Ethnic Tensions Growing In Macedonia Albanians’ Clashes With Police Bring A Warning From Tirana

The Albanian government warned Saturday that clashes between ethnic Albanians and police in neighboring Macedonia could lead to instability in the region.

Police in Macedonia battled with ethnic Albanians on Friday in the town of Tetovo, where an unofficial Albanian-language university has been set up. An ethnic Albanian was killed and up to 28 people, both Albanians and police, were injured.

About 10,000 people gathered in Tetovo Saturday for the funeral of the slain protester, 33-yearold Abduseljan Emini.

“This is the first victim in the history of the university, whose work is being prevented by police,” Zekir Kadriu, an ethnic Albanian leader, told the crowd. `This shows how much democracy there is in this country.”

After the funeral, a group of young mourners marched to the police station to demand the release of university chancellor Fadil Sulejmani, who was detained after the rioting.

The demonstrators Friday were protesting attempts to close the school, which is considered illegal by the government. Ethnic Albanians make up about 23 percent of the population.

The Albanian government condemned what it termed a “criminal act with destabilizing consequences.”

“The aggressive … nationalism and chauvinism do not serve the relations between the Albanians and Macedonians,” a government statement said. “They also do not serve the very delicate peace and stability in the region.”

Relations between Albania and Macedonia grew closer last year after Greece imposed an economic embargo on Macedonia. Greece wants its neighbor to change its name, claiming it implies territorial ambitions on the northern Greek province of Macedonia.

Many Macedonian imports were then shipped through the Albanian port of Durres.