Paunović: We Are Sombor Finances Continuously and Councils of National Consistently Implementing Minorities, One Measures That Are Million Dinars Improving Minority Rights Earmarked

56 Minority NewsAugust 2019

Bošnjak: Legal Solutions Have Been Significantly Improved

Highest Amount Slovak Folk Festivities: 100 Granted for Roma Years With the People, In Culture the People, For the People HIGHLIGHTS EDITORIALEDITORIAL 4956 SomborGovernment Finances Committed Councils to of NationalImproving theMinorities, Status One Million Dinars The Merge(Not) of the the Traditional choice? and the ofEarmarked Minority Rights There is a bit more thanContemporary a month left until the elections for members On September 6, the Director of the Go- of national councils of national minorities. The members of the Thevernment City of OfficeSombor for willHuman fund and councils Minority of We22 nationalcan rightly minorities say that August will be was exercising full of events their rightin which to elect members their nationalRights, Suzana minorities, Paunović, metwith witha total the OSCEof one ofrepresentatives. national minorities The first played precondition a key role. for votingNeither is the to tropicalenrol in theheat millionHigh Commissioner dinars allocated for National for this Minorities, year. This norSpecial the Voters’ vacations List for prevented National Minorities.them from Accordingdevoting tothemselves the website to isLamberto the first Zannier,time that and the she workinformed of national him the organization of numerous events, thus marking their national communitiesabout the implementation has been ofsupported the activities in holidays.of the Ministry of Public Administration and Local Self-Government, thisof the way Action and Planthe conditionsfor the Realization are ofmet the by the conclusion of the Special Voter List will be done 15 days before theRights Hungarian, of National Croatian, Minorities. German and Onthe the elections, second onweekend October of 19.August, Whether the holiday the call was of themarked Ministry by the of Bunjevac minorities. Allocating funds SlovaksPublic Administration in Bački Petrovac. and other This year, government Slovak national bodies to festivities the members were to finance the work of national coun- dedicatedof the national to the minorities centenary to of register their founding in the Special and the Voters’ cultural List and will cils is a legal obligation, but few local artisticbear fruit program will be clearin the after hall thisof the date, Slovak because, Vojvodina with theTheater exception was de- governments have fulfilled it. Sombor Hosts "Europe dicatedof the few to thenational arrival councils of Slovaks that to active the Lowerly propagate Earth. The the presenceimportance of provincialof voters’ officials,registration led and by elections,Provincial othersPrime haveMinister not Igor yet includedMirović, as in My City" Conference wellit in theas the agenda. presence of the Prime Minister of the Slovak Republic, A Book of Poetry by Peter Pelegrini, testified to the importance of this holiday. Onthe September Consul 20, Sombor General hosted the "Europeof By October 19, all those who aim to be in one of the national in MyBulgaria City" conference Promoted on protection and in exer- ThecouncilsI same can weekend submit was their celebrated lists. By thein families conclusion of Islamic of this denomina issue, the- cise of human and minority rights. The confe- Republic Electoral Commission approved 20 electoral lists of 11 rence was organizedNishville by the German Foundation tion. Kurban Bajram was congratulated by the Prime Minister, the "Konrad Adenauer", in cooperation with the Primenational Minister, minorities. and manyIt is difficult ministers, to forecast who showed how many that alllists citizens will be TheCity collectionof Sombor and of thepoetry German “Hidden Association Sen- ofregistered, the state but,were on equally the b importantasis of the to approved them. ones, it iszbog evident toga ses”"Gerhard" by Consul Sombor. General of the Republic thatš there are deep divisions in some national communities. For of Bulgaria in Niš, Edvin Sugarev, his Theyinstance, also the showed Ruthenian this at community, the celebration which, of althoughthe national being holidays a less first book in Serbian, was promoted of Bunjevacs and Hungarians. The central celebration of Dužijanca numerous community (according to the last census, 14,246 citizens on August 9, as a part of the literary Daydeclared - one asof membersthe four holidays of this community) of što the uzdišemo Bunjevac already zanational „starletama“ has 4 electoralminority koje - program of the Nisville Jazz Festival. was held on 15 August. The following week, the Hungarian national The Consul General of the Republic of lists,s while in the previous elections in 2014 they had a total of 7 minoritylists. The celebratedreasons behind its holiday. this division St. Istvan are, of course,Hungary dissatisfaction was marked Bulgaria further said that the book of by a formal ceremony in Novi Sad. poetry and its promotion in Nishville with the existing situation in the community, desires and plans are a logical consequence of his many Thesefor its improvement,manifestations, or somethingas well as else.many Onother the events other hand,that are a more held yearsCertificates of cultural cooperation Awarded with to Niš, throughoutnumerous community the year, send - the a clear Slovak message community that members – has, for ofthe mino time- NKCParticipants and Nišville. in the Summer ritiesbeing, cherishonly two the lists memory registered. of their Those ancestors, who believe their traditions, that factions but School "We and alsowithin that a theycommunity are oriented are detrimental towards creating for the something overall interests new, con of- temporary.the community Numerous as a whole projects would to be say funded