Consultations on Reporting Procedures Project “Carpathian on the Implementation of the Parallels” Brought to Minority Action Plan Completion

35 Minority Newapril 2s 017 Ruthenians in : A Tradition- Cherishing Nation with No Motherland

Conference “Roma “Gergina 2017” Women in Serbia - Festival – Keeper of the Achievements, Challenges, Tradition of Vlah Old and Perspectives” Music HIGLIHTS EDITORIAL 35 Strengthening of the Capacity o f the National Searching f or a Pl a ce un der the Sun Minority Co uncils The right to a decent an d dignified life is some thing we w ere all Two-day train ing sessions have bee n born w ith. Yes, we all have the righ ts to ed ucatio n, medic al ca re, carried out fo r the r ep resentat ives of emplo yment, bu t, can we all, i n reality, execu te these rig h ts? This the nation al minorit y councils a s a part que stion can fre que ntly b e heard a round sp ecific dates, pe rhaps of the Government’s ac tivities aimed most ofte n when th e In ternatio nal D ay of the R om a, the c itize ns

at the strengthening of the capacity of of the wo rld with out a m otherla nd, is to be marked. the nationa l minorit y councils. T he goal of these sessions is to introduc e the re - Let us remind ourselves that April 8, as the International Roma present atives o f the nation al minority Day, ha s b een cele bra ted sin ce 1971, w hen the R o ma fr om 25 councils to t he p rin ciples of goo d ma - countr ies met for the fir st tim e and founded the Unio n of the nage m ent, program planni ng, budge - Roma. F or full 46 years we h ave tried to mark this d ay. On this ting and reporting, from the perspective day, the re i s not a singl e new s progr am th at does no t featu re a of the increased efficiency and transpa - specia l re po rt abou t the R om a. A repre sentative o f any national rency in the work of the national mi - community can only be pleased with the fact that public pays so nority councils, particularly in regard to the use of the fund s allocated from the mu ch attentio n to their natio nal day . However, more i m portantly, budget of th e Republic of Serbi a. it would be even more pleasing if the public provided system so - luItions to the pr ob lem s link ed to t h is comm unity f or years. As a nation without a motherland, the Roma people are forced to be Agreement on Reporting in th e pro cess o f constant mig ration a nd to be subjec te d to per - on the Implementation of secution, even ge no cide . Is this w here the intole rance towar ds the M in ority Ac tion Plan the Rom a c omes fr o m? zbog toga š On April 25, 2017, t he represe ntatives We do no t have an answer to this question, bu t negati ve experi - of the C oordinati on of t he National M i - ence of the past cannot be used as an excuse for the future. De - nority Cou ncils m et i n w ith the spite num erous ref orms carried out by our state, t h e Rom a people Director of the Office for Human and are still the m ost discrim inate d m štoino uzdišemority comm zaun i„starletama“ty in our coun kojetry. Minority Rights to discuss the reporting As hi gh level of disc rimina tion, u nemployment, segregation in ed - on the implementation of the Action ucation is still present in our society. In the annual report of the Plan for the Execution of the Minority Com mission er for Pro tection o f Equ alit y, o ut of the tot al number Rights. The meeting was organized in line with the Coor dination’s request to of complaints of ethnicity-based discrimination, as many as 40% change the method ology for mon itoring of th e com plaint s a re t he Roma p opulatio n rela ted. The Gov ern - and reporting on the im plementation men t o f the Repub lic o f Se rbia ra tified the S trateg y for So cia l In - of the Action plan. clu sion of R oma i n th e Republi c o f Serbia 201 6-2 02 5. But, h ow is it possibl e that an Action Plan for the implementation of this Strat - How Well Do We Kno w egy has not been ratified yet? How can we follow the implemen - Each Other tation o f t he meas ures en visag ed by t he Strat egy, if w e lac k such an im portan t mechanis m? L ast m onth , a Coo rdin ation Body for the Monitoring of the Strategy was created, too, pointing to the The 11th cycle of th e high schoo ls quiz “How Well Do We Know Each Other”, start of the implementation of the Strategy, but is this sufficient? which is a part of the Provincial Go - vernment’s Project “The Affirmation of Multiculturalism and Tolerance in - Confidence Building Mea - 30 d iffer ent national m inorities live in Serbia sures among the Youth”, started with qualification competiti on on the 18th of April.

