The Minister of Foreign Affairs, Ferit Hoxha, has not denied the existence of a message allegedly referring to Albanians in North Macedonia with an offensive term.
During a joint press conference with Izet Mexhiti, chairman of the Democratic Movement in North Macedonia, Hoxha was asked about the issue in question. In his response, he did not directly deny the message, but emphasized that it was a situation that dates back to last week and he had provided the necessary clarifications publicly.
"You are stuck in last week, while things have evolved. I have made all my clarifications for every claim. A kind of smoke was created, but it has now been overcome. I am open to meeting at any time and under any circumstances, regardless of whether we agree or not, because even within a family there are disagreements," he said.
Although the minister has tried to minimize the blunder by describing it as a past event, his reaction has failed to quell the debates created in public opinion. In this context, the lack of a clear apology remains unjustifiable, especially when it comes to the chief diplomat of a country and the sensitivities that affect interethnic relations.
