Minister Ružić Meets with Representatives of Europe Insists on Rights of the National Minority National Minorities – Councils Respects These Rights

38 Minority Newjuly 2s 017

Jenő Hajnal: National Identity Is Our Most Valuable Treasure

Participants in the Regional “Rose”- a Symbol NDI Roma Program Visit the and First Association Assembly of AP with Ruthenians HIGHLIGHT EDITORIAL 38 Minister Ružić Meets with Repre sentatives Rich ness i n Diver sity of the National Minority Do bar dan, mi rëdita, jó na pot, добър ден, bun ă ziua... B u njevac Councils Dužijan ca, Rut henian “Red Rose“, uniq ue Vlach customs , Rom a music , colourfu l Slovak natio na l costumes, kulen saus a ge from On July 25, in the Pal ace Serbia, Minister of Public Administration and Local Self- Pet rovac… – are on ly few of the featur es of the multina tional and m ulti cultural m osa ic of ou r coun try . Gover nment, Brank o Ruž ić, met with the represe ntatives of the natio na l mi - There is n o nee d to em phasize that nu merous minorities have nority co uncils in o rder to be i nformed lived in these lands together for centuries. Our politicians and about t he activ ities of the n ational mi - numero us foreign v isit ors fre quently p oint to th is fa ct. T he Au - nority counc ils an d the mo st imp ortant tonomous Province of Vojvodina is an unique example of multi - challenges they face in their work. national environm ent, and h as been reco gnized as a “Sma ll Eu - rope” du e t o its e xcepti o nal compos ition. With t he ob jective to rais e aw a reness of the ge n eral p ublic on Delegation of the the richnes s of ou r co un try in diversities – l ing uisti c, c ul tural, European Commission co nfessional, a nd on the im portan c e of preservation of this ex - Visits th e Office of Hu man clusive fortune, the Office of Human and Minority Rights an d Min o rity Rights laIunch ed the ca mp aig n “To gethe r W e Are S erbia” on July 1. The camp aign h a s a promotio nal video , with participa t ion of nu - On July 11, at the Palace Serbia, the merous member s o f na tional min oritie s in their traditional n a - Director of the Office of Human and tional costumes. The campaign will last until December 10, the Minority Rig hts, Suzana Paunović, met zbog toga with the representativ es of th e Exper t Inšter nat ional Day of H uman R ights . On this da y last y ear, th e Mission of th e Europ e an Comm ission, first F air o f Nationa l Minoriti es was organize d by the Office of in orde r to exch ange i nformation o n Human and Minor ity Rights. D urin g th is event, m embe rs of na - the measu res ta ken for social in clusion tional minorities presented their culture, their gastronomy, their customs. što uzdišemo za „starletama“ koje of Roma men and women in the Re - s public of Serbia. Although we started this editorial by festivals and customs, we sho uld not create a f alse pict ure a bou t t he natio nal m inorities in Serbia. Li ves of na tional m ino r ities ar e far from be ing just Renewal of German about singing and dancing. Yes, many problems have been re - solv ed, bu t ther e a re quite a fe w that a re still passed on f rom Cultur e one yea r to anoth er. T h es e are t he problem s in th e four fun da - The German National Alliance, a non- me ntal area s: cu ltur e, educat ion , informatio n, an d officia l use political or ganization o f the Ger ma n of langu age and alphabet. Will the expected amendments to minorit y in Serbi a, with h eadqua rters the Law on the National Minority Councils and the Law on Pro - in Subot ica, estab lished coop eration tection of Rights a nd Fre edom s of Na tional M inoriti es fa cil itate w ith the City of Zrenjanin, whe re they even tual res olution of t hese pro blems is yet to b e seen . opened an af filiate on July 5, which will evolve int o a perma nent office in the near future. On this occasion, Rudolf Vajs, the or - ganization’s President, visited Zrenjanin with his associates, and, in the Town 30 d iffer ent national m inorities live in Serbia Hall, took part in the pre sentation of the activities and cultu ral events the GNA will orga nize in Z renjanin.

The Exh ibi tion “B ro wsing Time - J ew ish Maga zines in Serb i a from 1888 to 2016”Opened in the National Library of Serbia On July 21, the e xhibition “Browsing Time – Jew ish Magazines in Serbia fr om sle er for all 188 8 to 2016”, b y a uth or Biljana Albahari, and ONE new the NBS bibliographer, was opened in the National L ibrary of Serbi a. For the fir st time, all publications of the Jews in Serbia are presented in a chronological and comprehensive way. www.minoritynews.rs Minority News Portal OUR INTERVIEW: JENŐ HAJNAL, PRESIDENT OF THE NATIONAL COUNCIL OF THE HUNGARIAN NATIONAL MINORITY National Identity Is Our Most Valuable Treasure Photo: Andrazs Otosz ccording to the official data, 59% of the Hungarian national minority in Serbia live in its northern province, constituting absolute majority in some of the municipalities. These municipalities include Kanjiža, Ada, Senta, Bačka Topola, Čoka and Mali Idjoš. Subotica is the educational, cultural and political centre of the Vojvodina Hungarians, where the head office of the Hungarian National Mi - nority Council is also located. We talked to the President of the Hungarian National Minority Council, Jenő HAajnal, for this issue of the Minority News. Hungarian national minority is the largest and financial, to the work of the National Mi - minority in Vojvodina and Serbia. Can we nority Council and every individual who con - say that it is the best organized minority, siders himself a member of the Hungarian too? national community. The support of the mother country and its geographical close - The Hungarian minority is the largest in Vo - ness are very important, and this is not some - jvodina, it constitutes 13% of the overall pop - thing that all national communities have. ulation. The organization of our national mi - Through its political representation, the Al - nority arises from the need to resolve a liance of Vojvodina Hungarians, the Hungar - number of issues, above all in the following ian national community is included in all leg - four areas: culture, education, public infor - islative bodies, from the National Assembly mation, and official use of language and al - to municipal assemblies, as well as in the ex - phabet, as provided by the Law on the Na - ecutive power bodies on the Republic, Provin - tional Minority Councils. Due to a large cial, and municipal level. We believe that this number of members of our community, we is very important, as, in resolving the issues have numerous educational, cultural, and of the community, we need to be present on media institutions, and, in light of the afore - all levels. mentioned, we also have adequate adminis - trative and legislative resources to manage Many minorities have common problems – and finance these institutions. The Hungarian lack of text books in their mother tongue, National Minority Council has a broad net - shortage of media in their languages… Does work of collective bodies, from committees the Hungarian community face similar prob - to consultative boards, and we try to engage lems, too? as many members of our community as pos - sible in the decision making process on all tures. Thus, the minority’s essence, regardless Certainly, the problems are, if not the same, critically important issues. And critically im - of difficulties and conflicts, becomes a source very similar, but the instruments for resolving portant issues are all issues relevant for our of new values. these problems are different. For