Conf ere nce “R om a

W o men i n Serbia – Achievements, Challenges, and Perspectives” Organized

On April 11, the conference “Roma Wo - men in Se rbia – Achieveme nts, Chall en - sle er for all ges , and Perspe cti ves” was org anized in and ONE new the Palace Serbia, during which the pu - bli c was inform ed on t he difficu lt position of this multi ple-discrimin ated minority in our country and the efforts to change their position. www.minoritynews.rs Minority News Portal OUR INTERVIEW: IVANA DUDAŠ, ACTING DIRECTOR OF THE CULTURAL INSTITUTE OF VOJVODINA RUTHENIANS A Tradition-Cherishing Nation with No Motherland which were part of the inheritance of the family of photographer Budinski from and donated to the Greek Catholic parish in Krstur. Another part of the project included polling of the people on the ground, who were asked if they could rec - ognize the individuals from the old photo - graphs. As a result, a two week exhibition of the Ruthenian history was organized at the Ethnographic Museum in Belgrade, as a part of the “Days of Ruthenian Culture 2016”. Last year, we also implemented the project “Carpathian Parallels”, with financial support of the Open Society Foundation, which has just been brought to completion. During the implementation of this project, we have had genuinely good cooperation with other national minorities. Do you cooperate with other national mi - norities on other projects, as well? Absolutely. Every year, we earmark special amount in our financial plan for one multi - cultural project. Last year, we organized an ettlement of Ruthenians in these territories began in 1751. They exhibition in , and, this year, if other migrated from present Slovakia, Carpathian Ukraine and the north - Institutes set aside similar funds, we plan east Hungary. The life of the immigrants has changed over centuries, to organize a theatre play “Wings of but their language, culture, and customs have remained the same. Panonia”, directed by Miroslav Benka, a Vo - While Ruski Krstur is considered to be the central settlement of the jvodina Slovak Director. Most of the cultural VSojvodina Ruthenians, the institute that has jurisdiction over protection and institutes and a few of the national minority promotion of the Ruthenian culture is seated in . The Cultural Institute councils have supported this idea. In this of Vojvodina Ruthenians was founded in 2008 and is presently headed by multicultural project, we plan to engage the acting director, Ivana Dudaš. most prominent actors from all national mi - What was the main goal of the Institute’s great importance for the Ruthenian com - norities. However, while both the idea and founders? munity implemented during this time. Let the project are very inspiring, I cannot guar - me mention a few of them. We published antee that it will be implemented this year. The Cultural Institute of Vojvodina Ruthe - a book of songs “The Red Rose”, comprising We carried out a similar project last year – nians was founded by the Assembly of the of folk songs and popular and children mu - A. Chekhov’s “Wedding”, directed by Lidija Autonomous Province of Vojvodina and the sic, as a part of the 50th Red Rose Festival, Stevanović, with participation of Ruthenian Ruthenian National Minority Council. I be - the most important festival for the Ruthen - actors, as well. lieve that the main objective at the time ian national minority. Furthermore, we pub - was to increase the level of the national How does the Institute support the lished a far-reaching book “Ruthenian Folk Ruthenian Culture? culture, i.e. development and promotion of Costumes”, which includes description of the culture of Vojvodina Ruthenians. Since folklore steps, as well as detailed descrip - Every year, the Institute funds the cele - the moment it was founded, the Institute tion of the folk costumes, sequence of put - bration of the Ruthanian National Day, has had four directors and acting directors, ting its their elements on, explanation on which is organized in a different town Miroslav Keveždi, Janko Bučko, Sergej the ways the hair is combed… Couple of every year. Furthermore, the Institute Tamaš, and, since August 2016, I have held years ago, a project “Research of the funds expert support to the cultural and the acting director’s position. Ruthenian History in Vojvodina and the Re - artistic societies. This year, we issued an There have been quite a few directors since public of Serbia” was launched. We have open call for proposals for co-funding of the Institute was founded. We suppose cooperated on this project with the Vojvo - the events envisaged in the official sched - there have been many projects as well? dina Museum and the Provincial Institute ule of events of the Ruthenian minority. for Heritage Protection and we have carried After the new Board of Directors has been I can say that, during the tour of duty of the extensive field research on the history of appointed, we will disburse the funds previous director, the Institute worked with the Ruthenians. A part of the project also based on the results of this call. Thus, the great success, with a number of projects of focused on scanning of the glass plates, Institute provides support to the Ruthen - 3 Minority News ian festivals, some of which have a 50 we have to attract these people with com - The Institute will, this year, also fund the year long tradition. plex identities, as well. In addition to school, publishing of a two-book Ruthenian diction - cultural societies can play an important role ary, by profession Julin Ramač. We should How many of such festivals exist? in this process, too, as they need to win also bring the project “Research on the His - I can say that we have a lot of festivals, how - over the children in lower grades of ele - tory of Ruthenians in Vojvodina and the Re - ever, twenty of them are included in the of - mentary schools, this is the age to start with public of Serbia”, which I mentioned earlier, ficial timetable, which has been endorsed these activities. The “Traditional Songs Fes - to completion, the results of which would by the Culture Board of the Ruthenian Na - tival” is the most popular event, both in be sum up in a monograph. We will con - tional Minority Council. terms of number of participants and in tinue to publish master works in Ruthenian terms of audience, and mainly elderly take language and alphabet, within the “Vladimir How can we recognize Ruthenian culture? part in this festival. All cultural societies have Garjanski” project of innovation editions. Is there anything special that makes it traditional songs sections, whereas children unique? folklore, children plays are more difficult to You will have your hands full with different find… This is something we should work on. projects. Will you have sufficient funds to I think that we are a mix of different cul - implement them? tures. We arrived in these territories 270 What are the specific projects the Institute years ago, and anyone who comes from the will work on until the end of this year? The Institute’s total budget amounts to rsd countries of our origin is fascinated how we 6,600,000. Will this be enough? It depends. have managed to preserve our language, Our national holiday is on January 17, which It is never enough, but we have to stretch our songs, our national costumes after so means that the preparations for the cele - according to our means. It is great, of many years… And yet, we have also em - bration of the next year’s National Day have course, when we receive money from other braced the culture of our new homeland. to be done this year. We plan to have the sources, however, this year, we have not You can see the influence the German na - next celebration in , and we need had much luck in different competitions on tional community, of the Hungarian national to agree on all the details with the local self- Republic and Provincial level. We have many community… This influence is easily visible good projects, nice ideas, but we need funds in the language, but also in gastronomy. to bring them to life. For the time being, When we started talking about representing We arrived in these territories we have put many ideas on hold. The Ruthenians for tourism purposes, I was Ruthenian community is specific since we asked the same questions on the things that 270 years ago, and anyone do not have a motherland and, therefore, make Ruthenians stand out. I did not know who comes from the coun - we cannot rely of support that some other what to reply at that time either. Slovaks, national communities receive from the for instance, have a recognizable wreath tries of our origin is fascinated countries of their origin. The Institute re - that a bride wears on her wedding day. We, how we have managed to pre - ceives funding exclusively from the Provin - too, have a wreath, but it is not as colorful, cial budget. as it the case with the Slovaks. Our girls serve our language, our songs, This does not prevent you from cooperat - used to wear a black ribbon – “barsonj”- ing with other countries… they had two curled braids, and, after the our national costumes after so wedding, they would remove the “barsonj” many years… And yet, we Of course, not. Our objective is to cooperate from the bride’s head and replace it with a with all national minorities, and with all bridal cap. As soon as she would give birth have also embraced the cul - countries, as well. During previous years, to a child, she would start covering her head ture of our new homeland. the Institute organized the folklore work - with a scarf and wearing black clothes. shop with participation of lecturers from Slovakia and Ukraine. What are Ruthenians like nowadays? We mentioned the number of events that To some extent, they cherish their tradition. government there, so that the funds can you organize every year, we talked about I believe that some of them are unaware be allocated in time. The Culture Board of the Ruthenian identity. Which culture do how valuable their history is, how important the National Minority Council and the In - Ruthenians give advantage to, traditional it is. Also, I think that we have no problem stitute’s Board of Directors have already culture or the modern one? to embrace other cultures. We are bilingual. started discussing a possible change of the Without any problem, from an early age, concept of the National Day celebration. I think that Ruthenians are still more inclined we study and use both our mother tongue Up to now, the emphasis has been on a for - towards the tradition. We do have events and Serbian, and also a foreign language. mal recital, during which we would present with modern contents, but the tradition One of the major problems is that Rutheni - the best the Ruthenians have. It would in - prevails. The young people prefer modern ans are dispersed all over Vojvodina, be - clude songs, poetry, a performance by the events, and these projects are implemented cause of which the Ruthenian identities are national band, etc. Accompanying events by the Youth Working Group within the Na - multi-leveled. We are a small community have included exhibitions, book presenta - tional Minority Council. They have certain and we definitely face the problem of our tions... In a word, the program has been funds at their disposal, issue calls for pro - number decreasing in time, but, perhaps, abundant. I would like to note that, every posals for applications submitted by soci - we might be looking at it from a wrong per - year, the Institute publishes a bilingual eties or youth sections, and implement spective. When I mentioned the multi-lev - monograph on the town where the National these projects. For 20 years, we have or - eled identity, I referred to numerous mixed Day celebration is organized at. Every year, ganized “Dnjovka”- a multimedia youth fes - marriages. The individuals coming from the celebration is organized in a different tival in Ruski Krstur, which promotes the these marriages might not feel as Rutheni - town in order to motivate people from the youth, their creativity, and their modern re - ans only, but also as Ruthenians and Slovaks, local communities and to give them an op - bellious character. In addition to the strate - or Ruthenians and , and will not de - portunity to be the hosts to the Ruthenians gically important projects that promote the clare themselves as Ruthenians. To this end, from other towns. traditional culture, the Institute is commit - we are at the decisive moment now, since ted to supporting modern activities, as well. 4 Minority News News Strengthening of the Capacity of the

