may 2015

protection of minority Languages in Serbia Largely

Bosniak Flag Day celebration

HOLIDAYRESEARCHMore women inNational Minoritycouncils

minority News16

Balint pastor

INTERVIEW

Comprehensive solutions needed

ROMA COMMUNITY

Strategy forimprovementof the state of

roma people till the end ofSeptember

Improved

Serbia is still (not) silent in minority languages

After much discussion, public debates, professional and unpro-fessional meetings about consequences of Law on Privatizationfor media, on languages of national minorities, solution isfound, though temporary and expected, but yet the one thatwe cannot say that Serbia stays without media in minority lan-guages, on 1st July. It would destroy summer holidays to many,or disturb other plans for the hottest season, so that everyonewas happy, in the first place state officers and officials, whendecision was postponed until 1st November.

Prudence of decision postponement is not just the thing thatwe can all carelessly enjoy our summer holiday, but also be-cause in those holiday months we get additional time to findinterested investors in media in minority languages, whom,until 31st of October we will convince that buying media in mi-nority language in Serbia, during summer, became a real hitand great investment for future. Of course, if they do not expectback their invested capital, and it is well known that investors,just of you explain the things properly, are willing to take carealso about public interest instead of state.

Who said that informing in languages of national minorities ispublic interest? Did anyone even think that maybe until the endof October no interested investor in national minorities` lan-guage media will appear?

I think it is not fair to set difficult questions before holidays, andthat we should try harder to choose an appropriate destination(in Serbia, of course) for holiday, and to try on that very desti-nation, during excursion, at the beach, or after lunch, to findan investor in radio station in Albanian language or in televisionin Slovak, or maybe in daily newspaper in Bulgarian language.I wish pleasant and careless summer to all members of nationalminorities, and especially to those employed with minority lan-guages media.

Croatia: minority dissatisfied

National minorities in Croatia on 31.May chose their members for na-tional councils. Only few days beforethat event, representatives of eightnational minorities in Council signedDeclaration on unbearableness andethnocentrism in Croatia.

Eva Vukašinović met with presi-dents of five National MinorityCouncils.

HIGHLIGHTS EDITORIAL

on european path

Scientific, literary and informativeeditions of Bunjevci institutions andassociations, art works in straw tech-nique, costume, national dances andbeauties of Bunjevacki language – allthis was presented at the fair of mi-nority languages and cultures.

National Councils onworking councils inKovačica

In Kovačica, on 9th i 10th May wasgiven big working meeting of Coor-dination of National Councils in ex-panded form. Host of the meetingwas Slovak National council, presi-dent of which is also president of Co-ordination of National Councils.

deputy ombudsman forNational minority rights

protection met with repre-sentatives of five National

minority Councils

Members of 30 different communities live in Serbia.

www.minoritynews.rs right place for everybody

NeWS

They discussed current issues relevantto each minority community specifically,as well as the ways its members holdthat the Provincial Protector of Citizens- Ombudsman could contribute to theadvancement of their personal and col-lective human rights exercise and pro-tection.

The fact that National Minority Councilsare not recognized in other laws thatconcern minority rights exercise directlyor indirectly is a key problem faced bythe National Minority Councils in theireveryday work. Other issues discussedon these occasions were the experienceconcerning the last elections for newNational Minority Councils, along withthe representation of women in them.Based on its mandate, Provincial Protec-tor of Citizens - Ombudsman has estab-lished cooperation with all NationalMinority Councils members of which livein the AP Vojvodina and monitored theirwork based on the provisions of the Na-tional Minority Councils Law. Detaileddata on the exercise of the National Mi-nority Councils mandate during theirfirst term have been published in Provin-cial Protector of Citizens - Ombudsmanresearch study report ”Four Years of theNational Minority Councils”.

3 Minority News

eputy ombudsman for Na-tional minority rights pro-tection, eva vukašinović,met with presidents of five

National minority Councils.