instance, community – from educational issues to the text book publishers in Serbia do not pub - The Hungarian National Minority Council rep - lish textbooks for professional/expert subjects problems in regard to the official use of our resents a stronghold in the life of Hungarian language. in national minority languages, as the need families, youth, pedagogues, Hungarian civil for these textbooks is minimal, they are used Every national community is specific. What society, cultural associations, schools, the - by a small number of high school students, makes the Hungarian community different atres, libraries, and media. At the same time, and as a result, the teachers use the textbooks from the others, and what do you have in by bridging the main obstacle to the accom - in the Serbian language, and students use common with the other minorities? plishment of members of national minorities their notes when they study. It is not eco - – an isolation caused by the linguistic and nomically sustainable to translate these text - The Hungarian community in Vojvodina be - cultural barriers, it represents a link between books from the Serbian to the Hungarian lan - lieves that its national identity is its most valu - an individual, a member of the Hungarian guage, and it would also take a very long time able treasure. This is the reason why the national minority, and the public administra - to do this, Therefore, the import of text books largest number of members of our commu - tion, between Hungarian families and schools, on these subjects from would be an nity registered in the special voters’ registry, between Hungarian non-governmental or - adequate and efficient solution, provided that they run around 300 Hungarian cultural so - ganizations and fulfillment of their political the approval procedure was simplified. cieties, enroll their children in classes in the objectives. Hungarian language, baptize their children, Every year, the minority communities face mark their national holidays… They live as Although national minority communities are the problem of classes with small number Hungarians in their homeland. At the same different in regard to their languages and cul - of pupils. How has the Hungarian commu - time, the Hungarian community wants to co - ture, they share the same minority commu - nity managed to preserve these classes? operate with the majority community, with nity fate. The Hungarian community is the other minority communities, and build largest and, as we mentioned, one of the The problem of classes with insufficient num - bridges between different languages and cul - best organized communities, with strong sup - ber of pupils is the problem that all minorities port from the mother country, both political face. The number of children diminishes 3 Minority News every year. We try hard to preserve every ans, the following issues are particularly im - in the Chapter 23, and particularly in the Ac - single class, our Council annually makes portant: national composition of employees tion Plan for the Chapter 23, in the special around 80 decisions on the support to cre - in the public sector (the police, judiciary, Action Plan for Execution of Rights of Na - ation of classes with less than 15 pupils, we prosecutor offices, public notaries, public en - tional Minorities, and in our participation in coordinate our decisions with the Provincial terprises, public administration); the financial the process of monitoring of the implemen - Secretariat and the Ministry, and we manage support to the media reporting in the mi - tation of the envisaged activities. to preserve a large number of these classes. nority languages; the execution and protec - However, we expect that the number of chil - tion of minority rights to be mandatory from The most important guarantee in this regard dren will continue to decrease and we need the start of the accession to the EU; the need is a successful and comprehensive work of to start searching for new solutions to this for constant EU monitoring of the imple - the national minority councils and a clear problem. mentation of the Minority Action Plan definition of their competencies and rights. (namely, the implementation of the defined For this to be achieved, it is critically impor - In the last few years, a large number of activities and execution of the minority tant to draft and ratify a comprehensive Law members of the Hungarian community have rights); a systematic and effective work of on the National Minority Councils, applicable been issued passports of the Republic of the Serbian-Hungarian Intergovernmental in all spheres of life. Hungary. What kind of impact does it have Mixed Commission; establishment of far- on the number of Hungarians in Serbia? In the beginning of last year, the Serbian reaching cooperation between the Hungar - Government endorsed the Minority Action Granting of Hungarian citizenship to Hungar - ian National Minority Council and the Self- Plan, the implementation of which will, we ians and other Hungarian-speaking residents Government of the in Hungary. hope, guarantee an efficient, transparent, in Vojvodina is a symbolic gesture, and rep - Our primary program in the coming period and responsible changes and implementa - resents the care of the motherland for the is the program for the preschool institutions tion of the minority legislation. members of the community living abroad. funded by the Hungarian Government in the Hungarian citizenship gives a number of con - What we fail to build firmly into our legal or - amount of RSD 200 million. In addition to der, in the public administration system, in veniences in the motherland, the European this program, all other programs, from the Union, and in Serbia, since Hungary has also the institutional and the budgetary system educational (scholarships, the “Europe” Stu - now will only be possible to add by using launch numerous programs of support to dent Campus, recognition of diplomas), cul - those who remain in the country of their political decision at a later stage. We want tural (increased number of titles and IT Serbia to become a full member of the Eu - birth. There is a years-long support in the equipment of libraries, prominent events), sphere of education, from financial grants to ropean Union with a stable institutional back - information (equipment for printed media, ground, undeniable rule of law, and full re - preschool children to scholarships for stu - equipment of electronic media), and the of - dents, since last year, there has been a pro - spect of the minority rights. We participate ficial use of language (change of names, legal in Serbia’s efforts as partners. This is exactly gram of economic support to entrepreneurs aid) are continued to be implemented. and farmers, as well as support to culture, why we, the members of the Coordination religious and educational institutions. How - In May 2017, you took over the presidency of the National Minority Councils, have a ever, the young people continue to leave Ser - in the Coordination of the National Minority duty to maintain closest relations possible bia for the EU, predominantly due to eco - Councils. We will make no mistake if we with Serbian and European institutions and nomic reasons. say that you are leading the Coordination their officials, so that we can directly point at the time the most important decisions to our view on the EU integration process The support that comes from the mother - for the national minorities in Serbia are to and the position of the national minorities land is visible, but in what way does the be made, i.e., the new laws – on