WASHINGTON, D.C. – September 24, 2009 - The United Macedonian Diaspora (UMD) strongly condemns Kosovan Parliamentary Speaker Jakup Krasniqi’s direct attack on the Macedonian people in response to controversy surrounding the release of the Macedonian Encyclopedia, issued by the Macedonian Academy of Arts and Sciences (MANU).

“We find it extremely tragic that the second-highest ranking official of a neighboring, purportedly friendly state would include as part of his official duties denial of the existence of an entire people.  We understand the frustrations that ethnic Albanians feel regarding the mistakes contained within the Macedonian Encyclopedia.  However, we remind everyone and Mr. Krasniqi that MANU is reviewing and has promised to correct these mistakes, with input from well-regarded Albanian-Macedonian academics,” said UMD Director of Public Policy, Boban Jovanovski.

“Mr. Krasniqi’s attack on Macedonians is analogous to a mistake by a Canadian professor being met with an attack on all Canadians by House Speaker Nancy Pelosi.  It is simply uncalled for, diminishes the prestige of Mr. Krasniqi’s office, and does nothing to improve inter-ethnic relations, neither in Macedonia, nor in Kosovo.  Such rhetoric also undermines progress on the establishment of full diplomatic relations between Macedonia and Kosovo, a process that began when Macedonia recognized Kosovan independence late last year,” Mr. Jovanovski continued.

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