Lajme flash
Skopje and the statue of Skanderbeg
2026-07-03 14:35:03 / IDE
While the attention of Albanian public opinion is focused almost entirely on political developments in Tirana, where protests are the main topic, processes of direct importance for the Albanians of North Macedonia are taking place in Skopje. Unfortunately, these developments are often ignored or treated superficially by a part of the media in Albania, more focused on the daily political agenda than on the reality of the region.
Albanians do not live only in Tirana. The Albanian nation is not limited within the territory of the Republic of Albania. For this reason, any development that affects the identity, representation and historical heritage of Albanians in North Macedonia deserves full attention.
For days now, the debate over street names in Tetovo has been back — a debate loaded with political interpretations, half-truths, and attempts to delegitimize certain actors, especially the WLEN coalition, but for which DUI is actually more responsible due to the years of institutional decision-making. But before constructing political narratives, one must see the reality and institutional responsibilities as they are.
Out of intellectual curiosity, in the wake of my travels to the lands of the Albanian nation, I visited Skopje — one of those trips you take to meet your Albanian brothers and sisters in North Macedonia. You only have to walk to Cair, the municipality that has been led by Izet Mexhiti for four terms, to understand Albanian identity but also to understand the great challenges of transformation that await this area.
The old neighborhoods, the narrow alleys, the noise of the bazaars, the aromas of traditional bakeries and the daily vibrancy create the feeling of an Albanian heart in the middle of Skopje. In every corner, one feels a community that has preserved its language, customs and historical memory, despite the challenges of time and political contexts.
Even the names of the streets and public spaces in Çair speak of this identity. They bear the names of important figures in Albanian history — from the Renaissance men and patriots to the personalities who shaped national consciousness: Çerçiz Topulli, Fan Noli, Faik Konica, Jusuf Gërvalla and Hasan Prishtina. These names are not a coincidence, but a reflection of a philosophy that sees national identity as part of urban life, not as political decor.
But the most significant development of recent days passed almost silently.
The government has approved the decision to transfer ownership of the land of Skanderbeg Square to the Municipality of Chair, removing the last administrative obstacle and paving the way for the third phase of the project.
At first glance, it may seem like a bureaucratic procedure. In essence, it is a step with symbolic and institutional weight: the consolidation of a public space in the heart of Skopje that reflects the Albanian identity and historical presence.
Skanderbeg is not just a historical figure. He remains a symbol of resistance, unity and Albanian identity. Therefore, any investment that strengthens his presence in public spaces is not only an urban intervention, but also an intervention in collective memory.
In this context, the project of Skanderbeg Square in Çair takes on a broader dimension than infrastructure: it becomes part of a process of cultural and identity affirmation in one of the most important urban spaces of Skopje.
While politics produces noise, propaganda, accusations, and interpretations that quickly become outdated, there are decisions that are made slowly but leave a mark. In the end, time does not remember words, but decisions.
History does not need television studios or loud voices that are forgotten as soon as the screen is closed. It is written in silence, on stones, in squares and in spaces that take on meaning over the years. The start of a new phase for Skanderbeg Square in Chair is precisely one of those decisions that time strengthens and never leaves without a trace.
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