the Na - in Serbia. This is our duty, so that, following Council support the development of the tional Minority Councils and the Protection the accession negotiations, Serbia becomes Hungarian culture? of Rights and Freedoms of the National Mi - a member of the EU with the strongest re - sults in regard to the protection of the na - The National Council carries out its compe - norities are in the pipeline, the implemen - tation of the Minority Action Plan is in tional communities. We need to take this tencies in the cultural sphere as provided by time to strengthen the rule of law and the the Law, declares the institutions of impor - progress, as well as the reporting on it, etc. In what ways has the Coordination con - minority institutions system, institutional pro - tance to the community, acts as a cofounder tection of minority rights, and, in practice, of institutions, protecting them this way, too, tributed to the preparation of the afore - mentioned documents thus far and are you to create and develop a stable minority rights and participates in their funding from the protection system that will be applicable and literary and theatrical programs to the fund - personally satisfied with the participation in these processes? sustainable after Serbia’s successful accession ing of prominent cultural events. In the cul - to the EU. If Serbia joins the EU with strength - tural sphere, there are 39 institutions of par - The Coordination agreed on the common ened institutional framework for the protec - ticular importance; of these institutions, 10 position and submitted proposals for amend - tion of minority rights, guaranteed by the have transferred the founding rights partially ments to the aforementioned documents, Constitution and the Law and reinforced by to the Council and a partial transfer of found - enabling a few national minority councils to strong budgetary support, if the mechanisms ing rights to the Council has been requested give their own positions. Creation of the con - for implementation of law are set in place, it for additional 6 institutions; the number of ditions for the accession to the European will be very difficult to stop or reverse this Vojvodina treasures in the Vault of Hungarian Union has been seen by the Coordination of process. I believe that this is our common Treasures is 64; the number of immovable the National Minority Councils, and the Hun - goal. historical heritage of special importance is garian national minority in Serbia as an ex - 141; protection of values, creation of new traordinary opportunity for implementation Generally speaking, we are pleased with the values, and protection of the tradition. of necessary reforms in different parts of the level of participation in the preparation of all documents. We need a joint approach, What are the primary programs of the Hun - society – from the judiciary to the educa - tion. and, if possible, a joint position of all national garian National Minority Council in this pe - minority councils, which is not an easy thing riod? This is the reason why we see the solution to achieve since, as you know, there are 21 From the perspective of Vojvodina Hungari - to the implementation of the rights of na - national minority councils in the Coordina - tional minorities in the EU integration process tion. 4 Minority News News Bošnjak: Amendments to Two Key Minority Laws to Be Completed in Autumn Source: Ministry of Public Administration and Local Self Government tate Secre - tions in regard to the nationality in the public records, in com - tary in the amendments would be pliance with the Law on Protection of Per - Ministry of looked for in a dialogue sonal Data, and, by amending other system Public Ad - with them, which also laws, it will also enable better political par - ministration and the Lo - includes a full imple - ticipation of members of the national mi - caSl Self-Government, mentation of the Action norities and their employment in the public Ivan Bošnjak, expects Plan for the Chapter 23. sector. that the amendments to the Law on Protection of “We, as the Ministry, As he announced, the Law on the National Rights and Freedoms of have the obligation to Minority Councils will be amended to fa - National Minorities and ensure that two key cilitate enhanced democratization of the the amendments to the laws are endorsed this national minority councils, better eco - Law on National Minority Councils will be autumn. Namely, these are the Amend - nomic and financial management of the ratified in autumn. ments to the Law on Protection of Rights national minority councils, and their fur - and Freedoms of National Minorities and ther depoliticization. After the round table discussion on the the Amendments to the Law on National national minorities, the Minister of Foreign Minority Councils”, Bošnjak said. “Our idea is to include representatives of Affairs of Bulgaria, Ekatarina Zaharieva had the national minority councils in these also participated in, Bošnjak noted that He explained that the new Law on Protec - processes, and we also pay special atten - the representatives of the national minori - tion of Rights and Freedoms of National tion to the dialogue with the nongovern - ties had been informed that the best solu - Minorities will make easier to register one’s mental organizations”, Bošnjak said. Participants in the NDI Regional Roma Program Visit the Assembly of the AP of Vojvodina Source: Assembly of the AP of Vojvodina n July 21, a group of listed as the cultural monu - young Roma activists, ment of extraordinary impor - the participants in the tance. Regional Roma Pro - gram implemented by the Natio - The hosts informed the guests nOal Democratic Institute (NDI) about their personal experien - from , paid a visit to the ces in regard to the work of Assembly of the Autonomous Pro - the Assembly from the per - vince of Vojvodina. spectives of a deputy in the Assembly, the Secretary Ge - In the Regional Roma Program, neral, and his deputy. Among NDI, in cooperation with the Roma other things, they assessed national community, actively that the Assembly of the Au - strengthens this community and tonomous Province of Vojvo - educates young Roma leaders and acti - neral of the Assembly, Dragutin Galović. dina in this mandate functions in a stable vists. One of the objectives of the Program and good way and makes good results. is to introduce them with the work of the In a cordial and open conversation with state, provincial, and local institutions, the hosts, the participants in the Regional The participants in the Regional Roma bodies, institutes, and organizations. Roma Program of the National Democra - Program of the National Democratic In - tic Institute were briefed on the compe - stitute thanked their hosts for the cordial On behalf of the Assembly of the Auto - tencies, organization, and method of reception and talks, noting that this visit nomous Province of Vojvodina, the guests work, functioning, and decision making was very important for them in their at - were received by the Chairman of the As - in the Assembly of the Autonomous Pro - tempt to acquire new skills and experien - sembly Committee for Appeals and Pro - vince of Vojvodina, on the work of the ces. After the visit to the Provincial As - posals, Goran Gonđa, the Secretary Ge - Secretariat of the Assembly, and the hi - sembly, the participants in the Regional neral of the Provincial Assembly, Nikola story of the building of Banski Dvor, where Roma Program had talks with the repre - Banjac, and the Assistant Secretary Ge - the Assembly is seated, which has been sentatives of the City of . 5 Minority News News Europe Insists on Rights of National