National MinoritySo uCrceo: Offiuce nfor Hcumilans and Minority Rights raining are part of the obliga - sessions tory activities envis - for the aged by the Action represen - Plan for Chapter 23. tatives of thTe national minority In addition to the staff councils, which were of the Office for Hu - carried out on April 5- man and Minority 6, are part of the ac - Rights, the trainers in tivities of the Govern - the sessions are Timo ment aimed at Sorsa of the Finnish strengthening of the National Institute for capacity of the na - Health and Welfare, tional minority coun - and Mihaela Brezar cils, and these ses - from the Nationality sions are continuously Office of the Govern - organized , Suzana ment of the Republic Paunović, the director of Slovenia. The train - of the Office for Hu - ing is organized as a man and Minority Rights, said. of the funds allocated from the Budget part of the EU twining project “Support of the Republic of Serbia, Paunović as - to Promotion of Human Rights and Zero The objective of these sessions is to train sessed. Tolerance to Discrimination”, which has the representatives of the national mi - been implemented by the Office for Hu - nority councils on the principles of good Paunović noted that the organized ses - man and Minority Rights and the Com - management, program planning, budg - sions are also confirmation that the ca - missioner for Protection of Equality, in eting and reporting, from the perspective pacity for the implementation of the partnership with the Austrian Human of increased efficiency and transparency measures and activities envisaged by the Right Institute “Ludwig Boleman” and in the work of the national minority Minority Action Plan is strengthened the Slovenian Office for National Minori - councils, particularly in regard to the use every day. The aforementioned sessions ties. Agreement on Reporting on the Implementation of the Minority