that thisby the is a Budget good sign, Fund but, for theMembers Others. of Overcoming the CES the Borders" Minoritieswhat is interesting also support about this. these Tradition lists is cannotthat they be bothescaped, come however, from “Carpathians” from Vrbas wethe have same repeatedly political party,witnessed i.e., thatthe leadingtradition candidates can also be on presented the lists at the Ukrainian Lemko inare a membersmodern way. of the By same merging dominant the traditional political party. and Willcontemporary these and Participants in the Summer School of In- minorities, they say that they are not “cocooned communities” terethnic,Culture Intercultural Festival and Inter-Con- similar situations make the voters’ decisions easier or more com- fessional Dialogue (AID), held at Srebrno thatplicated? stick to the old, tried-and-true recipe, but that they are also OnJezero, August were 1, awardedamateurs diplomas of the “Carpat for suc-- turned to contemporary creativity, which, at least in our country, hians”cessful Cultural completion and of Educational activities in aSociety week- is not often tied to members of minorities. fromlong Vrbasseminar traveled held from to Ukraine August to 26 per to- form at the 20th International Lemko 30 different national minorities live in Serbia September 1 under the title "We and Culturethe Others. Festival Overcoming “Bells of theLemko”, Borders.” held in Monastirsk from August 2-4. On the margins of the festival, the meeting of the Presidency of the World Federation of Ukrainian-Lemko Associations was

alsoPromotion held. of the Book "Stories from Diaspora and

Saint Homeland Stephen of Countries" Hungary Celebrated The book "Stories from Diaspora and Home- Theland formal Countries" ceremony, by Admir with Lisica the was presence promoted in the Bosniak National Council on September of Provincial15. officials and representatives of the National Council of the Hungarian

NationalThe book Minority,is about people marked who St. began Stephen their e er for all (István)journey of to Hungary, Diaspora theafter Hungarian the end of thenati Se-- and ONE newsl onalcond holiday, World inWar, Novi but Sad also onabout August successful 21. St. BosniaksIstván is from celebrated the homeland as the countries founder in ofthe Christianityregion. in Hungary, the founder of the Hungarian state, and the first unifier www.minoritynews.rs of all Hungarians. Minority News Portal OUR INTERVIEW: IVAN BOŠNJAK, STATE SECRETARY OF THE MINISTRY OF PUBLIC ADMINISTRATION AND LOCAL SELF GOVERNMENT LEGAL SOLUTIONS HAVE BEEN SIGNIFICANTLY IMPROVED

he protection of the rights of national minorities is of particular importance for each country. Our country is making great efforts in this area, and special emphasis is placed on relations with neighbouring coun- tries, with intergovernmental mixed committees playing a key role in this regard. Three intergovernmental T committees are currently active: with Croatia, Romania, and Hungary, and all three are co-chaired by our interlocutor Ivan Bošnjak, State Secretary of the Ministry of Public Administration and Local Self-Government. We spoke with Secretary Bošnjak about the results of the work of these bodies, as well as about the situation in the Bosniak National Council.

Intergovernmental mixed committees of these committees and the most with Romania. There is also a signed on national minority issues, which ex- significant results that have emerged agreement with the Republic of North- ist as a mechanism to promote further from this increased engagement in the ern Macedonia on establishment of minority rights in Serbia and rights of previous period? such a commission, though its work the Serbian minority in neighbour- has not been activated yet. Launching ing countries, were quite passive in Serbia has active intergovernmental the work of this body is a task that is the past. However, the situation has mixed committees on national mi- practically ahead of us, in agreement changed significantly in recent years, nority issues with three neighbour- between the governments of Northern the committees meet regularly, there ing countries: the Intergovernmental Macedonia and Serbia. are tangible results, and you are per- Mixed Committee with the Republic of sonally co-chairing all of these bodies. Croatia, the Intergovernmental Mixed With regard to the first three Commis- Can you tell us more about the work Commission with Hungary, and the In- sions mentioned above, they consist of tergovernmental Mixed Commission representatives of Republic and Pro- 3 Minoroty News 56 vincial bodies, which are especially moment. in 2018, in which you participated as concerned in their work with the issue the co-chair of the Serbian side. How of national minorities - mainly repre- There are virtually no major problems would you assess the position of Serbs sentatives of ministries and institutions with Romania and the Romanian na- in Croatia today? What are the key is- dealing with education, culture and is- tional community in Serbia, except for sues you have faced when it comes sues of religion and religious commu- individual issues related to the imple- to protecting their rights? What do nities, as well as other organizations mentation of regulations in the field of you think needs to be done to solve and institutions dealing with specific education in Eastern Serbia, as well as the problems that have been recently topics, such as the issue of restitution the possibilities of information in Ro- updated? or the media. manian, which we, in agreement with local authorities in that part of Serbia, We have held two sessions with the The contents of the agreements differ have most satisfactorily resolved. What Republic of Croatia in this format in the slightly in the cases of the three neigh- will be of interest to the Serbs in Ro- last two years and we have now en- bouring countries that are members of