Minorities – Serbia Respects TheseSo uRrce: iwgwwh.fart.rs s or ten years Bul - In the second part of the garia has been a discussion, the representa - member of the tives of the national minor - European Union, ity councils and the non- its gross national product governmental organizations haFs been increased seven took the floor. times. Therefore, there is not a single reform, a single The President of the Na - deprivation, a single chal - tional Council of the Bulgar - lenge must not been an ob - ian National Minority in Ser - stacle to the accession to bia, Vladimir Zaharijev, the EU, because the bene - cordially thanked President fits the citizens will receive Vučić, PM Brnabić and the from the EU membership Government of the Republic cannot be compared with of Serbia for everything they any sacrifice on this road, Ekaterina Za - Dr Zoran Milivojević, the moderator at have done for this minority. He also ex - harieva, the Deputy Prime Minister and the forum, in addition to the education pressed deep appreciation to the Em - the Minister of Foreign Affairs said in and media related problems, pointed bassy of the Republic of Bulgaria in Bel - her opening statement at the Forum out economic problems as particularly grade. He noted that printing of the “Minority Policy – Enhancement of In - difficult for the national minorities in majority of the textbooks in the Bul - tegrations in Serbia”, which was organ - Serbia, and the Bulgarian minority in garian language has just been finished ized on July 25. particular. and showed one set of textbooks to the other participants in the event. He She added that Serbia, too, following Representatives of Serbian authorities, also noted that, together with the rep - Bulgaria’s example, should carry out all and Ivan Bošnjak, the state secretary resentatives of other national minority reforms for the sake of its own citizens, in the Ministry of Public Administration councils, he had a fruitful meeting with and not for the purpose of meeting for - and Local Self Government, described the Minister of Public Administration mal requirements or getting a date. Bul - the exchange of practices in the EU in - and Local Self-Government, Branko garia, which will preside over the Eu - tegration in the best possible terms. Ružić, and talked about the newspaper ropean Union 2018, is Serbia’s closest friend and all interlocutors I have met in the last two days, starting from the President, are well aware of this fact, Zaharieva concluded. The right of national minorities to use their mother tongue was addressed in the meeting with the Serbian Minister of Justice, Nelom Kuburović, particu - larly in regard to the equal use of these languages in the court practice, Minis - ter Zaharieva, who is in charge of the judicial reform in the Bulgarian Gov - ernment, added. Dr Dušan Janjić, who was the key note speaker and one of the authors of the study “Minority Policy – Enhancement državni sekretar u Ministarstvu za “Bratstvo” as of a good example of in - of Integrations in Serbia”, which served državnu upravu i lokalnu samoupravu, formation in the mother tongue, what as the basis for the discussion, agreed u superlativima je govorio o razmeni some of other attendees strongly ob - with Minister Zaharieva. He expressed iskustava u evrointegacijama. The ad - jected. belief that the road to Europe is not a dress of Brankica Janković, the Com - trade deal, and we need to use this cor - missioner for Protection of Equality was The round table was organized by the pus in the negotiations for our own in a similar tone. The session was at - Forum on Ethnic Relations from Bel - benefit. In this process, we need to tended by the newly elected Ombuds - grade and the Embassy of the Republic come up with a coherent minority pol - man of Serbia, Zoran Pašalić, and his of Bulgaria in Belgrade, with support icy, and it will take us three to five years colleague from Vojvodina, Dr Zoran of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the to reach this goal, Janjić said. Pavlović. Republic of Bulgaria. 6 Minority News News Minister Ružić Meets with Representatives of the National Minority Councils Source: Ministry of Public Administration and Local Self Government n July 25, in the Palace Ser - – in the implementation of activities, the Council for National Minorities bia, Minister of Public Ad - preparation and control of reports, held on May 23, 2107, the Draft Pro - ministration and Local Self- and thus contribute to the overall en - gram for Allocation of Funds from the Government, Branko Ružić, hancement of the position of their Budgetary Fund for National Minori - met with the representatives of the communities. ties was unanimously endorsed. The nOational minority councils in order to Program identifies the information in be informed about the activities of The Minister noted that the national the national minorities languages as the national minority councils and the minority councils also participated in a priority area, and the programs and most important challenges they face the preparation of the Draft Law on projects from this particular area will in their work. be funded from the Bud - getary Fund for National After the introductory Minorities in 2017“, Mini - greeting, Minister Ružić ster Ružić emphasized reminded the attendees and added that the Mini - that the Ministry of Public stry is in the final stage of Administration and Local preparation of the Guide - Self Government worked lines that will define the on the one of the most im - method of establishing portant documents in the composition and number area of protection of na - of members of the Com - tional minority rights – the mission, which will carry Action Plan for Execution out the competition in of Rights of Members of line with the Law and the the National Minorities – Direction. which had been envisaged in the process of the accession of the Amendments to the Law on Protec - Minister Ružić noted that, although a Republic of Serbia to the European tion of Rights and Freedoms of Natio - significant progress has been made Union in the negotiating Chapter 23. nal Minorities, and that they actively thus far, he is aware that there is still participate in the work on amend - je space for further enhancement of “As far as I am informed, in addition ments to the Law on National Minority the legislative framework and imple - to the representatives of the state in - Councils. He added that this is a joint mentation of the laws, that some pro - stitution, civil society organizations, task, since the Ministry wants this le - blems can be resolved in a shorter and representatives of the internatio - gislation to be ratified in a participa - time, and that there are open issues nal organizations, it was you, the re - tive and inclusive process and that so - that request commitment and mutual presentatives of the national minority lutions for certain issues are jointly understanding and confidence. He councils who provided the significant found in a constant dialogue. concluded that, because of this rea - contribution in creation of this docu - son, it is important to make sure that ment”, the Minister said and added “The important issue, which has been the Government of the Republic of that he expects the representatives of moved from a deadlock in the last two Serbia and representatives of the na - the national minority councils to con - years, is the Budgetary Fund for Na - tional minorities act as partners in this tinue to participate in the next phases tional Minorities. In the meeting of process.