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Deputy Ombudsman for National Minority Rights Protection met

with representatives of five National Minority Councils

NeWS

Unsatisfactory status, of Serbian na-tional minority first of all, was pointedout also by Serbian national council. Sit-uation is especially worsen after enter-ing European Union. Until recently, the attacks on Serbs inCroatia were worst in return places.Now they are extended to whole coun-try – it is the last report of Serbian na-tional council, where all incidents arenumbered, especially during last year.President of Serbian national council,Milorad Pupovac, says that Croatia isstanding in front of serious challenge torecover nationalism and nationalistic ex-clusiveness, and evidence of that is dec-laration signed by eight representativesof national councils in Croatian council,as well as the president of council. National minorities in Croatia are facedwith escalation of intolerance and eth-nocentrism – says Declaration. State-

ment of a Croatian woman representa-tive in European parliament, who callsfor cancellation of minority status andethnic cleansing is criticised. In Office forhuman rights and rights of national mi-norities of Croatian Government is con-

firmed that attacks on minorities arebigger and bigger, but it is solved withStatute. Institution in charge of solving status

questions is Ministry of Interior (MUP),which solves those questions for minori-ties and most part of population. Someother questions are in charge of Ministryfor culture and some in charge of Min-istry for sport, and so on… But it shouldbe said that there is great political willfor realisation of minority rights gener-ally, said director`s Assistant in Office forhuman rights and rights of national mi-norities in Government of the Republicof Croatia, Bahrija Sejfić. Though it has50 different nations, Croatia is one of themost nationally homogenous countriesin the world. According to last registra-tion more than 90 per cent of citizensdeclare as Croatian. It means that all mi-norities altogether make less than 10per cent. In accordance with these num-bers, it is not a surprising fact that elec-tions for councils of national minoritiesin Croatia are on margins of interest oftheir political public and media – allthose who received reports about badstatus of minorities and who still did notanswer them.

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Croatia: minorities dissatisfiedSource: rTv

Minority News

National minorities in Croatia, on 31st of may chose their membersfor national councils. only few days before that event, representativesof eight national minorities in Council signed declaration on unbear-ableness and ethnocentrism in Croatia.

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According to the most recentcensus more than 90 per centof citizens declare as Croatian.

It means that all minorities altogether make less than 10

per cent.

President of Serbian national council, Milorad Pupovac, says that Croatia is standing in front of serious challengeto recover nationalism and nationalistic exclusiveness, and evidence of that is declaration signed by eight repre-

sentatives of national councils in Croatian council, as well as the president of council

reSeArCH

NeWS

The aim of research was to see in whatmeasure during elections for nationalcouncils of national minorities, in Octo-ber 2014 is respected legal obligationabout candidacy of 30 per cent ofwomen on lists and how many of themthere are today in membership of na-tional councils.

Results of research show that women,at an average, make a little more thanone third of membership in nationalcouncils. Of 14 national councils of na-tional minorities who submitted data, intwo national councils there are less than30 per cent of women, two of themhave more than 40 per cent, and threeof them a little less than 40 per cent ofwomen. In former meeting of nationalcouncils there were almost three timesmore of men – 93 of them, against 39women.

Two national councils have women pres-idents, nine of them have women who

are vice presidents, and almost twotimes more of men- 15 of them arepresidents.

It is obvious that difference in numberof women against men is decreased asthe function in internal hierarchy of na-tional council is of lower significance.There are, for instance, more number ofwomen on the position of secretary ofnational council (seven women againsttwo men), while more women there areonly in professional services of nationalcouncils (36 women against 14 men).On the position of president of boardthere are two times more of men thanwomen (27 men against 14 women),and only at the front of board for educa-tion there are more women (six of themagainst four men).

Only three national councils (Croatian,Macedonian and Slovak minorities) haveworking body dealing with the status ofwomen and protection of their rights.

Nine national councils worked on the in-crease of women on the positions fordecision making in national council, andgenerally in politics before elections fornational councils, and campaigns forcandidacy of women on elections for na-tional councils was led by eight nationalcouncils.

Provincial ombudsman, just as after pre-vious two researches about position ofwomen in national councils, points outthe need for promotion of women onthe positions of decision making. Na-tional councils should continue…

5 Minority News

articipation of women in national councils is slightly increased andnow there are 106 of them, eight more than in former period – theseare results of newest research about status of women in nationalcouncils of the national minorities done by provincial protector ofCitizens.

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Na mestu predsednika odbora dvostruko je više muškaraca nego žena (27 muškaraca u odnosu na 14 žena)

