South East European University opens in Tetovo, Macedonia
Reply-To: [email protected]
Sender: [email protected]
From: MINELRES moderator <[email protected]>
Date: Wed, 21 Nov 2001 19:54:26 +0200 (EET)
Message-Id: <[email protected]>
Subject: South East European University opens in Tetovo, Macedonia
From: MINELRES moderator <[email protected]>
Original sender: Greek Helsinki Monitor
<[email protected]>
South East European University opens in Tetovo, Macedonia
Latest news from the Organization for Security and Co-operation in
Europe (OSCE) - http://www.osce.org
SOUTH EAST EUROPEAN UNIVERSITY OPENS IN TETOVO, FORMER YUGOSLAV
REPUBLIC OF MACEDONIA
http://www.osce.org/news/generate.php3?news_id=2165
THE HAGUE, 20 November 2001 (OSCE) – This morning, in an official
ceremony, the South East European University was formally opened in
Tetovo, former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia.
Speaking at the ceremony, the OSCE High Commissioner on National
Minorities, Rolf Ekeus, said: "Today is a good day for the former
Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia and a good day for Europe. At a time
when good news is in short supply, it is heartening to see that
progress can be made towards building peace among people".
The university is open to all students regardless of ethnicity. The
curriculum will be in Albanian, Macedonian, English and other European
languages. The university will include faculties of law, business
administration, public administration, teacher training,
communications and computer studies.
Higher education has been one of the points of contention between the
Macedonian and Albanian communities in the former Yugoslav Republic of
Macedonia. In July 2000, a new education law was introduced to allow
for the use of the Albanian language and other languages in private
institutions of higher education in the country. Soon afterwards, Max
van der Stoel, then the OSCE High Commissioner on National Minorities
and now the Personal Envoy of the OSCE Chairman-in-Office, initiated a
project to develop a university, which would improve the opportunities
for higher education in minority languages.
Funds for the project were sought from the international community,
and 33 million euros have been pledged so far. The Macedonian
Government donated the piece of land where the university is situated.
Construction was completed within six months, despite the difficult
security situation.
In their addresses, both Mr. Ekeus and Mr. van der Stoel – who is also
the Chairman of the university's international advisory board – noted
the importance of the university in the broader context of
inter-ethnic integration in the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia.
Mr. van der Stoel stressed the importance of inter-ethnic harmony,
while Mr. Ekeus said: "I hope that the event we are witnessing today
can offer inspiration to all citizens of the former Yugoslav Republic
of Macedonia, so that their country can move ahead and take steps
towards building a better future – a future that can enrich all people
of this country, regardless of ethnicity".
For further information, please contact:
Walter Kemp
Senior Adviser
OSCE High Commissioner on National Minorities
P.O. Box 20062
2500 EB, The Hague
Netherlands
GMT +1
Tel.: +31-70 312 55 00
Fax: +31-70 363 59 10
E-mail: [email protected]
----------------
Balkan Human Rights List
Subscribe: [email protected]
Unsubscribe: [email protected]
Home:
Balkan Human Rights Web Pages: http://www.greekhelsinki.gr
The Balkan Human Rights List:
http://www.egroups.com/group/balkanhr/fullinfo.html
The Greek Human Rights List:
http://www.egroups.com/group/greekhr/fullinfo.html
Dikaiomatika! [monthly human rights review in Greek]:
http://www.egroups.com/group/dikaiomatika/fullinfo.html
--
==============================================================
MINELRES - a forum for discussion on minorities in Central&Eastern
Europe
Submissions: [email protected]
Subscription/inquiries: [email protected]
List archive: http://www.riga.lv/minelres/archive.htm
==============================================================