7 Minority News News from the Office of Human and Minority Rights Delegation of the European Commission Visits the Office of Human and Minority Rights n July 11, at the Palace Ser - stantinos Niafas, were particularly in - bia, the Director of the Of - terested in the monitoring of the Action fice of Human and Minority Plan for Social Inclusion of Roma Men Rights, Suzana Paunović, and Women in the Republic of Serbia. met with the representatives of the Ex - The Director of the Office of Human pOert Mission of the European Commis - and Minority Rights explained to the sion, in order to exchange information experts that the monitoring of the im - on the measures taken for social inclu - plementation of the Roma inclusion sion of Roma men and women in the policies had been secured even before Republic of Serbia. the Action Plan was ratified, under the Paunović noted that the issue of the Action Plan for the Chapter 23, and Roma inclusion is one of the top priori - through the reporting on the imple - ties of the Government of the Republic of inclusion be synchronized, but their imple - mentation of the Operational Conclusions Serbia, adding that Serbia has a god leg - mentation will be monitored in practice, from the Seminar on Social Inclusion of islative and strategic framework in the Paunović said. Roma Men and Women in the Republic of sphere of Roma inclusion. By endorsing the new Strategy for Social Serbia, as well as the reports on the imple - She pointed out that our state meets all Inclusion of Roma Men and Women in the mentation of the Strategy with the support commitments in the process of negotia - Republic of Serbia until 2015, the Govern - of the Task Force for Roma Integration tions for Serbia’s accession to the European ment has shown a clear commitment to 2020. Union, as well as commitments assumed address the inclusion of the Roma popula - Representative of the Roma National Mi - in regard to the implementation of the Op - tion in a comprehensive way. The new Strat - nority Council, Živojin Mitrović, noted that erational Conclusions made in the seminars egy and the accompanying Action Plan rec - the Roma have participated fully in the with the European Commission since 2011. ognize local self governments as key preparation of the Strategy and the Action She also added that our goal is to enable implementers. To this end, she explained, Plan, emphasizing the good level of coop - jointly the citizens of Roma nationality to in cooperation with the Permanent Con - eration with the in execute their rights guaranteed by the law, ference of Towns and Municipalities and the efforts to improve the position of the strategies, and the international docu - the Roma National Minority Council, the Roma population. ments, in an easier and more efficient way. intention of the state is to pay more atten - In addition to the Director of the Office of Paunović informed the experts that the pre - tion to the local self governments, strength - Human and Minority Rights, the meeting vious period was marked by strengthening ening of their capacities, and appropriation was also attended by the representatives of the institutional capacity on the levels of funds for Roma inclusion policy in local of the Roma National Minority Council, the of the Government and the local self gov - communities. Ministry for Labour, Employment, Veteran, ernments. By establishing the Govern - Representatives of the Expert Mission of and Social Affairs, the Team for Social In - ment’s Coordination Body for Roma Inclu - the European Commission in charge of so - clusion and Poverty Reduction, and the EU sion, not only will the policies for Roma cial inclusion of Roma, Ian Balazs and Kon - Delegation to Serbia. Paunović Meets the Delegation of the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe n July 18, Suzana Paunović, the in Serbia), on the jurisdiction of the Office for Assembly of the Council of Europe on the Director of the Office for Human Human and Minority Rights and the overall Government’s activities in regard to the social and Minority Rights of the Gov - human rights situation in Serbia. inclusion of Roma men and women in Serbia, ernment of the Republic of Ser - Briefing the guests on the ongoing activities and on the results of the implemented initia - bia met with members of the Delegation of of the Office, Paunović particularly noted the tives and projects the Office has actively been tOhe Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of cooperation with the civil society organiza - working on in regard to the improvement of Europe. Director Paunovic informed the Del - tions, focusing on the elements of mutual the position of this minority community. egation, consisting of Ms. Maria Guzenina support and cooperation in the working The Director of the Office also answered the (Finland), Mrs Samad Seidov (), Ms. groups and projects for enhancement of the questions asked by the member of the Dele - Sylvie Affholder (Secretary of the PACE Mon - position of the minority communities in Ser - gation, who were particularly interested in itoring Committee), Mr. Tim Cartwright (Head bia. the problems of the Roma population in re - of the CoE Office in Serbia) and Ms. Mona Al - gard to the issuance of personal documents, ghaith (Assistant to the Head of the CoE Office Furthermore, Paunovićeva briefed the mem - bers of the delegation of the Parliamentary housing, and support to the civil society. 8 Minority News Ruthenian Community “The Rose” – the Symbol and the First Association of Ruthenians Source: Ruske slovo he formal con - a local, but the national cert “In the wealth as well. Middle of a Broad Valley” at The Deputy Provincial the 56th Festival of the Secretary for Culture, RTuthenian Culture “The Public Information, and Red Rose”, on July 1, was Relations with Religious jointly opened by the Pres - Communities, Dr Nebo - ident of the Ruthenian Na - jša Kuzmanović, passed tional Minority Council, the Ruthenians and the Slavko Rac, the President festival best regards of the Municipal Assembly from the Provincial of Kula, Velibor Milojičić, Prime Minister, Igor and the Deputy Provincial Secretary personal relations in Kula have been Mirović, and announced that he will for Culture, Public Information, and recognized and cherished as its most take certain steps to ensure that “The Relations with Religious Communities, valuable fortune. To this end, it is not Red Rose” has its status and value con - Dr Nebojša Kuzmanović, as well as the a surprise that the local self-govern - firmed on the Provincial level, as well. As he said, a list of cultural events in the Province will be made, and clear criteria will be used to select the events that possess tradition, quality, and importance, and added that “The Rose”, judging by what he has seen, clearly belongs to this category. In addition to the aforementioned, MP Olena Papuga, Assistant Provinical Secretary for Economy and Tourism, Mr Sergej Tamasz, members of the Ruthenian National Minority Council and its Commissions and bodies, lead - ers of the Ruthenian institutions and media, representatives of the church representatives of the institutions that are principal organizers and funders of this biggest and oldest Ruthenian festival. The President of the Ruthenian Na - tional Minority Council, Slavko Rac, noted in his opening statement that he was assured numerous times that many people from other communities and the state institutions associate “The Red Rose” with the Ruthenians, and this entails even more responsi - bility to maintain the achieved artistic level of “The Rose”. ment has been the principal sponsor and local community in Ruski Krustur, The President of the Municipal As - of “The Red Rose” for many years. He and the Deputy Chief of Mission of sembly of Kula, Velibor Milojičić, called both the Provincial and the Re - the Ukrainian Embassy in Belgrade, greeted the attendees and reminded public institutions to support the Evgenia Filipenko, delegations from that multi-ethnicity and good inter - “Rose” in a similar way, as it not only Perechin and Zemplinske Teplice 9 Minority News Krstur has the signed cooperation agree - ments with, received warm welcome from the audience at the formal concert. The fifty-sixth Festival of the Ruthenian Cul - ture in started in the court of the School “Petro Kizmjak“ on Friday, June 