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As joyfully reported by islamonline: 'Albanians to Have First Islamic University'.

"Al-Azhar University , the Federation of the Islamic Organizations in Europe , and Turkish institutions have tried in vain to make the dream come true."

Thanks to the green light now given by the Albanian government, their dream will soon come true!

Hey, Pythag, not sure of the relevance of your post to the fact that Albania is a solid ally of ours in Afghanistan & Iraq, but it appears you are trying to make some point about the Islamic character of Albania. So let's take a look at what your link actually says. Here are some excerpts:

"The idea of building an Islamic university in the country was first raised by Prime Minister Fatos Nano..." Fatos Nano, the Prime Minister, is Orthodox Christian. He joins another Christian--President Alfred Moisiu, a Catholic--as the two most important leaders in Albania.

Sheikdom Chairman Selim Muca has stressed to Nano the importance of establishing an Islamic university in the country so that young Albanian Muslims would not have to travel abroad and be influenced by other dogmas and ideologies. The Albanians do not want their Muslims to be radicalized.

Observers believe that the government has turned crimson after the opening of the Catholic University , while Muslims, who make up the majority (around 75 percent) of the 3.5 million population, do not have their own university. The Catholics already have a university and Orthodox Christian schools are common in south Albania.

The number of churches in the country also outnumbers that of mosques, which are estimated roughly at 270 out of 1667 established before the Communist era.

So let's recap: more churches than mosques, Christian prime minister and president, Catholic university, Orthodox schools, and Albanian Muslims upset that their children studying in overseas mosques are getting radical ideas, so they build their own university.

And Albanian soldiers are fighting alongside us in Iraq & Afghanistan, we are using Albanian training areas & ranges for our Marines, and they vote the American position in every international forum. Your attachment reinforces the basic post that Albania, while small, is one of the best allies we have.

I understand your concerns in relation to Islam in Albania. Nevertheless, Albania is indeed assisting to counter radical Islamic jihadiees, therefore unlike some other European nations which have demonstrated a record of appeasement when it comes to joining various counter terrorism coalitions, Albania stands tall.