VZCZCXRO4171
RR RUEHAG RUEHAST RUEHDA RUEHDF RUEHFL RUEHIK RUEHKW RUEHLA RUEHLN
RUEHLZ RUEHNP RUEHPOD RUEHROV RUEHSR RUEHVK RUEHYG
DE RUEHSQ #0724 3371807
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
R 021807Z DEC 08
FM AMEMBASSY SKOPJE
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC 7850
INFO RUEHZL/EUROPEAN POLITICAL COLLECTIVE 0437
RUESEN/SKOPJE BETA
RUEAIIA/CIA WASHINGTON DC
RUEKJCS/SECDEF WASHINGTON DC

UNCLAS SKOPJE 000724 
 
SENSITIVE 
SIPDIS 
 
E.O. 12958: N/A 
TAGS: PREL PGOV PHUM KV AL MK
SUBJECT: GRUEVSKI HOSTS AND TOASTS ALBANIANS IN REGIONAL EVENT 
 
Sensitive but unclassified- please protect accordingly 
 
¶1. (U)SUMMARY:  The Prime Ministers of Macedonia, Albania and Kosovo 
attended a GOM organized reception in Skopje to mark the 100th 
Anniversary of the Albanian alphabet. PM Gruevski wisely used the 
event to reach out to the Albanian community throughout the region 
as well as in Macedonia. End Summary 
 
HISTORICAL CONTEXT 
------------------- 
 
¶2. (U) In 1908, Albanian intellectuals from different countries and 
faiths gathered in the Macedonian city of Bitola (Manastir in 
Albanian) to establish a unified alphabet for the Albanian language. 
The 150 delegates decided in favor of using the Latin script. This 
event followed the 1878 Albanian League of Prizren (Kosovo) that 
sought autonomy from the Ottoman Empire and preceded the Declaration 
of Albania's Independence in Vlore (Albania) four years later, in 
¶1912. 
 
A REGIONAL EVENT 
----------------- 
 
¶3. (U)The Ambassador attended the formal reception to mark the 100th 
anniversary of the Albanian alphabet on November 22 in Skopje, 
organized under the auspices of GOM Deputy Prime Minister Ademi. 
Prime Ministers Gruevski, Berisha and Thaci (Macedonia, Albania and 
Kosovo, respectively) attended the ceremony, which gave the event 
regional significance.  The Presidents of the three countries' 
academies of science and arts also attended the event. 
 
 
MESSAGES OF UNITY AND COMMON VALUES 
------------------------------------ 
 
¶4. (SBU) In a surprising gesture of support and goodwill, Macedonian 
PM Gruevski briefly addressed the audience in the Albanian language, 
citing November 22 as one of the most important days in the history 
of the Albanian people. He added that his government is dedicated to 
cultivating the historic values of all communities in Macedonia. 
"We share common values and this event shows unity in our country", 
Gruevski said. 
 
¶5. (U) Albanian PM Berisha, thanked Gruevski and the GOM for 
honoring one of the most important events in the history of the 
Albanians. The declaration of Albania's independence, Berisha said, 
would not have occurred without the League of Prizren and the 
Congress of Manastir, adding that Albanians and Macedonians have a 
history of cooperation and a common struggle for freedom.  Berisha 
expressed pride in what he perceives as Albania's increasing 
leadership role among e-Albanians in the region. 
 
¶6. (SBU) Kosovo PM Thaci described Manastir (Bitola) as the Albanian 
alphabet's capital city, emphasizing the strong message this event 
sends to the Albanians in the region.  Albanians naturally embraced 
the Latin alphabet due to their pro-western aspirations, according 
to Thaci.  Thaci also praised Macedonia's recognition of Kosovo's 
independence.  "It is with this alphabet that good neighborly 
relations in the Balkans and our Euro-Atlantic integration will be 
written", Thaci added.  In a side conversation with the Ambassador, 
Thaci indicated that he believed outstanding issues between Pristina 
and Skopje on border demarcation could be resolved in as little as 
ten days. 
 
¶7. (SBU) COMMENT:  We understand that Gruevski's e-Albanian 
coalition partners may have arranged the event without the PM's 
initial agreement, although Gruevski mentioned to Ambassador Reeker 
on November 9, plans for a "mini summit." Nevertheless, PM 
Gruevski's participation in this event and the positive messages of 
cooperation and mutual respect shared by all three PM's suggest 
that- in spite of cool interethnic relations in Macedonia- Gruevski 
still recognizes the political and economic importance of outreach 
to the Albanian community in the region, including in Macedonia. End 
Comment. 
 
REEKER