30, by opening of the exhibition of the paintings from the Gallery of the Naive Art in Kovačica, and two addi - was awarded as the most beautiful number of old crafts and products tional events were organized the male voice. In the remaining program made by the local entrepreneurs, same day – children event “The Red featured performance by eleven cul - whereas an International Volleyball Bud” and “The Echoes of the Valley”, tural and artistic societies. Tournament was organized at the in which Aleksandra Ruskovski from gym, which was won by the team Ruskog Krstura received award for On Saturday, July 1, the Krstur Fair from Perechin, . . the most beautiful female voice, of Old Crafts was organized in the whereas Marko Buila from Kucura Craftsmen Home, which presented a In the evening, a Recital was organ - ized at the School court, with partic - ipation of the Poddukljan Artistic Folk Group from Preshova in , Their performance was preceded by the Mixed Choir of the Cultural Cen - tre Ruski Krstur and Cathedral St. Nicholas Church from Krstur, the Choir “Harmony” from Novi Sad, the Folk Group of the Krstur Cultural Cen - tre, and the folk and musical group of the Cultural Artistic Society “Ser - bia” from Kula. At the end of the program, the par - ticipants enjoyed in the performance of the Tamburitza Orchestra “Ravnica“ from Subotica. Ruthenians and Development of Novi Sad Source: Rutenpres n the Third Program of Ra - In the radio shows, the residents of (TJS) is very interesting for the Ruthen - dio Novi Sad, which also Novi Sad, their neighbours and col - ian community, as it shows how much broadcasts program of the leagues, talk about these prominent its members contributed to the devel - Desk in the Ruthenian Lan - individuals. The people the series talks opment of Novi Sad. At the same time, guage, the broadcasting of the series about are Pavle Žilnik, famous archi - the series could not include all Ruthe - “ORuthenian Contribution to the Devel - tect, Miroslav Plančak, university pro - nians who selflessly built themselves opment of Novi Sad” commenced on fessor, Miroslav Vislavski, sports into the development of this town. July 7, 2017. worker, Miron Kanjuh, writer, Irina Hardi Kovačević, journalist, poetess, “We expect this series to continue”, The series consists of ten 20-minute and writer, Melanija Rimar, journalist the editor of the Ruthenian Desk of radio shows, and it is an independent and children poetess, Irina Davosir the Radio Novi Sad, Tatjana Beuk Lat - production supported by the Novi Sad Matanović, opera singer, Ivan Kovač, jak said. . City Directorate for Culture. The series composer, Đura Papharhaji, writer, i presents 10 prominent individuals, Mihail Dudaš, famous athlete. As she said, this program can be fol - who in their own branches contributed lowed live on Internet, on frequencies to the development of Novi Sad in the The Series prepared by the member 92,1 i 107,1 Mhz, and on delayed last fifty years. of the Ruthenian Journalist Association broadcasting of the Radio Novi Sad. 10 Minority News Greek Community Greek Cultural Artistic Society ΕΛΛΗΝΙΚΗ ΠΑΡΑΔΟΣ H in the Heart of Belgrade Source: National Council of the Greek National Minority n July 4, the National Council of the Greek Na - tional Minoirty hosted the Cultural Artistic Society frOom Athens, Ilion. In the heart of Belgrade, in the Kneza Mihaila Street, members of the cultural artistic society from At - hens presented a traditional Greek folk dance dressed in rich costumes. On behalf of the Greek National Mi - nority Council, Vasilios Proveleggios, the President of the Executive Board of the Council, greeted the au - dience, which also included many members of the Greek community in Serbia.

Slovak Community The Province Refuses to Fund Theatre

Plays in the Slovak Language Source: Hlas ljudu lthough the Slovak Vojvodina The SVT management and the Executive Theatre (SVT) in Bački Board attempted one more time to get Petrovac has had a regular fi - financial support from the Province after nancial support for two the - the rebalance of the budget, but they atre premieres in a calendar year from have not received any reply yet. They in - thAe relevant Provincial Secretariat since formed the Slovak National Minority it was founded in 2003, the situation has Council, the Slovak Heritage Foundation changed this year. in Serbia, Slovak MPs in the Provincial Parliament, and the representatives of Following completion of the public com - the state institutions of the Slovak Repub - petition for funding organized by the lic about the situation, with a plea for Provincial Secretariat for Culture, Public premises on July 5. She explained that ex - help to this institution, as, with the cur - Information, and Relations with Religious penses in regard to the maintenance of rent dismissive attitude of the Provincial Communities, the SVT received a letter the SVT building and salaries of the al - Government, the professional theatre of signed by the Secretary, Miroslav Štatkić, ready reduced staff – consisting of only Slovaks in Serbia is doomed to disappear. informing them that all their project pro - three employees at the moment- are posals for 2017 have been rejected, i.e. funded by the Municipality of Bački It is up to us, and the Slovak cultural pub - they will not receive any financial support Petrovac. In other words, we have a form, lic in particular, to decide whether we will for the theatre play and for the organiza - but not contents. only observe this in silence and acknowl - tion of the “22nd Petrovac Theatre Days” edge that a representative theatre insti - festival. The traditional theatre festival will take tution of the Slovaks in Serbia has been place from September 22 to September lost for good, in the situation when there After we had celebrated the 150th an - 26 with support received from the Mu - is plenty of money for cultural activities niversary of the theatre last year, this year nicipality, the Republic, the Office for Slo - in the Provincial budget. The question is we have a new reality the Director Viera vak Diaspora, sponsors, but the premiere who the recipients of these funds are and Krstovska informed the public about in planned by host will not be performed what the objectives of such a distribution the press conference organized at the SVT this year. are. 11 Minority News Croatian Community Protection of All Rights is Priority Source: Hrvatska riječ he position and status of the our expectations from . To this made with Serbia, the press release Croatian national minority is end, this meeting was very important noted. The Croatian Government, via a priority issue for the Gov - for us, as it took place immediately be - its Central State Office for out - ernment of Croatia, which fore the Serbian President’s visit to side the Republic of Croatia and the will insist, through cooperation and on Dubrovnik. We also find it very impor - Ministry of Foreign and European Af - thTe political level, on the protection of tant that we had the opportunity to in - fairs, maintained continued dialogue all rights provided by the agreements made with Serbia, the Croatian Govern - ment press release noted following the meeting between the Prime Minister, Andrej Plenković, and the representa - tives of the Croatian minority in this country. As it was elaborated in the press release, Plenković discussed the position of the Croats in Serbia and the problems and challenges they face with the President of the Democratic Union of Croats in Vojvodina and a MP in the Serbian Parliament, Tomislav Žigmanov, and with the President of the Croatian National Council, Slaven Bačić, in the meeting in Banski dvori. troduce ourselves to the new Minister with the representatives of the Croatian „We have continued the practice of hav - of Foreign and European Affairs, Marija community in Serbia. The Government ing regular meetings with the highest Pejčinović-Burić, and agreed on the has various projects and programs that leaders in Croatia, with whom we ex - framework for future cooperation“, support strengthening and develop - change the information on the issues Tomislav Žigmanov said. ment of the Croatian national minority. of importance for the life of the Croat - ian community in Serbia.These are is - Position and status of the Croatian na - In addition to the Prime Minister, the sues