ActionS oPurcle:a Conordination of the National Minority Councils n April 25, 2017, the rep - of the National Minority Councils had proposals and comments on the Third resentatives of the Coordi - with Ana Brnabić, the Chairperson of Report on the Implementation of the nation of the National Mi - the Republic Council for National Mi - Action Plan, as well as on the method - nority Councils met in norities and the Minister of Public Ad - ology of the collection and systemati - Belgrade with the Director of the Of - ministration. zation of the data into quarterly re - fOice for Human and Minority Rights ports. to discuss the reporting on the imple - The participants in the meeting mentation of the Action Plan for the agreed to include the comments of The Coordination’s delegation con - Execution of the Minority Rights. the national minority councils in the sisted of Ana Tomanova-Makanova, Report of the Implementation of the the president of the Slovak National The meeting was organized in line Minority Action Plan, which is pre - Minority Council, Darko Sarić with the Coordination’s request to pared quarterly by the Government’s Lukendić, the president of the Execu - change the methodology for monitor - Office for Human and Minority Rights. tive Board of the Croatian National ing and reporting on the implemen - Council, Vasvija Gusinac, deputy pres - tation of the Action plan, and as a fol - In an effort to enhance the reporting ident of the Bosnian National Council, low up to the January 31 meeting the process, the representatives of the and Emil Lulić, representing the Hun - representatives of the Coordination national minority councils gave their garian National Minority Council. 5 Minority News Project Carpathian Parallels Brought to Closure Four Communities, One Goal Photo: Hlas Ljudu he Project Carpathian Parallels, which was implemented by the Cultural Institute of Vojvodina Ruthenians, funded by thTe Open Society Foundation, was brought to closure by a round table, during which the participants and the organizers examined the experiences ac - quired during the implementa - tion of the Project and signed a protocol on mutual cooperation. The round table took place in the premises of the Cultural Institute of Vojvodina Ruthenians in Novi Sad on April 21st. The goal of the project was to connect the young people, to fa - cilitate an exchange of experience and to recognise traditional cul - tural and historical values. and research general common roots first willingness to participate in the work of Four students each from high schools in and then present the outcomes in indi - their local communities. Vrsac, Kovacica, Ruski Krstur, and Srbo - vidual communities. bran participated in the project. By taking “We picked baroque as a theme, since it part in the workshops and visits to the The workshops were also organised on connected the European culture which institutions, which commenced in Vrsac the common history of Vojvodina, and had been dispersed up to that point. in November, then proceeded in Ko - the participants in these workshops gave When baroque came to these areas, the vacica in January, and in Ruski Krstur and presentations with the help of their men - communities in these territories got to - gether and established themselves”, Je - lena Perkovic said. “We did not look into the rights of national minorities; instead, we looked into the ways how to use best the existing minority rights together with the majority community”. Headmasters of the schools included in the project also took part in the round table discussion, as well as the students’ mentors, who spoke highly about the project. As they pointed out, the classes in the field have given good results, be - cause, learning history from a textbook is one thing and learning history at the place where the history was created is something totally different. The representatives of the Provincial Government – Dragan Milic, the assistant Provincial Secretary for Sports and Youth and Miroslav Ilic, the assistant Provincial Srbobran in February, the participants in tors on the arrival of their ancestors to Secretary for Relations with Religious the project tried to find common points the territories of nowadays Vojvodina. Communities, also assessed the project in life and development of these com - They also talked about the youth opti - highly and pointed out that intercultural munities. As Jelena Perkovic, who was mism and volunteerism. The participants dialogue and common values history are in charge of the program contents of the agreed that it is necessary to motivate Vojvodina’s great assets, and that the Project, pointed out in the round table their peers to take part in the activities young people should recognize it and discussion, their goal was to investigate for their communities and also expressed cherish it, as well. 6 Minority News News How Well We Know Each Other Source: Provincial Government he 11th cycle of the high schools quiz “How Well We Know Each Other”, which is a part of the Provincial Gov - ernment’s Project “The Affirmation of MTulticulturalism and Tolerance in Vo - jvodina - Confidence Building Measures among the Youth”, started with qualifi - cation competition on April 18. This year, teams from 12 high schools from all over Vojvodina qualified for semi-finals. This project has been implemented by the Provincial Secretariat for Education, multi-thematic and multicultural pro - pending on the language they use in Legislation, Public Administration, and gram, aimed at strengthening of the in - their classes, can receive questions and National Minorities - National Commu - terethnic confidence among young high reply in their own language. Therefore, nities and it has been carried out in co - school students in Vojvodina. The in this cycle, in addition to the , the students will also com - pete in Hungarian and in Slovak. This year's competition brought together 44 high school teams from the whole ter - ritory of the Autonomous Province of Vojvodina. The initial qualification competition took place in Subotica on April 18-19. On the first day, the competition took place at the Open University and the partici - pants competed in the Hungarian lan - guage. On the second day, the compe - tition was in Hungarian and in Serbian. Among host cities there is also Kovacica, where the competition was organised operation with numerous organisations biggest news of this year's competition in Slovak and in Serbian, Sremska Mitro - and institutions in Vojvodina. The proj - is definitely its multilingual nature and vica, Sombor, and Vrbas were among ect has been envisaged as a complex the possibility that the students, de - the host cities, as well.

7 Minority News Roma Community Conference „Roma Women in Serbia, Achievements, Challenges and Perspectives” Source: www.espreso.rs t the Palace Serbia, on April and we are all aware of problems they start their own business and to employ 11, a conference was held face. a Roma member of staff. This way, he under the title “Roma added, we think we are truly helpful. Women in Serbia, Achieve - The Head of OSCE Mission to Serbia, Anything else would be just talking the ments, Challenges and Perspectives”, Andrea Orizio, noted that, if we talk talk. Without specific financial re - aAt which the public was informed about improvement of the position of sources, we cannot address this issue about the difficult position of this mul - Roma women, Serbia makes big efforts, seriously, Ivanišević concluded.

