As part of the organization for the signing of the Ohrid Framework Agreement, the University of Tetova, today organized a panel discussion on topic “20 years beyond Ohrid”. In this panel their views on this topic were shown by the First Deputy Prime Minister of the Government of North Macedonia, Mr. Artan Grubi, Prof. Dr. David Phillips from Columbia University, Prof. Dr. Arsim Bajrami from the University of Prishtina, Vice-Rector for International Relations of the University of Tetova, Prof. Dr. Shefik Shehu, Dean of the Faculty of Philosophy Prof. Dr. Ibish Kadriu and the professor of our University Doc. Dr. Sheruze Osmani Ballazhi.
First Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Political System and Inter-Community Relations, Mr. Artan Grubi, in his speech was focused on the challenging journey of legalization of the University of Tetova, the two-decade resistance and the many sacrifices for the realization of this national dream. According to him, the University of Tetova is a healthy and sustainable fruit, valuable of the Ohrid Agreement but with even earlier foundations, remembering the sacrifice of Abdulselam Emini and many education activists to establish the university. “From today’s perspective, when we are talking about the great common achievements as a result of the Ohrid Framework Agreement, the two-decade resistance against the fundamental rights to language, education, culture, identity, equality seems meaningless.”We are marking the 20th anniversary of the Ohrid Framework Agreement, dear friends, and we are rejoicing together for the achievements from which the country and the citizens benefited, andmost importantly, no one lost”, said, Mr. Artan Grubi. In addition, he informed and expressed his satisfaction that every institution established by or even related to the Ohrid Agreement and that is organizing events to mark and celebrate this common achievement of all of us, said that it makes him very happy. Grubi expressed gratitude for the organization of this event and appreciation for all the tireless work that is being done by the academic staff of the University of Tetova under the direction of Rector Prof. Dr. Vullnet Ameti.
David L. Phillips the director of the Program on Peace-building and Rights at Columbia University’s Institute for the Study of Human Rights, in his speech he was focused on the four pillars of the Agreement which reflected the constitutional and political goals of the National Liberation Army. “Events in Macedonia demonstrated a principle of conflict resolution. Armed conflict is often part of a political strategy aimed at creating the conditions for political negotiations and gaining support for international intervention not through military action but through mediation. Just as Nelson Mandela and the African National Congress (ANC) launched an armed uprising to push for negotiations with the South African Government to end apartheid, the NLA (National) demanded a political solution to the inequality of ethnic Albanians in Macedonia. The 4 pillars of the Ohrid Framework Agreement reflect the constitutional and political goals of the NLA (National): Democracy and human rights; Cultural issues; Proportional ethnic representation in public administration and security forces as well as Decentralization of local government. “These principles were put into practice through 15 constitutional amendments adopted by the Macedonian Parliament on November 16, 2001″ – said Prof. Dr. David L. Phillips.
At the end of his speech he added that Columbia University also organizes the celebration of the anniversary of the OFA on August 13 in cooperation with the Government of North Macedonia, adding that it will consider the possibility of establishing an OFA Institute “Ohrid Framework Agreement to resolve conflicts to study the principles of separation of powers and to help other countries experiencing civil war, to build their national capacity so that they face similar challenges. “The OFA Institute is envisaged as a public-private partnership that includes the Government of North Macedonia and academic institutions such as the University of Tetova. The “OFA brand” is a resource that can be exported, making North Macedonia a destination for students and practitioners in conflict resolution. For the first time I visited the University of Tetova in 1994 and met students and professors in a cold basement with little heat and electricity. I am honored to visit the new University of Tetova today, although only virtually. I look forward to cooperating in the future with you, as well as other friends and partners in North Macedonia “- said Prof. Dr. David L Phillips from Columbia University.
Prof. Dr. Arsim Bajrami from the University of Prishtina in this panel presented several theses starting from the dissolution of the SFRY and the role of Albanians in the independence of Macedonia, the support that Albanians have given to the independence referendum, the constructiveness they have shown in finding a solution with participation in elections and participation in government by offering peaceful solutions. Among other things he added that the constitutional discrimination has been the cause of discontent and has led to the National Liberation Army War and its cause. The political goal of the NLA war, the international support and the political unity of the Albanians led to the achievement of the Ohrid Agreement with the aim of creating peace, coexistence in equality and state-building treatment based on the constitutional reforms guaranteed by the agreement. Prof. Dr. Arsim Bajrami, among other things, focused on the destruction of the implementation of the Ohrid Agreement and the mistakes of the Albanian political spectrum in the full non-implementation of the Ohrid Agreement, adding that the political disunity and the creation of internal opposition have left the full implementation of this agreement.