mania, according to the information I tered the rhythm of regular meetings. the European Union, as well as the con- have regarding the announcement of On our part, certain demands of the vocations of these bodies. In addition the agenda of the next session of the Croatian national minority were out- to the representatives of the state au- Commission, is certainly the further lined. We also had a great deal of sup- thorities on both sides, there are rep- possibility of using Serbian language port from President Aleksandar Vučić resentatives of minorities - Croat, Hun- and script in everyday speech and com- himself, who, after his visit to Zagreb garian and Romanian on the Serbian munication, the issue of restitution of in early February 2018, has continued side, respectively, as well as represen- certain assets and buildings that were to meet regularly with representatives tatives of the neighbouring countries, significant for the Serbian community of the Croatian minority, and, with this and representatives of the Serbs who in Romania, further networking and dynamic, we have resolved the open is- live there, on the other side. The re- increase of opportunities to cultivate sues. What certainly strains bilateral re- sults are specific and relate, above all, Serbian tradition and culture, both in lations with the Republic of Croatia are to the demands that representatives Western Romania and the Romanian the rights of Serbs in Croatia, height- of respective minorities place on their part of Banat, as well as in the part ened hate speech and historical revi- government representatives. In com- along the Djerdap Gorge. sionism, which are increasingly heard munication and coordination, we strive in the Croatian public in relation to the to approach these requirements with As for the work of the Intergovernmen- Independent State of Croatia and the the utmost care and, where necessary, tal Mixed Commission with Hungary, tragic role that it played in the Second adjust or change regulations or, as it is the last session was held three years World War, from 1941 to 1945, when most often the case, consistently apply ago at the time of the migrant crisis. genocide was committed against Serbs existing legal solutions. What is per- At that time, various topics related to at over 55 camp sites. haps most interesting to your readers is security were tackled, and we expect the announcement that, in accordance that, following the national councils There is also the legacy of the last with the conclusions and recommenda- elections in Hungary, slated for this fall, decades of the 20th century of the tions that our Intergovernmental Joint a new dynamic will arise and that the unpleasant experience we had with Committee with the Republic of Croatia Commission will continue its work in the Republic of Serbian Krajina. This has made, bilingual signs will be posted the best interest of the small Serbian burdensome moment after 25 years at the entrance to populated places in community in Hungary. is further amplified at certain times of the year when certain holidays and so- Croatia, inhabited by the Serbian ma- What will be our priority, as represen- jority. I think that this will be one of called military victories are celebrated tatives of state bodies of the Republic on the one side, be it the Operation the greatest achievements, in addition of Serbia, is to improve the specific po- to improving the regulations regarding Flash or the Operation Storm, while sition of members of certain minorities on the other, Serbs in Croatia perform the organization of national councils in agreement with the neighbouring of Serbs locally and at the county lev- religious rituals and commemorate all countries, but also to take into account the victims. Today in Croatia, you can el in Croatia, as well as improving the the Serbian people who traditionally legal framework and school curricula hardly see the representatives of the historically live in our neighbouring Serbs in the media, except in negative regarding what Serbian students learn countries in order to facilitate their in the Republic of Croatia. political context or as a subject to crit- access to the institutions of the Repub- icism. When it comes to the other two neigh- lic of Serbia, including their citizenship bouring countries, with them, you will applications, and to strengthen their Today in Croatia you can hardly recog- admit, we have far better bilateral and contacts with the country of origin. nize the significant contribution that political relations unburdened by the the Serbs have made in these areas After a pause of almost 3 years, a through history in culture, economy, aforementioned crucial and essential meeting of the Intergovernmental issues, because there is a historical dis- preservation of tradition ... This is ei- Mixed Committee on National -Mi ther not acknowledged or turned into tance that is much more favourable to norities of Serbia and Croatia was held promotion of bilateral relations at the some kind of daily political campaign 4 Minoroty News 56 that does not in any way benefit our we will still have a positive trend in the has been resolved in the legislation, people living in Croatia. What is also development of our relationships, and the Croatian Language Department significant is that, thanks to the hard I think these positive examples should has been opened at the University of work of both this Commission and the be highlighted as much as possible. Novi Sad, and what is left to be done political representatives of the Serbs in There are certainly appropriate sanc- now is to adjust other legal documents the Croatian Parliament and all levels tions that should be applied to negative to ensure that, for instance, a teacher of government, the living conditions incidents and behaviour. Undoubted- diploma acquired at this Department have improved to certain extent. Some ly, both societies are