Shaip Kamberi, a representative of the Albanian community in the Serbian Parliament, has commented on the European Commission’s 2024 report regarding Serbia. He stated that the report offers an important overview of the situation of minorities, with a particular focus on the challenges faced by Albanians in the Presheva Valley. According to Kamberi, this report confirms the community’s ongoing concerns.

“The 2024 Serbia Report is a call for justice and equality for Albanians in the Presheva Valley. It highlights significant aspects of the situation of minorities, particularly the challenges faced by our community. The report underscores the persistent lack of genuine implementation of our rights, despite the existence of a legal framework,” Kamberi stated.

He elaborated on several critical issues affecting the community. Albanians in the valley face regular checks on their residency status, leading to the deactivation of addresses. This process risks isolating them from basic rights and access to state services, remaining unclear and ambiguous to the public and raising questions about its transparency.

Kamberi also emphasized the urgent need for better representation of Albanians in public administration and the police, as this representation is essential to ensure the community’s voice is heard and that they have equal access to decision-making. He highlighted that Albanian-language school textbooks are insufficient, and the teaching of the Serbian language to Albanians is often inappropriate and challenging for students. Additionally, access to religious and cultural practices in the mother tongue remains a right that has not yet been adequately fulfilled.

The lack of adequate public services in minority languages is a significant issue, limiting access to essential information and leaving the community’s needs unaddressed in the public sphere. Furthermore, Kamberi expressed concern over troubling instances of hate speech against minorities, including the Albanian community, in media outlets and even from some MPs. This phenomenon threatens to exacerbate tensions and foster xenophobic sentiments.

“This report serves as a clear call for Serbia to fulfill its obligations to the Albanians in the Presheva Valley, respect the rights of minorities, act transparently, and uphold the rights of Albanians as equal citizens. We will not remain silent! Our rights must be protected, and our voices will be heard,” Kamberi concluded.

/a.p./