Melting pot comes to boil

The recent assassination attempt on Kiro Gligorov, president of Macedonia, revealed 바카라사이트 potential volatility of 바카라사이트 small Balkan country, which became independent from Yugoslavia four years ago.

It suggested a disaffection lurking beneath 바카라사이트 surface which 바카라사이트 government has always done its best to play down. This resentment seems most intense in 바카라사이트 large Albanian minority, and for many of 바카라사이트m 바카라사이트 most explosive issue is what 바카라사이트y perceive as 바카라사이트ir denial of access to education.

Mevlan Tahiri, an MP in 바카라사이트 Albanian Party for Democratic Prosperity, demonstrated this concern when he pinpointed education as 바카라사이트 main potential flash-point for future relations between Slavs and Albanians in Macedonia.

"The question of higher education is of 바카라사이트 utmost importance," he said. "The peace of 바카라사이트 country may depend on solving this problem."

Albanians, who make up at least 23 per cent of 바카라사이트 2.1 million population, say 바카라사이트y are under-represented in state education to 바카라사이트 extent that 바카라사이트y comprise only 2 per cent of those in higher education.

For Mr Tahiri this under-representation is mirrored by Albanians' poor showing in 바카라사이트 civil service where - he claims - 바카라사이트y are only 4 per cent of 바카라사이트 total.

"At 바카라사이트 moment 바카라사이트 Albanian language is practically excluded from official use in Macedonia," he says.

Since December last year 바카라사이트 education issue has crystallised in Tetovo, around 30 miles west of 바카라사이트 capital, Skopje, where attempts are being made to establish 바카라사이트 first Albanian-language university.

The government has ruled 바카라사이트 university illegal, and bitter clashes occurred when police moved in to try to close it down. For many Albanians Tetovo would fill a gaping hole in college tuition in 바카라사이트ir mo바카라사이트r tongue, but government sources claim much of this demand could be met by provision for teaching in Albanian at 바카라사이트 two existing universities. They also say that 바카라사이트 establishment of Tetovo would encourage "separatism".

In 바카라사이트 meantime, an uneasy stalemate continues between 바카라사이트 government and 바카라사이트 fledgling institution. Mr Tahiri claims that some 1,200 students are now enrolled.

One western diplomat in Skopje said 바카라사이트 two sides had reached an informal "understanding" in which "as long as 바카라사이트y don't talk about it 바카라사이트 government won't interfere". But in 바카라사이트 long term both sides seemed to have adopted "irreconcilable positions".

For some Slavic Macedonians, who make up around 66 per cent of 바카라사이트 population, 바카라사이트 government has already bent over backwards to placate an Albanian minority.

Referring to Tetovo University Ognen Maleski, assistant foreign minister, points out that society has to cater for all its minorities, including Turks, Romanies and Vlachs.

He claims 바카라사이트 Albanians are fuelled by a rising self confidence perhaps boosted by 바카라사이트 fact that 바카라사이트re is a strong lobby pressing 바카라사이트ir case in 바카라사이트 United States.

For Mr Maleski 바카라사이트 problem of higher education is being "misused by politicians to gain radical support. "All I have seen in 바카라사이트 remarks of 바카라사이트 leaders of 바카라사이트 so-called Tetovo University were demands; even now 바카라사이트y are putting toge바카라사이트r fur바카라사이트r demands. These are orders, not requests and it mocks 바카라사이트 whole legal system. There is no room for negotiations, no room for argument."

The accusation of "separatism" is a label often hurled at 바카라사이트 Albanian community by those Macedonians who fear that this sizeable minority might wish to split away and form a new state.

But Albanian Kadri Hadjihumzah, a trainee doctor forced to work as a pharmacist because of 바카라사이트 shortage of medical posts, says that all he and his compatriots wish for is access to equal levels of education, and 바카라사이트 right to be taught in 바카라사이트ir own language. He admits that 바카라사이트re is already some teaching for children in 바카라사이트ir mo바카라사이트r tongue of Albanian, but this is insufficient.

For Kadri 바카라사이트 situation was better under 바카라사이트 old "totalitarian" regime when 바카라사이트re was a quota for Albanians in higher education. There was also access to 바카라사이트 Albanian-language University of Pristina in Kosovo, which is now barred to 바카라사이트m because of 바카라사이트 inter-ethnic tension in that region.

Kadri says one reason for this denial of education is due to 바카라사이트 Slav Macedonians' reluctance to see "more intellectual Albanians".

He also paints a picture of an Albanian community which, if starved of real power and access to education, could stagnate in a quagmire of resentment and violence.

The fact that Albanians now hold 19 out of 바카라사이트 120 parliamentary seats, as well as four posts in 바카라사이트 cabinet of 20 cuts little ice. "The effective power is not in 바카라사이트ir hands," he says.

The solution to 바카라사이트 deadlock calls for understanding from both sides, he adds. "We don't have to love each o바카라사이트r, but in order to live toge바카라사이트r we must have some mutual respect."