General List No. 62 Advisory Opinion No. 26 6 April 1935 PERMANENT COURT OF INTERNATIONAL JUSTICE Thirty Fourth (Ordinary) Session Minority Schools in Albania Advisory Opinion BEFORE: President: Sir Cecil Hurst ViceGuerrero President: Baron Rolin-Jaequemyns, Count Rostworowski, Fromageot, Judges: Altamira, Anzilotti, Urrutia, Schücking, Negulesco, Jhr. Van Eysinga Perm. Link: http://www.worldcourts.com/pcij/eng/decisions/1935.04.06_albania.htm Citation: Minority Schools in Albania, Advisory Opinion, 1935 P.C.I.J. (ser. A/B) No. 64 (Apr. 6) Publication: Publications of the Permanent Court of International Justice Series A/B No. 64; Collection of Judgment, Orders and Advisory Opinions A.W. Sijthoff’s Publishing Company, Leyden, 1925 [p5] The Court, composed as above, gives the following opinion: [1] On January 18th, 1935, the Council of the League of Nations adopted the following Resolution: “The Council of the League of Nations, In consideration of the Albanian Declaration made before the Council on October 2nd, 1921, Article 5 of which reads as follows: ‘Albanian nationals who belong to racial, religious or linguistic minorities will enjoy the same treatment and security in law and in fact as other Albanian nationals. In particular they shall have an equal right to maintain, manage and control at their own expense or to establish in the future, charitable, religious and social institutions, schools and other educational establishments, with the right to use their own language and to exercise their religion freely therein. Within six months from the date of the present Declaration, detailed information will be presented to the Council of the League of Nations with regard to the legal status of the religious communities, Churches, Convents, schools, voluntary establishments, and associations of racial, religious and linguistic minorities. The Albanian Government will take into consideration any advice it might receive from the League of Nations with regard to this question.’ In consideration of the provisions of Articles 206-207 of the Albanian Constitution of 1933, which read as follows: ‘The instruction and education of Albanian subjects are reserved to the State and will be given in State schools. Primary education is compulsory for all Albanian nationals and will be given free of charge. Private schools of all categories at present in operation will be closed’;