getting closer to is fully accepted and implemented in Serbs are returning to the villages, each other, whether it is popular music Serbia’s education system. The Croa- which were depopulated during and or tourist potentials, where Croatian tian National Council, i.e., the National after the conflicts, and they are finally tourists are increasingly present on the Council of the Croatian National Mi- getting now, in the second decade of territory of Serbia, with the opening of nority, in agreement with the repre- the 21st century, electricity and a de- different air routes and the increase of sentatives of the Republic of Serbia as cent asphalt road. This is, on the one all other traffic, as well as the number their home country, intends to open an hand, an encouraging development, of job seekers in Croatia. I think this educational center in Subotica, which while, on the other, it indicates how still gives hope that our relations will would cover children from preschool to difficult the position of Serbs in Cro- get better in the future. high school age, and we currently work atia is, including the inability to find on this jointly. A new dynamic needs work within the public sector and the As the Secretary of State of the Min- to be given to the working group in or- failure to implement what the laws of istry of State Administration and Lo- der to adapt the existing legal solutions the Republic of Croatia provide. We cal Self-Government, you are in daily to the needs of the Croatian national address these issues very actively, in contact with representatives of the minority. What we are really pleased addition to attending significant dates Croatian National Council in Serbia. with is the significant increase in the for the Serbian community, such as the Do they have any objections to the number of students enrolled, despite celebration of the 21st and 22nd anni- existing legal solutions and what con- the overall decrease of the number versary of existence of the Joint Council stitutes an obstacle for them in exer- of children in primary and secondary of Municipalities (ZVO) in the Danube cising their rights, which are under the schools. In accordance with their wish- area, as well as those relating to the jurisdiction of the national minority es, children have the opportunity to past of the Serbs, tragic moments council? be educated in Croatian in vocational that occurred in the former Yugosla- Legal solutions have been significantly secondary schools, such as the Med- via. The presence of representatives of improved in Serbia in recent years. The ical High School and the Electrical the Republic of Serbia at such events Sector for Minority Rights and Free- Engineering High School in Subotica. gives the opportunity for the Serbs to doms in our Ministry, with the support What lies ahead is the direct support of be more active in their demands, but of all three ministers in the previous local self-governments to the work of it also gives us the additional energy three governments and, I would say, national councils, and we, as the Min- to have enough strength and perse- the commitment of the entire polit- istry, have already made a recommen- verance in these day-to-day affairs to ical leadership of Serbia, has been dation that municipalities and cities in continue to fight for the realization of able to significantly reform the area which members of national minorities, everything we want for our compatri- of minority rights. All legal solutions, including the Croatian national minori- ots. Lastly, I would like to note some- which were identified as insufficient ty, reside, earmark funds for work of thing that is certainly a positive trend or inadequate in the previous period, national councils in their budgets for - the economic cooperation. Namely, have been significantly improved by 2020, according to the number and in contrast to all the daily political and amendments to the Law on National national structure of citizens in their often burdensome events in the pub- Councils of National Minorities and territories, This is what we will work lic, be it the outbursts of particular fan the Law on the Protection of Minority on together in the future. groups or right-wing organizations, or Rights and Freedoms, ratified in 2018,. the iconography that appears in public, You have repeatedly pointed out that This has also been confirmed by our in- minorities in Serbia enjoy a high de- on the other hand, we have positive ternational partners’ evaluations. And I developments regarding the economy gree of protection of rights and that would also say that minority represen- Serbia is a leader in the region when and cooperation of different econom- tatives, including the Croatian national ic entities, including striving to attract it comes to legal solutions concern- minority, who directly participated in ing minorities. Can you draw a parallel jointly investors from third countries. the work of the working bodies, can Due to its good geographical position, between the protection of minority be satisfied with the legal solutions. rights in Serbia, on the one hand, and Croatia’s membership in the Europe- What is insisted on today is the full im- an Union and the good contacts that the Serbs in the countries of the re- plementation of individual solutions as gion, on the other? Serbia has in other parts of the world, well as the recommendations of the some companies are opting to open Intergovernmental Mixed Commit- I know that the Serbian people, espe- their facilities both in Serbia and Croa- tees. Everything related to education cially in the countries of the former tia. This is something that indicates that 5 Minoroty News 56 Yugoslavia, have different experienc- interviewed inhabitants, only 0.02 per- it was brought about by a body which es that they went through. I will start cent use the Montenegrin language. I infringed its legal powers, which led with