr. Hartmut Leipner”, said Nikolla Gjurgjaj.

The 29th Seminar of the Working Group of Slavic Minorities in Europe, organized by FUEN in cooperation with the Macedonian Association “Ilinden”-Tirana, began in Tirana

The 29th Seminar of the Working Group of Slavic Minorities in Europe, organized by the Federal Union of European Nationalities (FUEN) in cooperation with the Macedonian Association “Ilinden”-Tirana, began in Tirana

The Macedonian Association “Ilinden”-Tirana, for the first time in Tirana, is the organizer of the 29th Seminar of the Working Group of Slavic Minorities in Europe with participants from 20 organizations with 40 representatives. It is a special honor to host friends and collaborators from 11 countries: Albania, Germany, Austria, Slovenia, Croatia, Estonia, Ukraine, Hungary, Serbia, Italy and Slovakia.

The opening ceremony was addressed by Nikolla Gjurgjaj, President of the Macedonian Association “Ilinden”-Tirana, and Dr. Hartmut Leipner, President of the Working Group on Slavic Minorities (AGSM) and Vice-President of the Federal Union of European Nationalities (FUEN).

The work then continued with a thematic panel presentation “The Position of the Macedonian National Minority in the Republic of Albania” and an exhibition on the topic “Education in the Macedonian Mother Tongue in the Republic of Albania”.

This year’s seminar focuses on the situation of the Macedonian National Minority in the Republic of Albania, and is being held from today until June 7 in Tirana, Republic of Albania.

The seminar is attended by Dr. Hartmut Leipner, Chairman of the Working Group on Slavic Minorities (AGSM) and Vice-Chairman of the Federal Union of European Nationalities (FUEN), Ms. Genta Tafa (Bungo), Commissioner for Protection from Discrimination of the Republic of Albania, Ms. Etleva Budini, Member of the Parliament of Albania for the Durres District, Mr. Nezir Mecha, Vice President of the Macedonian Society “Ilinden”-Tirana, M.A. Estela Karameshinska, Secretary of the Macedonian Association “Ilinden”-Tirana, Mr. Atanas Ploça, Deputy Mayor of the Municipality of Pustec, Prof. Dr. Kimet Fetahu, Honorary President of the Alliance of Macedonians for European Integration, Endrit Fetahu, Vice-President of the Alliance of Macedonians for European Integration, Dejan Çulafiq, lecturer at the “Luigj Gurakuci” University in Shkodër, Ms. Entela Bignaku, Director of “Harriet Martino”, from the Vlach minority in Albania, Ervin Nikolla, Journalist, representative of the Macedonian minority in Albania.

The Macedonian Association “Ilinden”-Tirana is a member of the Federal Union of European Nationalities (FUEN) and the Working Group of Slavic Minorities (AGSM) since May 16, 2015.