Entela Binjaku joins Regional Discussion
The 29th Seminar of the Working Group of Slavic Minorities (AGSM) brought together representatives of national minorities, academics, policymakers, and civil society leaders from across the Western Balkans to discuss minority rights, European integration, and regional cooperation. The seminar was officially opened on the morning of 5 June by Nikolla Gjurgjaj, President of the Macedonian Association “Ilinden”-Tirana, AGSM Spokesperson and FUEN Vice-President Dr. Hartmut Leipner, Genta Tafa (Bungo), Commissioner for Protection against Discrimination of the Republic of Albania, and Etleva Budini, Member of the Albanian Parliament representing the District of Durrës. One of the key sessions of the seminar focused on the Western Balkans, national minorities, and the region’s path toward membership in the European Union. The panel brought together prominent representatives of minority communities and public institutions, including Atanas Ploça, Deputy Mayor of the Municipality of Pustec in the Prespa region; Endrit Fetahu, Vice-President of the Macedonian Alliance for European Integration; Dejan Çullafiq from the University of Shkodra “Luigj Gurakuqi” and representative of the Montenegrin minority; and Entela Binjaku, Director of the Fondacioni “Harriet Martineau” and representative of the Aromanian minority in Albania. During the discussion, Entela Binjaku highlighted the importance of protecting and promoting the cultural and linguistic heritage of the Aromanian community in Albania. She emphasized the need for stronger institutional support for minority education, cultural preservation, and equal participation in public life. She also underlined the valuable contribution that minority communities make to Albania’s democratic development and European future.The panel addressed a range of important topics, including minority rights, political participation, institutional recognition, and the role that minority communities play in advancing the European integration process in the Western Balkans.
Participants agreed that respect for diversity and the effective inclusion of minorities are essential elements of democratic governance and key requirements on the path toward European Union membership. The participation of Entela Binjaku and the Fondacioni “Harriet Martineau” in this important regional forum reflects the continued commitment of the Aromanian minority in Albania to promoting intercultural dialogue, safeguarding minority rights, and contributing to a more inclusive and democratic society.