Slovenia, where Serbs are not think that, in the future, it will really to its dissolution. At the next Council recognized as a national minority, but take a lot of work, not only with Mon- meeting, when the initiative was to be only have the opportunity to organize tenegro, but also with the Republic confirmed, it was not even part of the themselves into different associations of Northern Macedonia, Albania ... agenda. Because of that, they made of citizens who are most often affiliat- And as for the other neighbours, EU personnel changes and a new person ed with the church and do not enjoy member states, Bulgaria, Romania and was brought to head of the National any other kind of legal protection. In Hungary, the experiences are different. Council. As the procedure was con- contrast, Slovenians in Serbia have In direct contacts, we receive really ducted in accordance with the law, the their own national council and the positive signals from the representa- new President was registered in the possibility of direct representation in tives of the Serbian minority and we Register of National Councils. The Ex- both social and political life. In Croatia, think that, to some extent, we might ecutive Board has been dissolved and as it is well known, there are many consider applying some examples of we expect that at the next session, issues that have not yet been resolved the exercise of minority rights in these the National Council will return to the in regard to the Serbs, whether it is the countries, too, while, in return, we framework of its lawful conduct, that official use of language and script, or also believe that the legal solutions is, continue to work in the interest of the possibility and visibility of Serbs made in Serbia can be a good example all Bosniaks living in the Republic of in the media. Certain cases of direct for our neighbouring countries, which Serbia, and leave political topics, ini- violence indicate that these rights are are members of the European Union. tiatives etc. to the political parties. being inadequately exercised, despite I would like to note that political the fact that Croatia has in some way On August 14, 2019, the Ministry parties are additional opportunities - in its Constitution - rounded up the of State Administration and Local within the Republic of Serbia, which issue of having Serbs and other nation- Self-Government issued a notice of representatives of national minorities, al minorities represented throughout termination of office to members of contrary to the other countries in the different levels of government. How- the Executive Board of the Bosniak region, have - to channel these polit- ever, these rights have not yet been National Council, after considering ical issues through the work of their fully implemented. Since the 2011 the Initiative to Resolve the Status political representatives at all levels. elections, all guaranteed seats have of Bosniaks and the Sandzak Region. When it comes to such initiatives con- been filled, but in many cases, at dif- What are the next steps when it cerning the constitutional order, they ferent levels of government, there is comes to this problem? should be considered through the still no full cooperation with Serbian There are no further steps, at least work of other bodies, and the work of representatives. Their role is often re- as far as the Ministry is concerned, national councils, as we have worked duced to either the area of minority since, in this case, we have fully im- together so far, should be further de- rights or completely excluded from de- plemented legal solutions concerning politicized. Depoliticisation is an issue cision-making, which is what bothers both the authority of the Ministry in essential to the normal functioning of Serbs the most in Croatia today, apart relation to national councils and the these specific bodies, as confirmed from a strong right-wing turn and fin- actions of national councils them- by the representatives of the Council ger-pointing at the Serbian community selves. Namely, adopting an initiative of Europe and the various domestic when it comes to all other problematic such as the Executive Committee of and foreign experts who follow our issues within the Republic of Croatia. the Bosniak National Council (BNV), minority policy. In the coming peri- In recent months, Montenegro has i.e. the National Council of the Bos- od, when it comes to four areas for also been a negative example of the niak National Minority in Serbia, “pro- which national councils are legally exercise of Serb national rights. They duced” is a mere political pamphlet authorized to act and channel public are left out of the Montenegrin legal that has no place in the work of the policies - information, preservation and constitutional system because Executive Board, and as it turned out, of tradition and culture, official use they outnumber the percentage of the for which there is no will within the of languages and scripts and educa- population that Montenegrin legisla- National Council for further consid- tion, we will work together, but pol- tion recognizes as a national minority. eration. It is important to note that, itics should certainly remain outside At 30 percent, Serbs represent a sig- in the meantime, because of such national councils. nificant population, not to mention an initiative, there was a personnel the use of the Serbian language, which Mr. Bošnjak, thank you for speaking change at the level of the president of for our newsletter. is used by over 60% of Montenegrins the National Council, as the previous today. This is something that has been president, Esad Džudžo, was dismissed Thank you. I would also like to thank really been straining our relationships because he did not agree that such an the Minority News Platform for regu- lately. An attempt is made to draw a initiative would be part of the work of larly informing all our citizens