tiple discriminated minority in our but there is also a lot that needs to be The Commissioner for the Protection country and about ongoing efforts to done. The OSCE is here as a partner to of Equality, Brankica Janković, said that change their position. help Roma community in Serbia, espe - the true position of Roma men and cially Roma women, Orizio concluded women is best described by the fact Roma women, as members of a mi - at this meeting. that every complaint this institution re - nority community in Serbia, are at the ceives in regard to the position of mi - very bottom of the social margins. They Nenad Ivanišević, the Secretary of State nority communities, is about the Roma have rights, but not possibilities, and at the Ministry of Labor, said that his community. She added that it is nec - very often they lose their trust in the ministry recognized Roma people as a essary to point out good examples and institutions, fearing that, if they com - hard-to-employ category, so he is mak - encourage and stimulate others this plain about a denied right, the system ing an appeal to all employers to hire way, too. Janković also noted that she could deprive them from other rights, Roma people, advising, at the same has heard very good and motivating as well – the participants in the con - time, Roma women to get activated proposals exactly from Roma women, ference “Roma Women in Serbia, and to start their own businesses. The who are architects, lawyers, doctors, Achievements, Challenges and Per - Ministry offers a minimum of 200.000 etc. spectives” said. dinars as an incentive to individuals to The President of the National As Gordana Stevanović, the Council of Roma National Minor - Deputy Ombudsman, ity, prof. Vitomir Mihajlović, pointed out, if we look at the talked about the importance of percentage of Roma women equal representation of both who ask the Ombudsman for genders, especially Roma help, this number is very women, who are multiple dis - small in comparison to the criminated. Besides the educa - total number of complaints, tion, which is the key of success so it might seem that Roma of every human being, social vis - women do not have any ibility and inclusion in all seg - problems with institutions of ments of the integration are very the system. However, she important to Roma women, too, added, this is not the reality Mihajlović concluded. 8 Minority News The Role of Health Mediators Presented on the Network for Roma Issues Source: Permanent Conference of Towns and Municipalities he Secretary General, Republic Health Security Fund Judicial System and Fundamental Djordje Staničić, said that branch offices, and local self-gov - Rights. In light of the fact that there the Permanent Confer - ernments. The role of health medi - are 70 health mediators in Serbia ence of Towns and Mu - ators is to keep records of members as a whole, who do not have the nicipalities (PCTM) has a represen - of the Roma community, to work system sustainability as long as they taTtive in the Coordination Body for with them on increasing awareness have project engagement only, it is the Strategy for Social Inclusion of on the necessity to have the chil - critically important to standardize Roma 2016-2025. Staničić noted dren inoculated and on the impor - their job and include them in the that the PCTM shall define its work tance of adequate diet and hygiene. health care system. He noted that in this body through Network for The health mediators secure better the “Strategy for Social Inclusion of Roma Issues as well, thus creating insight of the medical institutions Roma 2015-1025”is important, as a link between the local and the in the conditions in these settle - it puts focus on the local self-gov - central level. ments, and point to the local resi - ernment level, where, realistically, dents the importance of timely vis - the policy of social-economic In the April 20 conference organized its to physicians. strengthening of the Roma does in Belgrade, the Network for Roma take place. Issues assessed that the work of Assistant Minister in the Public health mediators, who were intro - Health and Program Health Protec - Deputy Director of the Health Clinic duced by the program “Implemen - tion Sector at the Ministry of in Nis, Jasmina Ranković, pointed out that the clinic has cooperated with Roma organizations for over 15 years and that the 2009 intro - duction of health mediators helped this cooperation to improve further. “In the City of Nis, the mediators cover 14 settlements and 27 villages of the total number of 63 villages that administratively belong to the city. In the period January 1, 2013 - December 31, 2016, the health me - diators made 12,742 house calls, 686 children have been inoculated, and 570 women have had system - atic gynecological checkups”, tation of the Action Plan for Roma Health, Vesna Knjeginjić, said that Ranković said. Health Protection” implemented by the number of the engaged health the Ministry of Health, has im - mediators is insufficient. Ms. Representative of the Department proved the health of the Roma pop - Knjeginjić noted that the Ministry for Social Activities of the City of ulation. The participants in the con - of Health is facing serious chal - Leskovac, Bratislav Nešić, said that ference looked into the lenges at the moment, including the the work of the health mediators effectiveness of the health media - insufficient number of health work - in the Leskovac Health Clinic started tors from the moment the program ers in Serbia, and added that the in 2008. The average number of vis - had been launched, the living envi - work of the health mediators will its to pregnant women has been 94 ronment in the Roma settlements, continued to be project-funded. per year, and to new mothers 105 and future plans in this regard. per year. A more intensive cooper - Expert of the Regional Cooperation ation with the Roma community on In 2008, the Ministry of Health sup - Council, Osman Balić, said that the the improvement of their position ported the project of introducing health mediators have worked in in Leskovac started in 2014, when the health mediators in the health Serbia for eight years in a “chaotic, the City Council formed a Mobile care system in Serbia and provided informal system” and added that he Team for Roma Inclusion. financial support for engagement expects their job to be institution - of 75 health mediators. The health alized and number increased, as en - The conference was organized as a mediators are part of the commu - visaged by the Operational Conclu - part of the project “Institutional nity nurse service in local health sions of the Seminar on the Social Support of PCTM – Phase II”, which clinics, and they work closely with Inclusion of Roma in the Republic is financially supported by the Swiss other medical staff at the clinics, of Serbia, as well as by the Action Agency for Development and Coop - with the Centers for Social Services, Plan for the Chapter 23: Reform of eration. 9 Minority News Jewish Community Mirović: Such Crimes Must Never Happen

