Son of Zog's man funds Albanian centre

History has had little good to say about 바카라사이트 late King Zog of Albania, a politician who contrived to become a monarch in 1928 and was ejected by 바카라사이트 Italians in 1939, spending 바카라사이트 rest of his life in exile.

But London University's School of Slavonic and East European Studies can be forgiven for thinking kindly of Zog, or at least of members of his household.

During his seven years (1939-46) in exile in Britain, Zog employed a man named Gjenco Na i as his private secretary. Mr Na i stayed in Britain when Zog left for Egypt in 1946, working for 바카라사이트 BBC monitoring service. He died in 1992. His papers, including correspondence shedding significant light on 바카라사이트 attitude of 바카라사이트 allied nations to Albania and on emigre politics, form 바카라사이트 centrepiece of an unexpected bequest by his son Peter Nash - who died last year - which will enable 바카라사이트 setting-up of a centre for Albanian studies at SSEES.

Michael Branch, director of SSEES, said Mr Nash had his first contact with 바카라사이트 school during 바카라사이트 1980s when Albanian studies were revived by Dennis Deletant and Mark Wheeler. "But we hadn't 바카라사이트 slightest idea that he was intending to do anything like this," he said.

The Pounds 750,000 bequest will fund a research fellowship and an associated doctoral programme. A meeting in November will help decide 바카라사이트 focus of 바카라사이트 first fellowship appointment, for four years.

Professor Branch said provision in Albanian studies had traditionally been "spotty". "It is a very good example of 바카라사이트 sort of subject that is impossible to support by normal means under current funding methods."

In 바카라사이트 1950s 바카라사이트 school staff included 바카라사이트 world's authority on Albanian etymology. In recent years SSEES has had Albanian lectors - initially from 바카라사이트 Kosovo region of Serbia and more recently from 바카라사이트 University of Tirana, while Professor Branch points out that an increasing number of Albanian students funded by 바카라사이트 European Union's Tempus programme are now attending British universities.