about parallel with the use of the Montene- the National Council. The initiative- it the activities of the Ministry of Public grin language in the territory of the self, by its nature and in relation to the Administration and Local Self-Govern- municipality of Vrbas, where, of the Ministry, is virtually null and void, as ment. 6 Minoroty News 56 Paunović: We Are Continuously and Consistently Implementing Measures that Promote Minority Rights Source: Office for Human and Minority Rights erbia is continuously working to improve the position of members of all national minorities living in our country, and numerous activities of the Government and other institutions, media, civil society organizations have contributed to raising citizens’ awareness of the rights and obligations of mem- S bers of national minorities, Suzana Paunović, Director of the Office for Human and Minority Rights of the Government of Serbia, said when presenting the Eleventh Report on the Implementation of the Action Plan for the Exercise of the Rights of National Minorities. The presentation of the report took place on August 5. According to Paunović, 77 stakehold- Paunović noted that almost half of the implementation of this strategic ers 61 submitted their contributions the national councils did not submit document have been prepared and for the Eleventh Report, accounting their contributions on the activities presented so far, that a total of 1013 for 79% of the response. due for this reporting cycle and that contributions have been submitted, this segment needs to be improved. and that 73% of the activities in the She added that 50 local government She called on national councils to be Action Plan have been fully imple- units submitted their contributions actively involved in the reporting pro- mented or are ongoing by the end and that 12 councils for inter-ethnic cess, which entails their obligation to of this report, Paunović concluded. relations also participated in the re- submit annexes to the reports. porting. The data received from local Representatives of national coun- governments contribute to a clear- The eleventh reporting cycle began cils of national minorities, state and er picture that the reports present, on March 1 and lasted until March provincial bodies and institutions, because they are best aware of the 22, 2019 and covered activities from the National Assembly, independent needs and challenges faced by mem- January to the end of March this year. bodies, international and civil society bers of national minorities locally, organizations attended the presenta- Paunović said. Paunović stated that ten reports on tion of the report. Sombor Finances Councils of National Minorities, One Million Dinars Earmarked Source: RTV he City of Sombor will fund councils of national minorities, with a total of one million dinars allocat- ed for this year. This is the first time that the work of national communities has been supported in T this way and the conditions are met by the Hungarian, Croatian, German and Bunjevac minorities. The seat of the National Council of 10 percent of the population, and tion, but few local governments have the German National Minority is in Hungarian and Croatian languages fulfilled this obligation. However, the Sombor and, despite its small num- are in official use on the territory of City of Sombor has expanded the cri- ber, the German national minority Sombor. teria for awarding funds. According to meets one of the criteria prescribed this extended criterion, the Bunjevac by the Law on National Councils for “It is a modest amount and we will national community is also eligible. financing national councils from local have to allocate it wisely. I suppose budgets. it will be education, information, lan- Once the City Assembly has adopted guage use and manifestations signif- the Decision on the Criteria for Allo- In addition to the German national icant for minority communities,” Si- cation of Funds for Financing of Na- minority, the Hungarian and Croa- lard Janković, a member of the City tional Councils of National Minorities, tian national communities have also Council for National Minorities, said. a decision on the allocation will be met conditions for financing national adopted. The national councils are councils from the Sombor budget, Allocating funds to finance the work obligated to use this money in the as Hungarians constitute more than of national councils is a legal obliga- territory of Sombor. 7 Minoroty News 56 Highest Amount Granted for Roma

Culture Source: Politika n the recent call for proposals for allocation of funds from the Budget Fund for National Mi- norities, organizations that deal with the culture of the Roma national community received the highest amount. At the same time, the largest number of received project proposals targeted I this minority group. The call was announced by the Ministry of Public Administration and Local Self-Government in May this year, and the results have been recently presented. A total of 30 million dinars has been allocated, over 350 projects have been submitted for the competition, and the state will finance 91. More than 10 percent of the allocated tion, says that the aim of the project money, or about 3.3 million dinars, will is to sublimate contents from litera- be paid for the development of the ture, science, art, history and other culture of the Roma national commu- areas concerning Montenegro and nity. With so much money, the state the Montenegrin community in Ser- will support 10 projects from various bia in one place. civil society organizations and asso- ciations. There are 147,604 Roma in Regarding the state’s attitude -to our country, and this community is the wards minorities, Stevović affirms second largest according to the 2011 that minorities are protected by law, census. The Roma National Minority but adds that the biggest problem Council says that they did not have work