Again Anywhere in the WSouorcer: Plrd ovincial Government n April 26, the Prime Minister of the Provincial Government, Igor Mirović, speaking at the commemorative gathering in the Novi Sad synagogue on the occasion oOf marking the 73rd anniversary of the day when Novi Sad Jews were deported to death camps, reminded that in that very building the final act of the bloody drama started, in which almost two thirds of the 4300 Jews, who had lived in Lady Novi Sad before the World War II, died. Paying respect to the innocent victims, Mirović said that such crimes must never happen again anywhere in the world. “The bloody drama they were victims of was a part of the most horrible criminal project in the history of the mankind, in which over 6 million innocent people died only because they were Jews”, the Prime Minister reminded. Novi Sad, Miloš Vučević repeated that the WWII. point of marking one of the most tragic In his statement to the press, Prime Min - days in the history of the city is not only The attendees were reminded that most ister Mirović said that the Holocaust to pay respect to the victims, members of the Novi Sad Jews, as well as 10,000 brought about enormous suffering to the of the Jewish community, but also a clear Jews from other parts of Backa, who had Jews, which has made a permanent deep warning that such a crime must never also been deported during that dreary scar in the history of the mankind. He re - happen again. spring in 1944, had been sent to the no - minded that it was caused not only by torious Auschwitz, and most of them have Nazi Germany, but also by Horthy Hun - “This increased attention and vigilance never come back. gary. As he said, the commemoration must be based on these victims, who were should also serve as a reminder to re - sent from Novi Sad, from this beautiful The Chief Rabbi in Serbia, Isak Asiel, noted member and raise voice against in his address the importance of the enormous evil that we wit - the message: “Remember, do nessed in Novi Sad and Serbia as a not forget, do not stay silent, whole, and to react to all attempts raise your voice”, and said that to revise history and resurrect fas - there can always be a voice, cism, to even a slightest hint that even a silent one, that can warn there is a danger that such an evil that an evil must be stopped. can happen again somewhere. Deputy Chief of Mission of Israel, Mirović noted that, on the day of Jenny Sedov, pointed out that commemoration, not only are we words of the Prime Minister and paying respect to the Novi Sad Jew - the Mayor of Novi Sad, who said ish victims, but also to all those that such events must never be who suffered only because they forgotten, represent a very im - belonged to other nations and portant message, and that she other confession, and because they was honored to hear this mes - respected themselves and their sage at the Novi Sad Synagogue. tradition. Synagogue, to the death camps, to the After the commemoration, PM Mirović, Reminding the attendees that around journey with no return, only few months Mayor Vučević, representatives of the em - 2000 remaining Novi Sad Jews, who had before the city was liberated”, Vučević re - bassies of Israel and Hungary, and repre - been forced at gunpoint to leave their minded and added that it was the most sentatives of the Association of Jewish homes, were transported from the Novi horrible genocide, the attempt to destroy Communities in Serbia and the Jewish Sad Synagogue to the German concentra - one whole nation, which could not have Community of Novi Sad laid wreaths in tion camps never to return, the Mayor of been stopped until the last day of the front of the Synagogue. 10 Minority News Hungarian Community North Festival

of Folklore Creativity Source: Dnevnik he cultural and artistic society learn the most difficult “Tisadjendje” from Novi dancing steps”, Jene Hajnal Kneževac organized the ninth said. “Every folk dance is a international “North Banat work of art on its own, all Festival of Folklore Creativity”. moves, body positions, cos - T tumes, and the way of The folklore ensembles from the towns singing, show their origin. in Vojvodina and the neighboring Hun - The folk dances once had gary, and the children from the “Happy a principal role in the social Child” kindergarten performed in front of life of the residents in vil - a big audience, and an exhibition of the lages and towns alike. This traditional handcraft was also organized. magical festival is evidence that the folklore is very spe - The festival was opened by the president cial, because, through a song and a dance, The ensembles from , Srpski Krstur, of the Hungarian National Minority Coun - one can get to know the people they Horgoš, Ostojićevo, Tornjoš, Bajmok, cil, Jene Hajnal, while, on behalf of the dance with, learn about the culture of Bečej, Tavakut, Novi Itebej, Banatsko host, the Speaker of the Novi Kneževac other nations, and becomes aware of sim - Arandjelovo, , Kanjiža, Novi Kneže - Assembly, Nandor Ujhelji, addressed the ilarities and differences around them.” vac, and the guests from Kiskunfélegyháza audience and the participants. and Kunszállás, performed in the “North Banat Festival of Folklore Creativity”. It was noted that the festival contributes to learning more about the folk traditions The festival was organized with the sup - of the Serbs, , Roma, Romani - port of the Municipality of Novi Kneževac, ans, Bunjevacs, and other national com - the Hungarian National Minority Council, munities who live in the area. the Ministry of Culture and Information of the Republic of Serbia, the Provincial By dancing the folk dances, everyone can Secretariat for Education, Legislation, Ad - build friendships and learn more about ministration, and National Minorities – customs of a nation. Folk dances are par - National Communities of the Au - ticularly important for the communities tonomous Province of Vojvodina and the who take pride in their choreographies, “Betlen Gabor”Foundation from Hun - colorful costumes, and willingness to gary.