More women in national councilsSource: Tanjug

Participation in the process of harmoniz-ing normative acts for European integralprocedure took majority of Nationalcouncils, and work was done in separategroups which worked on fields of edu-cation, culture, informing and officialuse of language and letter. Special taskhad working group which consideredScheme of Action plan for chapter 23,with which begin negotiations about en-tering EU. In accordance with the signifi-cance of participation in this process,National council of Czech national mi-

nority had representatives in all fields: -Prof. Jože Sivaček “Action plan – chapter23”;- Master manager Jaroslav Hoc,“Culture”; - media manager JaroslavBodnar, “Informing”; - Prof. ValentinaHoc, educational inspector, “Education”;- licentiate engineer Milan Fürst, “Lan-guage and letter”. After working ingroups and harmonizing mutual inter-ests of all National councils, theses areestablished which could be imple-mented into Action plan. They are pre-sented and explained by all working

groups, on collective meeting of all par-ticipants the following day. After discus-sion of all fields, presented attitudes areaccepted with acclamation. Nationalcouncils have remaining few days to har-monize and form the document whichwill directly reflect attitudes of nationalminorities in the Republic of Serbia,about elements which should be part ofAction plan, in order to save and im-prove the achieved rights of national mi-norities. Once when it is accepted, andthe process of its realisation begins, hardwork on its improvement, which was theaim of this meeting, will be justified andthe results will be far-reaching.

n Kovačica, on 9th i 10th may was given big working meeting of Co-ordination of National Councils in expanded form. Host of the meet-ing was Slovak National council, president of which is also presidentof Coordination of National Councils.

I

National Councils on working councils in Kovačica

J. Bodnar

Program of celebrating the Flag DayDana began on 9 May 2015. with thepromotion of Dictionary of Bosnian lan-guage, by author Prof. Dževad Jahić, inHead office of the Council in Novi Pazar,and in the same day, in Tutin and Sjenicaare kept semi-final evenings of Parade ofBosniak folk dances – SBONI 2015. Cen-tral ceremony of this year celebration ofthe Day of Bosniak national flag is keptin Novi Pazar on 10 May 2015. In Headoffice of the Council, for high officialsfrom all towns of Sandžak and guestsfrom Bosnia and Herzegovina and Mon-tenegro, president of the Council, DrSulejman Ugljanin, together with vice-president of Bosniak council in Mon-tenegro, Munib Ličina, and president ofExecutive board of Bosniak council inMontenegro, Mirsad Džudžević, organ-ized ceremonial reception, after whichfollowed traditional flag lifting ofBosniak in front of the seat of Head of-fice of the Council. Along with tuning thehymn of Bosniak “I am your son“, flagwas lifted on pole by eminent Sandžaksportswoman, representative of Serbia

in athletics, European champion in crossrace and multiple winner of many ath-letic competitions around the world,Amela Terzić. Congratulating to all Bosni-aks their biggest national holiday – Dayof Bosniak national flag, president ofBosniak national council, Dr. SulejmanUgljanin, in his ceremonial addressingemphasized necessity of preserving the

national identity, emphasizing on thisoccasion importance of flag as nationalsymbol of all nations. Final Parade ofBosniak folk dances - SBONI 2015. Beganwith defile of participants of the Dancesform building of the Head office of theCouncil, to the Music Hall of Novi Pazar,where public was met with fantasticpresentation of cultural artistic societiesfrom Brčko, Goražde, Rožaje, Petnica,Tutin, Sjenica and Novi Pazar. Program ofcelebrating the Flag Day will be contin-ued on 11 May 2015 in Sjenica, with cer-emonial flag lifting in front of thebuilding of municipality of Sjenica, andin Novi Pazar with opening the exhibi-tion of art works and assigning of prizesto winners of competitions and to thebest placed students on republic com-petition from Bosnian language. In thesame day, beginning at 8.00 pm, in DomRevolucije in Prijepolje, will be organizedcelebration of the Day of Bosniak na-tional flag, and in rich cultural and enter-taining program will participate folkensemble of Multimedia Center fromTutin and group “Derman“ from NoviPazar. Day of Bosniak national flag, withoccasional programs, will be celebratedin the following days also in Nova Varošand Priboj.

6 Minority News

BoSNIAK CommuNITy

The Bosniaks celebrate Flag day

Bosniak national council, inhonour of celebration ofmay 11th – day of Bosniaknational flag, in all Sandžak

towns organizes occasional celebra-tions and cultural manifestations.

BSource: Bošnjačko nacionalno vijeće

On meeting, beside representatives ofthe Office, participated also representa-tives of Ministry of Public Administrationand Local Self-Government, Ministry ofJustice, Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Min-istry of Education, Science and Techno-logical Development, Ministry of Cultureand Information and Government ofSerbia Coordination Body for municipal-ities of Preševo, Bujanovac andMedveđa. Member of the Committee ofexperts, Diter Halvaks, emphasized thatSerbia achieved big progress in protec-tion of minority languages, but that stillthere are certain problems in fields ofeducation, use of minority languages injurisdiction, as well as on all levels of ad-ministrative authority.