and employ as many young people of the Montenegrin community is insight into the content of the projects as possible,” she emphasized, stating that “preventing it from essentially exercising that NGOs applied with. this is an area in which private investors the rights guaranteed to it by the Consti- do not want to invest. tution and laws”. “Our objection is that the line ministry did not follow the example of the Ministry It is interesting to note that, although “Formally, this looks fine, but in essence it of Culture to submit projects to us for an they are the largest minority group, the is not. The situation with the Montenegrin opinion. The results of the activities, if Hungarians, with 254,000 members living language in the municipality of Vrbas best they are at all measurable by clear indi- in Serbia, have been allocated grants un- reflects this situation. Namely, only two cators, remain to be seen after the im- der this call for four projects only, worth municipalities in Serbia, Mali Idjoš and plementation of the approved projects,” a total of 1.15 million dinars. The same Vrbas, have fulfilled all legal requirements Dejan Vlajković, Secretary General of the number of positively evaluated projects for the Montenegrin language to be in- Council, says. dealt with the Bunjevac culture. The proj- troduced into official use. This was done ect of the Cultural Association “Center on the territory of Mali Iđoš municipality Institutions, associations, foundations, for Culture of Bunjevacs” from Subotica in 2010, and despite the imperative legal companies and other organizations found- was evaluated by the commission with obligation, numerous requests from the ed by the councils of national minorities the highest rating and received the high- Montenegrin community and a clear rec- were eligible to submit proposals under est amount of money, namely 728,000 ommendation of the Ombudsman, the this call, as well as other registered NGOs dinars. With this amount, the state sup- local government in Vrbas has avoided engaged in the protection and promo- ported the organization of the recently doing it for the whole nine years,” Nenad tion of the rights and status of national completed celebration of the “Day of the Stevović emphasized. minorities. Dužijanca”, marking one of Bunjevac’s na- The majority of projects that have arrived Immediately behind the Roma, in terms tional holidays. at the recently completed competition of the number of projects dedicated to The money for the three projects was of the Ministry of Public Administration culture, are the Slovaks whose five associ- given to associations that will deal with and Local Self-Government will aim to ations will be funded with 1.56 million di- Ruthenians (678,000 dinars), Bosniaks promote the culture of several minority nars. The money has been allocated to the (656,000 dinars), and two projects will communities or to present cultural diver- Museum of Vojvodina’s Slovaks, the Cen- promote the culture and customs of Jews, sity in Serbia. How much of this wealth ter for the Promotion of Cultural Heritage Egyptians, Ashkali, Albanians, Macedo- is sufficiently illustrated by the fact that, and Tourism, the Slovak Cultural-Tourist nians, Croats, Montenegrins ... according to census of 2011, members of and Information Center, the Institute for 19 minority communities numbered more the Culture of Vojvodina’s Slovaks, and Montenegrins received 600,000 dinars than 2,000. This list includes Ukrainians, the Slovak Cultural Information Center. for two projects, and one is being imple- with about 4,000 in Serbia, but no Rus- mented by the Cultural Development Cen- sians. Nevertheless, the state will fund Ljibuška Lakatoš, President of the National ter from Vrbas “In Search for Montenegrin one project pertaining to the culture of Council of the Slovak Minority, says she Relics”. The second is the project “Mon- Russians and Ukrainians. They are worth is pleased with the results of the compe- tenegrin Library and Reading Room”, of 150,000 dinars each. The same amount tition. “This incentive of the state is very the Association of Montenegrins of Serbia was earmarked for supporting the culture positive and a great help in preserving cul- “Krstaš” from Lovcen, for which 200,000 of Slovenians. It is a project of the Society ture and tradition. However, it would be dinars have been allocated. Publicist and of Slovenians in Belgrade, organizing an very important now to encourage media researcher of the Montenegrin Diaspora, international exhibition entitled: “Red outlets in minority languages to be able to Nenad Stevović, who chairs this associa- Cross Rešetars: A Century in Belgrade”. 8 Minoroty News 56 A Book of Poetry by the Consul General of Bulgaria, Edvin Sugarev, Promoted in Nishville Source: www.far.rs

have done a variety of jobs in my life that seem incompatible, but poetry is what makes up my essence,” Edvin Sugarev, Consul General of the Republic of Bulgaria in Niš, says. The poetry col- lection “Hidden Senses”, his first book in Serbian language, was promoted on August 9, as a part “I of the Nishville Jazz Festival Literary Program. Sugarev says that years of cultural co- tionized writing in his country since he worked as a operation with Niš, the 1980s. There is no taboo topic postman, journal- NKC and Nishville. for him, and one important thought ist, and editor in NKC is helping to runs through poetry: everything is his life, led a polit- organize the Bulgar- love. His poetry is calm and deli- ical party, served ian Film Day in Niš, cate, by no means cold and foreign, as a deputy three a manifestation that but rather thought-provoking. What times in the Bul- he supports. Nish- you notice first is the appreciation of garian Assembly, ville collaborates words and readers. He chooses words and also served with the Bulgarian very carefully, even economizes with as ambassador to India and Mongolia. them, but