Serbs appoint new Kosovo university chief

THE SERBIAN government has appointed a new vice-chancellor of the University in Pristina, capital of the strife-torn Kosovo region.

After Serbia abolished the autonomy of Pristina University, along with that of the region itself, in 1990 and barred teaching in Albanian, students from the majority population studied in improvised schools and universities, often in private houses.

When they finally got back to their university in March, Radivoj Papovic, who was then vice-chancellor resigned.

The new chancellor is Radenko Krulj, a professor from the university's school of philosophy. Serbian education minister Jovo Todorovic also formally appointed 14 deans.

Abdulj Ramaj, an Albanian member of the group for normalisation of education in Kosovo, expressed delight at the appointment. In an interview for independent Belgrade-based radio station Radio B92, Professor Ramaj said he hoped the new changes "might be positive".