in regard to the social position of tional minority is the priority issue for Minister of Foreign and European Af - the Croatian community in Serbia, the the Croatian Government, which will in - fairs, Marija Pejčinović-Burić, and the problems we face in implementing our sist, through cooperation and on the Head of the State Office for Croats out - legitimate interests, predominantly in political level, on full protection of all side the Republic of Croatia, Zvonko Mi - the sphere of the minority rights, and rights provided by the agreements las, also participated in the meeting. Croats Still Exposed to Discrimination s a part of their anti-discrim - “There are many cases of discrimination. carry out an adequate monitoring of dis - inatory activities, represen - We presented the case of a young man crimination cases that we would present tatives of the OSCE Mission of Croatian nationality, Josip Bukovac to the public. For example, the Serbian to Serbia visited the Croatian from Senta, as an example of an ethnical minority in Croatia receives funding National Council in Subotica. The OSCE stereotype, which can eventually result from the state budget for publishing of isA preparing the guidelines and recom - in serious physical injuries. As I am from a report on ethnically motivated inci - mendations to the state bodies, so that Srem myself, I know that Croats there dents against members of this commu - they can respond is more adequate in feel too intimidated even to report an nity“, Baštovanović said. the case of discrimination. The repre - ethnically based abuse”, Baštovanović sentatives of the OSCE Democratization said. Baštovanović believes in the EU integra - Department, Jelena Jokanović i Katarina tion process as the process that will reg - Sabadoš, were interested in the issue of As he added, the reactions of the rele - ulate the Serbian society as a whole and the minority groups discrimination in vant bodies are not adequate, as they hopes that discrimination cases will be Serbia. do not list these incidents as ethnically made public and responded to in an ad - motivated in their reports. equate manner by the relevant institu - Darko Baštovanović, the President of the tions. Croatian National Council’s Commission The Croatian National Council carries for Minority Rights Violation, noted that out monitoring of cases of discrimina - In addition to Darko Baštovanović, the the Croats in Serbia, two decades after tion of Croats, but they lack funding to OSCE representatives also met with the the conflict in the former SFRY was be able to do this job well. President of the Croatian National Coun - brought to closure, still face a high level cil, Slaven Bačić, and the MP in the Re - of discrimination. “It would be good if we had money to public Parliament, Tomislav Žigmanov. 12 Minority News Bosniak Community National Councils Should Be Treated

as Legitimate PartneSourrcs e: Bosniak National Council n the July 25 meeting the na - tional minorities’ representa - tives had with Minister Branko Ružić in Belgrade, the President of the Bosniak National Council, dr SIulejman Ugljanin, noted the need to have the national councils treated as legal and legitimate partners in the future and to make sure that proposals provided by the national minority representatives are incorporated in both national minority law drafts. “It is also necessary to ensure that the proposals made by the national councils are incorporated in the Minority Action Plan and that measurable indicators are portance to the Bosniak community, to sniaks in Sanjak in the nineties, and to put in place for monitoring of the imple - include in the Minority Action Plan the envisage the establishment of institutions mentation of the Minority Action Plan. state’s obligation to resolve the cases of and mechanisms that would prevent si - the missing , mass abductions, milar incidents in the future”, President Specifically, in regard to the issues of im - and other crimes committed over Bo - Ugljanin noted. All Obstacles in Printing of Textbooks in Bosnian Language Removed n the meeting of the Bosniak textbooks appendices are prepared and National Council representa - printed by the public publishing com - tives with the Ministry of Ed - On July 18, Esad Džudžo, pany, the Textbook Institute, in cooper - ucation, Science, and Tech - ation with the Bosniak National Council nological Development, and the Deputy President of the and the Ministry of Education. TextIbook Institute, which was organized BNC, sent a letter to the in Belgrade on July 27, an agreement Minister of Education and The Minister of Education informed the was reached in regard to the terminol - Technological Develop - Council’s representatives that the Pres - ogy defining the national and cultural ident of the National Council of Educa - identity of the Bosniaks, including the ment, Mladen Šarčević, tion, Prof Dr Aleksandar Lipkovski, and Sanjak-related terminology, and their and to the Director of the the president of the Institute for Pro - use in the textbooks in the Bosnian lan - Textbooks Institute, motion of Education and Upbringing, guage. The Minister committed to pass - Prof Dr Zoran Avramović, had been dis - ing the information on the agreed pro - Dragoljub Kojčić, express - missed from these positions. visions to the Government of the ing expectations that the Republic of Serbia in order to have them obligations assumed by The Textbook Institute was represented endorsed by the Government. in the meeting by Dragoljub Kojčić, the signing of the Memoran - CEO and the Editor-in-Chief of the Insti - The participants in the meeting also as - dum on Publishing of the tute, Milorad Marjanović, the Director sessed which provisions of the Memo - Textbooks in the Bosnian of the Publishing Department, and Edi - randum have been implemented thus Language, and the Annex tor Vesna Pajević. far and the status of the preparation of the missing textbooks in the Bosnian to the Memorandum, will On behalf of the Bosniak National Coun - language, and agreed that pupils in the be carried out. cil, the meeting was attended by the Bosnian language classes should be pro - Council’s Deputy President, Esad vided with the majority of the textbooks Džudžo, the President of the Executive in the Bosnian language by the begin - Annex to the Memorandum on the Pub - Board, Hasim Mekić, and the President ning of the 2017/2018 school year, as lishing of Textbooks. The Memorandum of the Education Committee, Bajro envisaged by the Memorandum and the provides that the missing textbooks and Gegić. 13 Minority News Jewish Community The Exhibition “Browsing Time - Jewish Magazines in Serbia from 1888 to 2016”Opened in the National Library

of SerSbouricea : Association of Jewish Municipalities of Serbia n July 21, the exhibition that time: Oto Bihalji-Merin, Stanislav “Browsing Time – Jewish Vinaver, Rafajlo Blam, Sima Magazines in Serbia from Karaoglanović, etc. cooperated with 1888 to 2016”, by author the editors of these magazines. The Biljana Albahari, the NBS bibliogra - information on the annual magazine pOher, was opened in the National Li - “Meranos”, which was published brary of Serbia. For the first time, all from 1907, is particularly important. publications of the Jews in Serbia are It was published by the Jews from presented in a chronological and com - Kruševac who had converted to or - prehensive way. thodox Christian religion. The Exhibition follows Jewish publica - The exhibits and the accompanying tions through the period of 130 years, from ment consisting of six publications that Jews catalogue contribute to completion of the the first published magazine “El amigo del from Serbia issued abroad. Serbian national periodicals bibliography pueblo” (“The People’s Friend”), which was and represent a valuable source for studies printed in Belgrade in 1888, to the present The Exhibition’s catalogue, among other of Jewish heritage in our country and Europe time. Seventy-six newspapers, magazines, things, provides an interesting overview of as a whole. collections, almanacs, and calendars are pre - three magazines published by Jews in Ger - sented in the exhibition. The exhibits are di - man and Italian prisons and camps during The Exhibition will be open until September vided in several sections, with a special seg - the WWII. The prominent public figures of 23.