Halvaks also expressed worry that ap-proaching process of privatisation ofmedia will question previous level of in-forming in minority languages in elec-tronic media. Second vice-president ofthe Committee of experts and reporter,Stefan Oeter, emphasized that withineducation in minority languages a signif-icant step forward is evidenced, espe-cially with Bunjevacki and Vlachlanguages, and he mentioned that par-ents and children should be additionallymotivated to educate children in theirnative language. Representatives ofMinistry of Education, Science and Tech-nological Development emphasized thata special action plan for education of na-tional minorities is made, which will be

presented during Jun to the nationalcouncils. Visit of the Committee of ex-perts to the Republic of Serbia from 3-5Jun is organized with the aim of percep-tion of fulfilling obligations that Republicof Serbia took with entering this interna-tional agreement. During visit, membersof the Committee of experts of theCouncil of Europe talked to the repre-sentatives of the republic, provincial andtown authorities, and to the representa-tives of national councils of national mi-norities. In organisation of the Office forhuman and minority rights, Committeeof experts had meetings in Novi Sad withrepresentatives of Secretariat for Educa-tion, Regulations, Administration andNational Minorities – National Commu-nities, Secretariat for Culture and PublicInformation, Secretariat for Inter-re-gional Cooperation and Local Manage-ment, Novi Sad, it is said in report of theOffice.

7 Minority News

NEWS

Achieved big progress in protection ofminority languages in Serbia

ffice for human and minority rights of the Government of the republicof Serbia organized in the palace Serbia meeting of representatives ofCommittees of experts of european charter about regional or minoritylanguages of the Council of europe and state bodiesO

Stefan Oeter, emphasized that within education in minority languages a significant step forward is evidenced, es-pecially with Bunjevacki and Vlach languages

President of Macedoniannational council, BorčeVeličkovski, expresseddeep worry and empha-sized that Macedonian na-tional community in Serbiain disbelief follows on-go-ings in the Republic ofMacedonia.

- We disapprove any act ofterrorism and breaking oflaw, and we refer messageto our Headquarters thatwe expect making effortfor solving current state, asit suits to a contemporaryand sovereign European

country. We ask for humil-ity and patience, toleranceand mutual respect. Weappeal to all political fac-tors in the Republic ofMacedonia to findstrength, and to find solu-tion via dialogue and mu-tual respect, in order toovercome the existingproblems. We believe thatthere is possibility, wishand political will for that,for the sake of public wel-fare of Macedonian peo-ple and all citizens ofMacedonia - emphasizedVeličkovski.

8 Minority News

memorial to the policemen-victims inKumanovo

ight policemen died, and 37 were injuredduring conflicts with terrorists in Kumanovo,on 9 and 10 may 2015, in macedonia. re-public of macedonia on this occasion an-nounced two grieving days, and members of

macedonian national community I the republic of Ser-bia, with flowers and burning candles paid respect topolicemen-victims in Kumanovo, in front of the em-bassy of the republic of macedonia in Belgrade.

E

mACedoNIAN CommuNITy

Representatives of national councils ofBunjevci, Hungarian, German andRuthenian national minorities partici-pated in training about discriminationand mechanisms of protection from dis-crimination, intended for members ofnational councils of national minorities.Training is organized in National Theatre,within project ”Let equality become re-ality”, led by Commissioner for Protec-tion of Equality and Union of theAssociations ”Human Rights House”.Bunjevci national community on thisseminar was represented by womanpresident of BNC, Mr. Suzana KujundžićOstojić, and members of BNC – MirkoBajić, Stanislava Lutkić and DejanParčetić.

– This is the third of five planned semi-nars on Serbian territory, held with theaim of introducing representatives of na-tional councils with instruments in fightagainst discrimination, introduction tothe institution of Commissioner for Pro-tection of Equality.

Seminar also includes training within fill-ing in accusation and introduction to the

procedure which comes after that – em-phasized one of the lecturers, SlobodanMilivojević, counsellor in professional

service for protection of equality.Woman lawyer, from the Committee oflawyers for human rights, KristinaTodorović, emphasized that Committeeis dealing with prohibition of discrimina-tion and training of citizens, with accenton minority groups about what discrim-ination is and what are the ways inwhich persons, who thinks themselvesbeing in danger, can be protectedthrough competent institutions.