Slovak Community Permanent and Deep Slovak-Serbian

Literary Relations Source: Provincial Government n April 22, Dr Nebojša poets in strengthening and cherishing Prebuđila, Miroslav Aleksić, Ljudmila Kuzmanović, the Deputy those relations. Beređi-Stupavski, Radomir Andrić, Zdenka Provincial Secretary for Cul - Valent-Belić and Zoran Đerić also talked ture, Public Information, and “Young Jovan Jovanović, later on known about the Slovak-Serbian literary relations. Relations with Religious Communities, , as “Zmaj”, was educated in Slovakia, pOarticipated in the traditional, 61st Literary where he established a deep spiritual re - They gave a new insight into the relations Counseling in Bački Petrovac. lation with the Slovak nation, which he between Pavel Jozef Šafarik and Djordje cherished to the rest of his life. Further - Magarašević, relations between Janko Ša - The theme of this year’s event were Slo - more, he, too, wrote in the Slovak lan - farik and the Serbian national and cultural vak-Serbian literary relations that have guage as well, and his poetry was trans - elite, Serbian translations of the new Slo - lasted for centuries and left deep marks lated to this language by the most eminent vak drama, and the links between the So - in the cultures of both nations. Slovak poets and translators”, Kuzmanović ciety of Slovak Writers with Slovak writers Kuzmanović’s presentation under the title said. in Vojvodina, i.e. the renewed cooperation “Zmaj and the Slovaks”, highlighted the of this literary association with the Serbian role of one of the most important Serbian Miroslav Demak, dr Dragan Stanić, Martin Society of Writers. 11 Minority News Bunjevac Community Waiting for the Reading Book

until September Source: Bunjevačke novine ood news is coming after the meeting of the representatives of the National Council of Bun - jevac National Minority with the Institute for Textbooks. AS the partici - pGants in the meeting confirmed, if every - thing goes according to the plan, a new textbook in the Bunjevac language – the Reading Book for the third and the fourth grade – will soon be published. The meet - ing was attended by dr Suzana Kujundžić Ostojić, the President of the NCBNM, and Mirko Bajić, the President of the Executive Board of the NCBNM, and, on behalf of the Institute for Textbooks, Milorad Marjanović, the Director of the Publishing Section of the Institute, and Romanca Jovanović, the Leader of the Section of the Institute in Novi Sad and the Chief Editor for Languages of National Minorities. Authors of the textbook are Mirjana Sa - books was signed with the national minor - vanov and Nevenka Bašić Palković, and it ity councils. Talking about this meeting, dr Suzana will be printed in 600 copies. A good plan - Kujundžić Ostojić said: ning secured necessary funds. „The work on publishing new textbooks is in its final phase, the manuscripts are being „We talked about options how to finalize „If there is a good will, there are resources. lectured, the illustration is in progress, the already existing cooperation in regard Education is our priority is education and which will be followed for preparations for to the preparation of the reading books that is why we at the NCBMM did our best printing, with some additional corrections. for the third and the fourth grade. We to make this happened, The Institute also For us as a publisher, this means about did their best , we also have a support of one month of work more“, – Marjanović pointed out. ONE STEP FORWARD IN THE BUNJEVAC However, it takes a bit longer to publish a LANGUAGE CLASSES new textbook. „There is a part of the job that does not Mirjana Savanov, the President of the Education Board of NCBNM, and also one depend on an author, the Institute, or the of the authors, pointed out that the new textbook will be very important for the Council. It is the approval procedure, since realization of the Bunjevac Language with Elements of National Culture class, we, as publishers, are obligated to request and expressed hope that the process of publishing this reading book will be the approval of the appropriate Secre - brought to completion by September, as it was concluded after the meeting. tariat, and this procedure can last up to „Now, as the publishing of this reading book will be a lot easier, it is very likely 90 days. Also, the Institute, as a public pub - that it will be printed before the beginning of the new school year. We hope that lishing company, must announce a tender Memorandum is going to be signed with our community, too, because it will for every book in line with public procure - make the whole process easier. We have the support of our country, and, after ment procedures, and this takes time. We signing the Memorandum, we will be equal with others national minorities, who hope that everything is going to be finished have already signed it“ by September and that this textbook is go - ing to be published before the beginning the Ministry of Education, and, hopefully, of the new school year. This is not the be - promised earlier, while working on the ginning of our cooperation, I hope that it previous textbooks, that we will continue of the Provincial Secretariat for Education, Administration and National Minorities – will be continued, because this is not the our job, together with the Institute for one time project“, Marjanović concluded. Textbooks. We have been very satisfied National Communities, too. When all these with our cooperation so far. We also dis - four sides work together, then the project must be finalized.” Although the Memorandum with the Bun - cussed technical things, filling needed po - jevac community was not signed, it is clear sitions, and doing everything necessary Milorad Marjanović from the Textbooks that this community needs help in quality to finish the job and give children a pos - realization of the classes, in this particular sibility to have new textbooks already in Institute pointed out that this is a follow up to the activities started by the Ministry case of the facultative course Bunjevac the fall“, - the President of the NCBNM Language with Elements of National Cul - said. of Education last year, when the Memo - randum on publishing of the missing text - ture. 12 Minority News Macedonian Community Formal Opening of the Square and the Summer Stage in Jabuka Source: www.pancevo.rs n April 12, the Mayor of Pančevo, Saša Pavlov, and the Ambassador of the Republic of Macedonia, H.E. Vera Jo - vanovska-Tipko, cut the ribbon and for - mOally opened two new structures in Jabuka. A new square and a summer stage in front of the “Goce Delčev” elementary school in Jabuka are the result of joint activities carried out by the Association “Ilinden”, the local community in Jabuka, the Oil Industry of Serbia (NIS) as the principal sponsor, and the Macedonian National Minority Council, who provided the logistic support. H.E. Vera Jovanovska-Tipko said on this occasion: “As the ambassador of the Re - friendly countries. Think globally and act know each other even better and to public of Macedonia to Serbia, I am par - locally – this is the mission of the Em - strengthen the cooperation and the ticularly pleased to attend this important bassy of the Republic of Macedonia, and, bonds between us. I would also like to event, which shows that the Macedonian as a result of the cooperation with the note the excellent cooperation with the community in Serbia is preserved and local self-government and the work on Macedonian National Minority Council. well taken care of. This project also a specific project proposed by the Mace - The Town of Pančevo participates ac - shows social responsibility in implemen - donian community in Jabuka, this proj - tively in the protection and promotion tation of tangible initiatives, such as the ect, which will improve the quality of life of the cultural heritage, the language, construction of the square and the sum - of all Jabuka residents, has been brought the customs, and the tradition of the mer state in front of the “Goce Delčev” to reality. Macedonian national community and we constantly try to cherish and promote our traditionally good interpersonal and interethnic relations. Of course, I would also like to extend my appreciation to the Oil Industry of Serbia. We cooperate with them on the “Communities Project” every year and I would like to emphasize their very responsible attitude towards the local communities as well as their corporate social responsibility. Through their support programs they contribute greatly to the development in the sphere of culture, economy, tourism, education, etc. Today, we are all witnesses of this contribution in the form of the new square and the summer stage, Pančevo Mayor, Saša Pavlov said. During the ceremony, on the eve of Easter holidays, Macedonian Association “Ilinden” from Jabuka, with the support school where pupils can study the Mace - On behalf of the Town of Pančevo, and of the Macedonian National Minority donian language. This is a good example on my own behalf, I would like to thank Council, distributed gift bags to the chil - of a synergy between the Macedonian the Ambassador for the wonderful co - dren of pre-school and school age in the community in Serbia, the local self-gov - operation. I have had a pleasure to meet “Goce Delčev” School, consisting of the ernment, and a company, who have all with her on a number of occasions lately educational material and candies, which worked together to promote social de - and talk about specific projects in the promotes the subject Macedonian lan - velopment and a cultural and economic areas of economy, culture, education, guage with the elements of the national prosperity between the two neighboring and sports, with the objective to get to culture. 13 Minority News Vlach Community Festival “Gergina 2017”- the Keeper of