Vice -Rector for International Relations of the University of Tetova, Prof. Dr. Shefik Shehu, said that this panel dedicated to the Ohrid Framework Agreement is the least organized by the University of Tetova to mark this anniversary as we are eternally grateful for the sacrifice of everyone who has contributed to the recovery of this house that today numbers over than 10 thousand students and is a serious partner of many world networks of higher education. “Institutional recovery took place only after the signing of the Ohrid Framework Agreement. For 10 years in a row, from 1994 to 2004 this house was endlessly stained by malefactors and its demolition was constantly attempted. Allow me, as a lecturer, to make a retrospective of the political system that built and consequently changed the Ohrid Framework Agreement. In order to understand better the effects of the implementation of this agreement, I will try to give some answers to the concerns that the Macedonian side had, such as fear of division and loss of the state, fear of losing real power, fear of democratic deficit, fear of weakening state through the process of decentralization as well as the institutionalization of the ethnic group as a defect of consociationism, the loss of the exclusive right to manage public goods. The political system built by the Ohrid Agreement was based on the principles of the so-called consociational democracy, participation in the state through participation in power,” said Prof. Dr. Shefik Shehu, Vice-Rector for International Relations of the UT.
Dean of the Faculty of Philosophy in this panel made a general assessment on the implementation of this agreement. He said that the implementation of this agreement in some periods has been delayed. According to him, the dialogue and the initiative process should be a constant topic of political debate, in order to ensure minimal transparency, at least for the needs of research and service institutions. “It can be said that unemployment has become a serious problem, because it exceeds the allowable critical level. Unemployment continues to be an extremely sensitive segment, which could undermine the ethnic balance in the state. There is still a low level of economic development among the Albanian population. The need for continuous analysis remains to follow the trend in the economic and social sectors. The volume, structure and trend of public expenditures also show significant inequality of certain expenditures in regions, programs and projects with the Albanian prefix. Therefore, public decisions on these issues should be subject to the consensus mechanism at institutional levels. Continuing vocational education and training must be adapted to the needs and practices of the requirements of the market economy, the requirements for jobs based on vocational training, in accordance with modern technologies. Objective institutional approach in information of a public life nature based on accurate and transparency sources, with the possibility of a critical approach argued by each entity, institution or ordinary citizen. The decentralization process should be continued, enabling municipalities to plan their own areas of businesses, farms and other services. It is necessary to redefine the territories of municipalities and increase the number of municipalities in order to create functional municipalities with sufficient financial potential from various funds, in order for the ordinary citizen to be as close as possible to deciding on its interests”- said Dean of the Faculty of Philosophy. Prof. Dr. Ibish Kadriu.
While university Professor Sheruze Ballazhi Osmani expressed her views on how the Ohrid Agreement has contributed to the development of intergroup relations between the two largest ethnic groups in the daily lives of citizens and relations between them. “The implementation of the Ohrid Agreement has been a challenge in itself in terms of its implementation. Initially due to discrepancy in perception towards it. On the one hand, the Macedonian community has generally perceived it as a threat to the identity and economic security of the dominant group in North Macedonia, while on the other hand, Albanians perceive that they have gained the rights that belong to them. Differences in perceptions of intergroup relations are also reflected in the fact that groups do not trust each other and have different attitudes in building common values, while in environments that are mixed are not willing to cooperate at all levels of operation. These attributions of both sides to each other only show us that the oasis of peace is not easy to build”- said Doc.Dr. Sheruze Osmani Ballazhi.
In conclusion, the Rector of the University of Tetova Prof. Dr. Vullnet Ameti, to the panelists awarded a certificate for their participation in this panel discussion dedicated to the 20th anniversary of the Ohrid Framework Agreement. This panel with their presence was honored by many personalities of public, academic, political and social life of our country.