– As for discrimination, Commissionerfor Protection of Equality should be re-ferred, considering that he is the onewho can enter into private relations be-tween private persons, unlike the pro-tector of citizens who can react only ifoffence is made by the authority body.And that is essential difference betweenthese two independent bodies, that wetry to make clear to the seminar partici-pants – emphasized lawyer Todorovićand expressed expectations after semi-nar.

– We expect increase of information, i.e.knowledge about topic of discriminationamong representatives of national coun-cils of national minorities, and we willmeasure it, among the rest, with in-creased number of charges with Com-missioner for Protection of Equality.Certainly, we expect from representa-tives of national councils to deliver thisinformation to more people, i.e. to theirnational community. Bunjevci nationalcouncil sends message that for everycase of discrimination members of Bun-jevci national minority can refer first tothe Bunjevci national council, afterwhich actions will be taken according tothe law.

9 Minority News

BuNJevCI CommuNITy

Bunjevci national council sends message that for every case of discrimination members of Bunjevci nationalminority can refer first to the Bunjevci national council

Training of members of national councils within project

“Let equality become reality”

As for discrimination,Commissioner for Protection

of Equality should bereferred, considering that heis the one who can enter into

private relations betweenprivate persons, unlike the

protector of citizens who canreact only if offence is made

by the authority body

n Sombor, on Tuesday 26 of may, is given seminar–workshop on topic”role of national councils of national minorities in fight against discrim-ination”.I

Before Council Meeting for improve-ment of the state of Roma people andconduction of Decade of including Romapeople, he said to journalists that Strat-egy will be on public hearing until theend of July, and expects it to be adoptedon 15 September or at latest until theend of September. Ivanišević said thatmembers of Roma national minority willcontribute a lot to the making of Strat-egy, because, as he said, they can definetheir needs in the best way. He said thathe is satisfied with the results of Decadeof Roma 2005-2015, and emphasizedthat state will ask for more active partic-ipation of members of Roma nationalcommunity and NGOs in the followingperiod. Head of the negotiating team forentering of Serbia into EU, Tanja

Miščevih, who was present at the meet-ing, said to the journalists that the workof council is significant, not only for theprocedure of European integrations, butalso for the protection of human rightsand improvement of economic positionof Serbia. She said that the question of inclusion ofRoma people exists in few chapters innegotiations with EU – from basic rights,through education and social welfare,employment, and to the improvementof enterprise. "This is mutual work, and it is not con-nected only with the process of negoti-ations, for question of social inclusion ofRoma people overcomes process of Eu-ropean integrations", said Miščević.President of National council of Romapeople, Vitomir Mihajlović, said thatGovernment, in the process of negotia-tion with EU subscribed to make newstrategy and action plans. Speakingabout realisation of Decade of Romapeople from 2005 to 2015, Mihajlovićsaid that he cannot be fully satisfied withall results. According to his words, ex-pectations are fulfilled within area of ed-ucation and health state of Romapeople, but within area of housing andemployment there are no results." In fu-ture period we will insist on employ-ment of members of Roma nationalcommunity, which is the biggest barrierin realisation of all other rights. “Wehave members of Roma national com-munity who wait for years at the Em-ployment Bureau ", said Mihajlović. Hereminded that affirmative measures areapplied for entry of Roma people to theFaculties, but that the problem now isthat those who have Faculty diploma areat the Employment Bureau for few yearsand cannot find job. "If you apply affir-mative measure for entry on studies,and you cannot find a job, then we donot have effect of affirmative measuresthat we apply", said Mihajlović. Topic of

the meeting was Strategy for improve-ment of the state of Roma people andexpert board that will work on actionplans for new strategy from 2015 - 2020.

10 Minority News

State will ask for more active participation of members of Roma national community and NGOs in the followingperiod

romA CommuNITy

ew Strategy for improvement of the state of roma people, which willfollow politics of Government in the process of joining eu, will beadopted until the end of September, announced state secretary in min-istry of Labor, employment, veterans and Social Affairs, Nenad

Ivanišević.

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Strategy for improvement of the state of roma people until

the end of September

“Question of inclusion ofRoma people exists in few

chapters in negotiations withEU – from basic rights,

through education and socialwelfare, employment, and to

the improvement ofenterprise.”