the Tradition of the VSoulrcae: Ncatihona lF Coounclil kof V laMch Nautionsal iMc inority xactly like it started, with the Accompanying Programs of the Second ten in two languages with an accompany - promising performance of Evening of the Festival ing CD, prepared by famous musicologist twenty anonymous young mu - from Srpska Krajina, Dimitrije Mikan sical hopes of Vlach music, Two book promotions were organized as Obradović. who showed love to the tradition, the in - accompanying programs that preceded stEruments they played, or The Ninth Festival “Gergina” in songs which they sang, the the 2017 season, brought to - Ninth Festival of the Vlach gether over one hundred per - Music “Gergina”, on the formers on both evenings, com - closing evening, on April petitive and review, and over a 18, showed all luxury of thousand of visitors of the con - musical tradition thanks to cert and the accompanying pro - the local and foreign par - grams. The Festival was closed ticipants. True music en - with carefully chosen words by thusiasts performed on dr Siniša Čelojević, the President the big scene of the Cul - of the Association “Gergina”, tural Center “Stevan who, inter alia, said: “According Mokranjac” and cele - to the audience and all partici - brated music, in honor of pants, we had a great festival which the Festival and the closing evening was ab - “Gergina”, the unique solutely fascinating, thanks to event this kind of music in the orchestra of Slobodan Pecić Serbia, is organized every and the joint performance with year on the second and Živa Dinulović and Dragan the third day after Easter, now already the big concert of the Vlach music. The Njegušić.In addition to these spectacular nine years in a row. book of Adam Orvad, a Danish musician, shows, our goal is to promote young and one of the Festival participants, was hopes of Vlach music who are the keepers The Festival “Gergina” started with its an - presented in the Gallery of the Cultural of our tradition. The surprise of the Festi - them, a song of the same name and Center. Orvad, a big fan of the Vlach music val was Adam Orvad, the Dane who ad - which was, as always, inspiringly per - and an outstanding expert of the opus of mirably plays Vlach music. We have just formed by the members of wrapped out this year’s event, the ethno group “Gergina”, and the impressions are still which was followed by the strong, but we have already performance of the big or - started preparations for the chestra of Slobodan Pecić. tenth jubilee festival next year, Although the musical which is going to be dedicated event lasted for almost to the singing legend, Slobo - four full hours without a dan Domaćinović, from Radu - break, no one in the audi - jevac. His contribution to the ence found it too long, Vlach music was immense, he which only shows how in - was briefly one the Festival di - teresting the selection of rectors before his early death participants was. Every and departure from the mu - one of them put a part of sical scene. The Ninth Festival themselves to the closing fulfilled all our expectations evening of the ninth festi - and we hope that years which val season. will come are going to be even more successful, as well as our The performance of the strivings to cherish the Vlach vocal soloists and instrumentalists from Slobodan Božinović, prepared a book “Slo - music and tradition”, Siniša Čelojević, the Serbia, Romania and Bulgaria was divided bodan Božinović – Vlach Kolos” with an President of the “Gergina” Association, into ten musical blocks. The star singers, audio CD and sheet music books of 25 au - said on the closing of the Festival who were in the center of everybody’s at - thors’ kolos of the legendary Vlach artist. “Gergina” in Negotin. Under the auspices tention, were undoubtedly the ladies, who The publisher is the Association “Gergina”, of the National Council of the Vlach Na - did their best to touch the soul of the au - which, on the same evening, also pro - tional Minority, the Association has been dience and make good atmosphere with moted a book about the legendary trum - a successful organizer of this unique in - Vlach songs. peter, Ilija Ika Petrišović. The book is writ - ternational musical event for ten years.

14 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.