Albania recognizes the existence of the Macedonian nation, and the presence of a small Macedonian minority within its borders, which is concentrated near the Ohrid Lake. Albania allowed the opening of Macedonian schools in Albania. The Macedonians in Albania are in a better position than the Macedonians in Greece or Bulgaria with respect to the recognition of their minority rights, though some problems exist. The communications between Macedonians on the opposite sides of the border were reportedly hindered at times, and Macedonian geographical names were replaced by Albanian names.

Macedonian estimates put the number of Macedonians within Albania at a minimum of 50,000 and up to several times that number.

There is also an Albanian minority in Macedonia. According to the Minority Rights Group Report, Albanians in the Republic of Macedonia are "a sizeable minority with a far higher growth rate than that of the Macedonians, speaking a different language, living in concentrated areas especially in the countryside, and whose geographical position gives rise to a possible irredenta."

The Albanian population in the Republic of Macedonia comprises about 22 per cent of the population, according to the 1994 census. The Albanians are concentrated in the west and north-western parts of the country. Though there are some important problems between Albanians and Macedonians in the Republic of Macedonia, which are amenable to the agitation of the outside powers, and the Albanian and Macedonian nationalisms are on the rise, both communities have so far succeeded in containing extremism through a working parliamentary democracy in the Republic of Macedonia. A significant number of Albanians are represented in the Macedonian parliament and it is generally acknowledged that the position of the Albanian minority in Macedonian is significantly better than that of Albanian minorities in the other Balkan countries.

The constitutional change in November 1989 was a clear indication of Macedonian nationalism vis-a-vis Albanian nationalism: Macedonia became no longer "The Republic of the Macedonians, the Albanians, the Turks and the other peoples and ethnic groups", but merely "the Republic of Macedonians and other peoples and ethnic groups". However, the first paragraph of the new Constitution of 8 November 1991 reads:

"...historical fact that Macedonia is established as a national state of the Macedonian people, in which full equality as citizens and permanent co-existence with the Macedonian people is provided for Albanians, Turks, Vlachs, Romanians and other nationalities living in the Republic of Macedonia..."

The Albanian Party of Democratic Prosperity and the National Democratic Party in the Republic of Macedonia have claimed that the Republic of Macedonia does not meet the criteria for international recognition, specifically the requirements of the EU's Arbitration Commission, because the rights of Albanians are threatened there. They also demanded a referendum for Albanians.

The statement, which was in the nature of an ultimatum, states that Albanians are 40 per cent of the population in Macedonia. It was demanded that the European Community request that Macedonia endorse a constitutional law that would grant full ethnic equality to Albanians. However, despite party policy, the deputies of the Albanian parties in the Macedonian Parliament voted for the declaration which requested international recognition of the independence of the Republic of Macedonia.

Kiro Gligorov, the President of the Republic of Macedonia, visited Albania in the beginning of June 1992. Gligorov said the first Albanian-Macedonian summit was marked by "frank talks on all issues". President Gligorov also mentioned joint economic interests, such as the continuation of building the oil pipeline via Macedonia to Albania, in which Italy is also interested. Gligorov and Sali Berisha, the Albanian President, have proposed a Balkan Zone without borders "from the Adriatic to the Black Sea" in a bid to end current conflicts and pave the way towards a peaceful, prosperous future.37

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