Tanja miščević

“Expectations are fulfilledwithin area of education andhealth state of Roma people,

but within area of housingand employment there areno results." In future period

we will insist on employmentof members of Roma

national community, which isthe biggest barrier in

realisation of all other rights”

vitormir mihajlović

Faculty of Philology of the University ofBelgrade from 28 to 30 of May was hostof XV international scientific meetingunder the title ”Minority languages ineducation and teaching: challenges andnew guides”. It is about meeting whichis kept for thirty years in different Uni-versity centres in the world, and whichdeals with the questions of minority lan-guages, and it gathers numerous expertsfrom this scientific field from country

and the world.

ratification of language – stability ofcommunity

Conference inauguration was kept onThursday 28 of May, within building ofthe Head office of the University in Bel-grade, and at the ceremony, in front ofNational council of Bunjevci national mi-nority, was present president of the

Council, Mr. Suzana Kujundžić Ostojić.

Primary aim of the conference is pre-senting of achievements and good prac-tice from area of teaching of minorityand regional languages, as well as ex-change of experience and making guidesfor further studies, and also develop-ment of formal and informal educationin minority languages. According to Prof.Julijana Vučo, professor at the Faculty ofPhilology and president of organizingcommittee, conference is significantlyrelevant for deepening and strengthen-ing already existing successful connec-

11 Minority News

XV international scientific meeting ”Minority languages in education and teaching: challenges and new guides”

Primary aim of the conference is presenting of achievements and good practice from area of teaching of minorityand regional languages, as well as exchange of experience

BuNJevCI CommuNITy

oN europeAN pATHcientific, literary and informative editions of Bunjevci institutions andassociations, art works in straw technique, costume, national dancesand beauties of Bunjevacki language – all this was presented at the fairof minority languages and cultures.

S

tions with Universities from the region,Europe and the world, as well as formaking new possibilities of scientificand University cooperation.

–We live in a moment when plurilingual-ism in Europe is extremely respected, re-spect of any language separately and alllanguages together, that are cultivatedand used in Europe, represent task forall those employed with culture and ed-ucation, and especially for Faculty ofPhilology and Ministry of Education, aswell as similar institutions in our country–said Vučo, end expressed her beliefthat future of minority languages is notendangered, but that it is, as she said,extremely positive.

– Language vanishing depends first of allon its speaker, on his wish and strengthto confront everything that can be rea-son for vanishing of language, and it iseconomic, political and other reasons. I

believe that in Serbia today there shouldnot exist danger of vanishing of any mi-nority language, if we happen to be inthe situation to make conditions for ed-ucation in those languages, and it is alsoimportant for members of minorities tobe included into the context of Serbiansocial community, through knowledgeof the language of majority, Serbian lan-guage – concluded our interlocutor.

Conference was officially opened byProf. Ranko Bugarski, who spoke aboutEuropean charter on regional and mi-nority languages after two decades.Considering that Prof. Bugarski is expertof the Council of Europe for regionaland minority languages, he is greatly fa-miliar with work of Bunjevci nationalcouncil, with difficulties that it faces re-lated to the standardization of language,as well as with specific characteristics ofBunjevci national minority.

- As for the status of Bunjevacki speech,i.e. language, it is practically about ter-minology difference which is more dic-tated by outside conditions, mostly ofpolitical nature, because difference be-tween speech and language is actuallynot linguistic. When there comes the ad-vancement of procedure of standardiza-tion of Bunjevacki speech, which is inprogress, then it will be easier to passover that barrier, and then Bunjevci canofficially be named as language – saidProf. Bugarski, and commentedpolemics that happened recently, aboutpublishing of Bunjevci reading book andgrammar “Klupče” in Cyrillic alphabet.Namely, he thinks that the polemics wasuseless, because situation is such thatchildren, even minority groups, inschools first study Cyrillic, and just afterthat Latin alphabet.

12 Minority News

Housing is one of the biggest problemsnot only for Roma people in Belgrade,but for Roma in whole Serbia, and thisproject “Let us build a home together”aims to improve life conditions for themost endangered Roma families in Bel-grade. It should serve as an example and

base to all local autonomies and munic-ipalities in the Republic of Serbia how todeal with this problem and how to solveone of the biggest problems for Romapeople. Thanks to the European Union,Office of United Nations for project ac-tivities and to the city of Belgrade, today

12 Roma families got roofs over theirheads. Mayor of Belgrade, Siniša Mali, MajklDevenport, head of European delega-tion in Serbia, Nataša Stanisavljević, sec-retary of Secretariat for social welfare,Dragana Milošević manager of UNOPS,Vitomir Mihajlović, president of Nationalcouncil of Roma people and the restwere present at the delivery of keys andmoving of Roma families into new apart-ments.

13 Minority News

romA CommuNITy

n Wednesday, 26 may 2015, 12 apartments are given to the most en-dangered roma families in Belgrade. Families got apartments inorlovsko settlement – municipality Zvezdara.O

New apartments for 12 roma families

14 Minority News

Prof. Sivaček stated that 11 Articles of the Law define bulletin and way of voting and only 1 Article defines whole area of official use of language and letter

NEWS

During three-days work within Expertmission questions and problems frommany fields of functioning of nationalcouncils of national minorities are con-sidered. Especially is analysed applica-tion of Law on national councils ofnational minorities within areas of edu-cation, culture, informing in the lan-guages of national minorities, as well asofficial use of language and letter. In hispresentation Prof. Sivaček pointed outmany failures of the existing Law on na-tional councils of national minorities. Heespecially emphasized its normative-legal inconsistency, which resulted inthat national councils, from subjects of

regulation, in law became objects. He il-lustrated this with the fact that of totalnumber of Articles of the Law, 141 ofthem, only 38 consider problems ofwork of national councils, and the restof 103 Articles describe elections for na-tional council and work of state admin-istration bodies. As a figurative example,Prof. Sivaček stated that 11 Articles ofthe Law define bulletin and way of vot-ing (size and colour of bulletin, way ofputting it into voting-box…) and only 1Article (Art. 22 of the Law) defines wholearea of official use of language and let-ter. Suggestion of Prof. Sivaček is thatnew law about national councils of na-

tional minorities must be made, whichwill respect real minority needs in theRepublic of Serbia. Separate segment ofexpert analysis was question of financ-ing national councils of national minori-ties. Attention is paid also to thefunctioning of bodies of national coun-cils and determining of working status ofthose employed in national councils.Professor Hofman was also interested inquestion of election for members of na-tional councils, with problems appearingwithin process of forming the lists, pro-cedure of constitution and work ofcouncils after elections. It can be con-cluded that the aim of Expert missionwas perception of normative-legalframe of the Republic of Serbia, onwhich national councils of national mi-norities function, and all of that aimingto adjust legal norms to the laws valid forEuropean Union.

meeting of expert mission (TeIeX)In period from 27 to 29 may 2015, in rooms of ministry of public Administration and Local Self-Government of Serbian

Government in Belgrade, are kept more meetings of expert mission (TeIeX), organized by european Committee –directorate for Legal Service and enlargement.

expert mission from Brussels was headed by prof. Hofman rajner. Na-tional council of Czech national minority was represented by presidentof the Council prof. Jože Sivaček.E

Source: Nacionalni savet češke nacionalne manjine

Balint Pastor explained that subgrouphas four members, and it keeps connec-tions with ministerial groups, out of par-liament parties, professionalassociations, representatives of scienceand civil organisations. All suggestionsthat it gets on public hearing this sub-group will present to the action group,which will decide about order of topicsthat will be found on the table of parlia-mentary group, working on restructureof Serbian political system.

- There will be more possibility for ques-tions of great important for Hungariannational minority, to be consideredmore accurately by action group, andthat the possibilities are not limited tothe fact that we on meetings of actiongroup explain what we want to restateI relation to the political system – saidleader of ministerial group of SVM,adding that in the beginning subgroupwas thought to have three members,who would be delegated by three most

numerous ministerial groups, but sug-gestion of SVM enabled the most nu-merous minority group to participate inthe work.

Public hearings will start on 17 Jun, andSVM will present its suggestions on 22Jun.

– We think that change of Statuteshould be started, i.e. change of someof its elements.

In all countries Statute is the most im-portant legal act, and all other actsshould be accordant to it. Of course,from the perspective of stability fre-quent change of Statute is not good, butif we take into account the way in whichvalid Statute is adopted in 2006, that ithappened too quickly, that there was noany public or professional discussion be-fore adoption, then there is no wonderthat in the text of the Statute there areillogical things, mistakes that must becorrected. Statute should be read in de-tails, from sentence to sentence, and tocorrect mistakes in the same way. It isinadmissible, for instance, that Statutemixes terms of owner and ownership,or that the same question is treatedcompletely differently by two para-graphs of the Statute – says Pastor.

Head of ministerial group SVM alsocommented initiative of Serbian Pro-gressive Party according to which num-ber of members of parliament shouldbe decreased from 250 to 150.

- Statute defines number of parliamen-tary members, and it is 250. If anyonewants to change that, then automati-cally question of change of Statute israised. We think that Statute should bechanged for many reasons, not only be-cause of the number of its members.

15 Minority News

e want statute to regulate more precisely and accurately the legalstatus of national councils, i.e. the part concerning autonomy ofvojvodina to be more precise and to give more authority to theprovince, so that the authority cannot be changed easily by futureparliament majority – said for “mađar so“ Balint pastor, head of

ministerial group of Alliance of vojvodina Hungarians (Svm) relating to the newsthat these days is formed sub-board of working group dealing with restructureof Serbian political system, and where its representative has Svm.

W

Magyar Szo

Balint pastor:Comprehensive

solutions needed

“We think that change ofStatute should be started, i.e.

change of some of itselements. In all countries

Statute is the most importantlegal act, and all other actsshould be accordant to it.”

Balint pastor

Not to speak about the thing that if thistopic is raised, there are many para-graphs of Statute related closely to thequestion of number of parliamentmembers, so that those paragraphsshould also be changed. For instance,rules related to the interpellations,which are one of the techniques ofgovernmental control made by parlia-ment. According to Statute, interpella-tion can be given by 50 members ofthe parliament. In case that number ofmembers is decreased, then also mustbe decreased number needed for giv-ing interpellations. Question of consti-tutionality of certain laws can beinitiated by 30 members, in case of al-ready accepted but still not valid laws,and so in this case too number neededfor initiative of constitutionality shouldbe decreased. These changes would

give right for further changes, for in-stance, decreased should be numberof parliamentary members on provin-cial i.e. municipality level. Though itlooks that decrease of members ispopular, in a heterogeneous place asSerbia, it would be pretty irresponsibleto decrease number of members, inthe way that certain social groups, thathave representatives in parliament areleft without representatives.

- At the moment the most differencesare shown in the fact that according toopinions of majority of groups onlylaws should be changed, and Statuteshould stay as it is. I am convinced thatthe process can begin only if the resultof changes will be comprehensive so-lutions that will correct mistakes thatauthority made in 2006. when it ac-cepted the Statute – said Balint Pastor.

16 Minority News

We think that change of Statute should be started, i.e. change of some of its elements.

In case that number of members is decreased, then also must be decreased number needed for giving interpellations

Bálint Pásztor (Balint Pastor), jurist, member of parliament, presi-dent of Ministerial group of Alliance of Vojvodina Hungarians, wasborn on 3 January 1979 in Subotica.Primary and Grammar school he completed in his native town, andgraduated at the Faculty of Law of the University of Belgrade, onFebruary 2002. At the same Faculty, on October 2011 he acquiredacademic title Master, from Constitutional Law scientific field. OnNovember 2011 he enrolled doctoral studies at the Faculty of Lawin Belgrade. From April 2002 he was legal adviser of Subotica Ltd for consultingPannon Invest Consortium, and from January 2004 to February2007 he was director of this business organization.From 19 October 2002 to 30 Jun 2010 he was member of Nationalcouncil of Hungarian national minority. From 6 December 2002 to11 December 2009 he was president of executive board ofNCHNM.He is member of Alliance of Vojvodina Hungarians from 13 Sep-tember 2000. During elections in 2000 he was member of CenterCampaign Staff od Democratic Opposition of Serbia (DOS), dele-gated by SVM. From May 2007 he is member of Presidency ofSVM.From 14 February 2007 he is member of parliament, president ofMinisterial group of minorities, member of Foreign Affairs Commit-tee and Legislative Committee of National Assembly.From 11 Jun 2008 in second mandate he is member of parliament,president of Ministerial group of minorities, member of Foreign Af-fairs Committee and Committee on Finance of National Assembly.From 31 May 2012 in third mandate he is member of parliament,president of independent Ministerial group SVM, which is re-formed after more than ten years, member of Committee for Con-stitutional Affairs and Legislation of National Assembly.From 16 April 2014 in fourth mandate he is member of parliament,president of Ministerial group SVM, member of Committee forConstitutional Affairs and Legislation of National Assembly, presi-dent of Ministerial group of friendship with Spain.From September 2014 he is teaching assistant for subject Constitu-tional Law at the Faculty of Law for Economy and Legislation of theUniversity of Economic Academy.He speaks English language. He is married, and is father of a son.

Biography

“Though it looks thatdecrease of members is

popular, in a heterogeneousplace as Serbia, it would be

pretty irresponsible todecrease number of

members, in the way thatcertain social groups, that

have representatives inparliament are left without

representatives”

Balint pastor

This newsletter is funded by the Open Society Foundation, Embassy of the United States of America in Belgrade and the OSCE Mission in Serbia. Opinions expressed in Minority News newsletter do not necessarily represent the official positions of the Governments and and organizations that fund this

project.