Albanian designated Macedonia’s 2nd official language

SKOPJE, Macedonia – Albanian has been designated the second official language in Macedonia, which has a substantial, and restive, ethnic Albanian minority.

The move ends a months-long standoff between the left-led government and Macedonia’s conservative President Gjorge Ivanov, who had refused to sign off on the law saying it was unconstitutional and unnecessary.

The law was published in the government gazette Tuesday after being signed by parliament Speaker Talat Xhaferi.

Xhaferi bypassed the president, who had been legally obliged to sign off on the law after parliament approved it twice in separate sessions.

The legislation strengthens the position of Macedonia’s ethnic Albanians, about a quarter of the country’s 2.1-million population.

Albanian will now be used by state institutions in areas where ethnic Albanians comprise over 20 per cent of the population.