the poet- As a graduate philologist and doctor of ry he creates in this literature, he has worked at the Bul- way is very warm garian Academy of Sciences, and at the at the same time,” Universities of Sofia, Plovdiv and the Verica Novakov, ed- New Bulgarian University. He is also itor-in-chief of pub- regarded as one of the best contempo- lishing at NKC said. rary Bulgarian poets, as it is recalled in „The Hidden Senses“, published by the Novakov recalled Niš Cultural Center (NKC), just before that Sugarev had Nishville. won numerous awards as a poet, “Poetry cannot be explained or retold, and his poetry and the poet, as one of books had been my poems states, is an in- translated into sev- terpreter of God. Poetry eral languages. He also wrote and music have always one novel, as well as several been connected, so it is books of essays and scientific no surprise to combine monographs. He comes from an my collection of poems interesting family, of Bulgarian with Nishville. This col- and Swedish descent, and his lection, which is one father was a “world famous vi- of 30 books of poems olist”. I have published, con- tains poems from sev- Sugarev added that he was eral of them, which be- dedicating the “Nishvillian” pro- long to different genres motion of the poetry collection and styles,”Sugarev ex- “Hidden Senses” to Zoran Pešić plained. Sigma, editor of the Gradinarnik Jazz Festival and organizes his own Library, the book was published with. The Consul General of the Republic of promotion in Bulgaria, to which he The poems were translated from Bul- Bulgaria further said that the poetry has also contributed. garian by Velimir Kostov, the cover book and its promotion in Nishville “Sugarev is a remarkable author who, design was done by Victoria Lekova, are a logical consequence of his many with his group of friends, has revolu- and the book was printed by Niš SVEN. 9 Minoroty News 56 Slovak Community Slovak Folk Festivities: 100 Years With the People, In the people, For the people

Source: Provincial Government / Hlas Ljudu

rom August 9 to 11, Slovak national festivities were held in Bački Petrovac. The Slovak holiday in Serbia was inaugurated by the Provincial Prime Minister Igor Mirović and the Prime Minister of F the Slovak Republic Petar Pelegrini. Congratulating the national holiday of that the decision made 100 years the Slovak national minority, President ago to live together, on an equal Mirović recalled that, by the decision footing and in unison, confirmed of the Assembly of Vojvodina, August 9 foundation that each identity be was marked as a date of special impor- preserved,” PM Mirović said. tance for the Slovak national commu- nity, and thus for AP Vojvodina and the “This anniversary is a testament Republic of Serbia as a whole, which to the preservation of our iden- confirmed mutual appreciation and tity, which is deeply cherished in understanding. our hearts and it is a testament to the Serbia. It is an honor and a privilege to We have established, vitality of our minority be with you tonight, Novi Sad Mayor President Mirović ad- in AP Vojvodina and the Miloš Vučević said. ded, a Provincial award Republic of Serbia. It is in the field of human a wonderful feeling to The ceremony was also attended by and minority rights, be here in AP Vojvodi- the Deputy Prime Minister of the Pro- “Ljudevit Michatek”, na and see our mother vincial Government and the Provincial which will be awarded tongue on all sides. I Secretary for Education, Regulations, for the first time in De- thank the Provincial Go- Administration and National Minori- cember, to honor not vernment and all insti- ties-National Communities Mihalj Njilaš only the future laure- tutions for supporting and Slovak Ambassador Dagmar Rep- ate, but also the great fighter for the the preservation and development of čekova. rights of Slovaks and all other peoples our identity,” Slovak Prime Minister During the weekend, numerous mee- - Ljudevit Michatek. Petar Pelegrini said. tings and ceremonial sessions were “Tonight, here in Bački Petrovac, in the “On behalf of the City of Novi Sad and organized - Slovak Heritage in Serbia, most important center of the Slovak on my own behalf, I congratulate you meetings of teachers, doctors, journali- national minority in AP Vojvodina, we on 100 years of Slovak folk festivities. sts, numerous exhibitions, concerts, as are also celebrating 100 years since the We are proud of you for preserving well as an indispensable art fair, which establishment of the Slovak grammar your identity, language, culture, script gathers many artists and masters of old school and printing office, which shows and all that adorns AP Vojvodina and crafts every year.

10 Minoroty News 56 Bunjevac Community Bunjevac National Day Celebrated

Source: Bunjevac Media Center he national holiday of Bun- celebration of pride and dignity, when jevacs - the “Day of Duži- we give thanks for the new grain and janca” was celebrated with bread. We also celebrate the highest T the formal presentation of human values, diligence, hard work, a loaf of bread made of a new grain. perseverance, and respect for the spe- It was the most important part of the cial and particular is the cornerstone of Day of Dužijanca festivities, celebrated the future and progress. Local self-gov- from St. Mark Day, when the grain is ernment is always here to be a reliable blessed, to the Day of Dormition of the partner and provide support, not only Holy Mother of God, when the thanks for the preservation of Dužijanca, but are given for the good harvest. for everything that preserves tradition and culture, and Subotica is known for - I give you this bread made of new nurturing the diversity that brings us grain from our fertile field with a wish closer. cherish the memory of our ancestors, to celebrate Dužijanca for a long time we promote modesty, commitment and - “bandašica” Dunja Mačković said, In his address, Prof. