Prime Minister Edi Rama and his Macedonian counterpart , Zoran Zaev, met on Saturday with Macedonian community in Pustec.
The two premiers were warmly greeted by inhabitants of Pustec and local authorities. They visited the 9th-year and middle school of the area where students sang both in Albanian and in Macedonian.
PM Rama emphasized the importance of cohabitation between communities, describing it as a bridge forging the friendship between the two countries.
“I believe it is quite significant that we are here today. The meeting with this community is not merely a symbolic visit, but a way to show public opinion in Albania and Macedonia alike the importance we attach to this co-habitation and communication between Albania and Macedonia, which should develop as miraculously as these children speak the two languages, PM Rama said.
For his part, PM Zaev was delighted to see students speak in fluent Macedonian.
“I am delighted to be today in Pustec. We received a warm welcome from the inhabitants and had the opportunity to see an excellent performance featuring Macedonian and Albanian renditions. This is further proof of how Macedonian language is used here and how children learn it. I hope Macedonian language will continue to be nourished here in compliance with Albanian laws. I am happy to be here today along with PM Rama to visit this school and meet with local authorities, to discuss issues facing the people daily and foster relations with Macedonian community that lives here in Pustec, PM Zaev said.
Both premiers visited the St. Mihal church.