PM of North Macedonia Thank you Madame Chair. We thank the panelists for their presentations and welcome this year’s theme of the Forum. Growing on its longstanding tradition of tolerance, North Macedonia has developed a solid, normative and institutional framework dedicated to minority protection and to ensuring the full inclusion of all communities in our society. We have established the Ministry Political System and Inter-Community Relations, which leads the implementation of the Ohrid Framework Agreement. In addition, a permanent advisory body and a coordinating body within the Cabient of the Prime Minister provide guidance on the implementation of the rights of nonmajority communities. Our Parliament also plays an important role. All ethnic communities are represented in parliament and have formed their own political parties. Members of these communities also serve in the government contributing to strengthening social cohesion and unity. Madame Chair, education is essential for promoting tolerance and fostering respect for ethnic, cultural, and linguistic diversity, especially in schools. Language rights and education therefore remain key pillars of our approach. Notably, our legislation guarantees the official use of any community language spoken by at least 20% of the population. The state also continues to provide institutional and financial support to Roma students, reflecting one of our longstanding national priorities. Moreover, in response to global and regional trends of the regulation of hate speech based on ethnic, cultural, linguistic, or religious hatred, Macedonia has criminalized hate speech in its criminal code. Distinguished panelists, we would welcome your assessment of the current global state of identity rights of minorities. I thank you.

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