The Democratic Union for Integration (DUI) has issued a strong reaction to recent reports concerning the Inspectorate for the Implementation of the Law on the Use of Languages. The DUI asserts that the institution, crucial for overseeing and enforcing the right to official use of the Albanian language, is being deliberately undermined.

According to the DUI, inspectors within the Inspectorate have not been paid for over four months and lack social and health insurance, creating significant hardship for them and their families. The DUI views this situation as more than just a social injustice, characterizing it as a calculated effort to dismantle the institution by forcing qualified inspectors to resign, thus paralyzing the regulatory framework.

The DUI further contends that this action is part of a broader, coordinated assault on the status of the Albanian language in North Macedonia. They outline a series of steps they believe have been taken to weaken the language’s standing.

The DUI cites the transfer of the Inspectorate’s independence by placing it under the Ministry of Justice, making it politically dependent, followed by what they describe as a systematic disregard for the law by various institutions. The DUI claims that ministries, public enterprises, and their websites have removed content in the Albanian language. Now, the very institution designed to safeguard the law is under attack.

Adding to their concerns, the DUI notes that the Constitutional Court is currently reviewing the Law on Languages under pressure, raising the possibility that key provisions could be repealed. The DUI believes this is not mere negligence but a deliberate operation aimed at dismantling the entire system surrounding the official use of the Albanian language.

The DUI emphasizes the urgency of the situation, stating that silence is no longer an option and will be interpreted as complicity. They are calling on everyone, regardless of ethnicity, political affiliation, or position in society, including representatives of the civil sector, citizens, intellectuals, media, and international partners, to speak out against these actions.

The DUI concludes by asserting that the Albanian language is not merely a symbol but a constitutional right that represents equality, peace, and dignity.