Skopje, 17 July 2003 (RFE/RL) -- Macedonia's parliament voted today to transform an officially unrecognized ethnic Albanian university in the northwest of the country into a state-funded school. AP reports that the motion passed with 68 votes in favor and two against in Macedonia's 120-seat assembly. The remaining lawmakers were absent from the vote.
The university is in Tetovo, 80 kilometers west of the capital, Skopje.
Ethnic Albanian legislators called the result a positive step toward bringing tolerance to Macedonia, which experienced six months of ethnic fighting in 2001.
The parliament is to decide on the amount of state funds to allot the university by the start of classes in September.
The university is in Tetovo, 80 kilometers west of the capital, Skopje.
Ethnic Albanian legislators called the result a positive step toward bringing tolerance to Macedonia, which experienced six months of ethnic fighting in 2001.
The parliament is to decide on the amount of state funds to allot the university by the start of classes in September.