30,000 Albanians living in Croatia: according Ermina Lekaj-Perlaskaj

Ermira Leka-Perlaskaj

 The Albanian MP in the Parliament of Croatia, Ermina Lekaj-Perlaskaj, said that the vast majority of Albanians living in Croatia are concentrated in Zagreb's Perfekt, but there are large numbers in the coastal areas as well.

Lekaj-Përlaskajasid said at RTV Dukagjini that the Albanians in Croatia deal mainly with different crafts, dominating in the bakery.

The Albanian MP in the Croatian Parliament said that according to statistics in Croatia there are about 19,000 declared Albanians, and according to her, other Albanians have been declared as Croat or Muslim for economic reasons or for obtaining citizenship.

Ermira Leka-Perlaskaj poster

"We assume that we are about 30,000 Albanians in Croatia ... Due to the procedures for obtaining Croatia's citizenship, some have been declared Croats to get citizenship more quickly," she said.

Lekaj-Perlaskaj says that when she has received the mandate of the deputy in Croatia, she initiated the formation of a friendly Kosovo-Croatia group.

"In Kosovo, the representative of this group is Mr. Avdullah Hoti, while in Croatia is Ivan Celic, who are keen to increase the cooperation between the states".

Ermina Lekaj-Përlaskaj and Kolinda Grabar-Kitarović

She says that already in 17 schools in Croatia there is additional language instruction in Albanian.

"We have shortcomings with the teachers because they do not have a profession but they are willing to teach in Albanian," said Lekaj-Perlaskaj.