Hungarian Community Plans for Establishment of Digitalization Department Source: Magyar szo ibrary “Szarvas Gábor“ from Ada from our library, as well, and the historic doc - the Hungarian language and 26,015 books in successfully applied for funds for umentation of our town, to preserve them the Serbian language in the library at the mo - digitalization, stage lighting, ac - for future generations. We would then con - ment. He also noted that, through the Márai quisition of books in the Hungar - tinue with the digitalization of the books from Program, they try to obtain additional books ian language, performance of plays in the the obligatory reading list in the elementary in the Hungarian language. He believes that HLungarian language, in the competition or - and high schools, and to make them available the problem is in the local self government ganized by the Hungarian National Minority online as well. Long term plans include mak - appropriated only 50 percent of the funding Council, the “Szekeres Laslo“ Fund, and the ing profit by digitalizing documents for other for restoration of the cultural institutions com - “Bethlehen Gábor“ Fund. institutions, the Director said and added that, pared to the previous year. the second most significant grant, in the Áron Csonka, the Director, said that the most amount of 700,000 forints, was received in They applied in numerous competitions and important issues are development, digitali - the competition organized by the “Bethlehen received few grants, which were small but zation, theatre lighting, and acquisition of Gabor“ Fund. We plan to invest this amount important for them. From the Szekeres Laslo books in the Hungarian language. in the new lighting system of the stage at the and Bethelehen Gabor Fund they received theatre, which will make the performances 150,000 forints for plays in the Hungarian lan - - We received 521,000 dinars for digitalization become of higher quality and more spectac - guage. and the accompanying activities from the ular. Ministry of Culture. In August, we plan to pro - The Provincial Secretariat for Culture donated cure computers, scanners, a digital data base The third important investment will come to 28, 000 dinars for purchase of books and and accompanying software, everything will life thanks to the Hungarian National Minority 30,000 for a technical exhibition, linked to be installed in September and October, and Council, which will donate books in the Hun - the day of Hungarian photography. The Hun - librarians will be trained by the staff of the garian Language to the “Szarvas Gábor” Li - garian National Council donated 50,000 dinars Vojvodina Hungarian Cultural Institute. We brary in the amount of one million forints. As for organization of the Days of Language Cul - would like to digitalize old and unique books Áron Csonka said, there are 31,533 books in ture Szarvas Gábor. 14 Minority News Czech community Czech-Serbian Friendship Race Source: Škola plus s a traditional event, the The organizers’monitoring panel selected logue. Furthermore, Škola plus promotes “Czech-Serbian Friendship participants who acted in line with the positive values from the common history Race”, the seventh interna - safe ride agreement, those who helped of the two nations and interweaving of tional bicycle caravan was or - other participants, and also declared the the two cultures, and also contributes to ganized this year under the patronage of youngest and the oldest bicyclists. The better knowledge of the characteristics thAe Embassy of the Czech Republic and the Ministry of Trade, Tourism, and Telecommunications. The objective of the bicycle caravan is promotion of the Czech culture in these territories and the promotion of a healthy life style. 113 bicyclists, from 6 to 76 years old, took part in the caravan despite ex - tremely high temperatures, which was a striking evidence of how important and socially useful tourist event the caravan has evolved into. In addition to the safe and secure ride to Češko Selo, with the police escort and se - curity personnel provided by the organiz - ers, numerous participants had an oppor - tunity to visit the Czech Museum, get the information on the Czech presence in the area and remind themselves how impor - tant it is to cherish the multi-cultural soci - award ceremony was also an incentive to of the Czech minority. Young people are ety and tolerance. Joyful and pleasant en - all participants to make sure that they are thus inspired to think and act in the spirit vironment, smiles of the youngest more conscientious bicyclists next year of tolerance. The objective of this event participants and their parents, friends, and and also to pass their positive experiences to bring the participants of different eth - associates, with light food, refreshment, to the others around them. nic background together and help cultural recreation and creative workshops are and linguistic barriers to be overcome, good evidence that we are creating a bet - The important contribution of the bicycle promoting, at the same time, the values ter society by strengthening inter-ethnic caravan is promotion of awareness on the of importance of the cultural identity of confidence among the young people. need to engage in the interethnic dia - the Czechs in Serbia.

German Community Renewal of German Culture Source: Danas he German National Alliance, – Cultural activities will mark the begin - – Zrenjanin should regain the status of a non-political organization ning of our cooperation. The idea is to the German cultural centre in Banat. bi of the German minority in organize a free school of the German lan - trebalo da vrati poziciju kulturnog centra Serbia, with headquarters in guage, to organize exhibitions, and rep - Nemaca u Banatu. Furthermore, we are Subotica, established cooperation with resent activities of the German minority here to provide support in regard to cur - thTe City of Zrenjanin, where they opened in our town. We expect this cooperation rent issues, such as the issue of grants in an affiliate on July 5, which will evolve will open doors for our associations and the amount of 2,500 Euros each, which into a permanent office in the near fu - our town with the representatives of the the German Government allocated for ture. state institutions in Germany, as this is every member of the German commu - what this Alliance has already done in nity persecuted because of their ethnic On this occasion, Rudolf Vajs, the orga - Subotica, the Deputy Mayor, Saša Santo - background since WWII, and sentenced nization’s President, visited Zrenjanin vac said. The German National Alliance to hard labour or sent to a camp. The with his associates, and, in the Town Hall, is an intermediary with all national com - deadline for submission of applications took part in the presentation of the ac - munities in Serbia, and also provides a is December 31, 2017. Our liaison office tivities and cultural events the GNA will practical support to citizens in adminis - will help applicants to fill the forms out, organize in Zrenjanin. trative affairs. Rudolf Vajs said. 15 Minority News This newsle9er is funded by the Open Society Founda8on, Embassy of the United States of America in Belgrade and the OSCE Mission in Serbia. Opinions expressed in Minority News newsle9er do not necessarily represent the official posi8ons of the Governments and and organiza8ons that fund this project.