Vasil Sterjovski, the only Macedonian Parliamentary representative in Albania has reflected on the restoration of the original names of villages and regions inhabited by Macedonians.
During the reign of the Enver Hoxha regime, Macedonian toponyms were replaced by Albanian names in all formal instances but on 18 March 2013, the Government had reverted that decision with 120 votes for – a number that represents the totality of the members of the Albanian parliament.
The initiative for the restoration of the original toponyms of the villages in the Pustec municipality was started by the Macedonian Alliance for European Integration.
A petition that was signed by Macedonians from Albania was presented to the authorities by the then-leader of the MAEI Edmond Temelko and general secretary Vasil Sterjovski.
On the day of the event, Sterjovski stated: “With this decision, enacted with maximal support of the Albanian legislative home, we corrected a great injustice on the Macedonians of Pustec. The decision was saluted by international organizations that monitor the respect for minority rights in Albania.
In 1973 the Communist regime of Albania changed the name Pustec to Liqenas – a toponym that remained until 2013.
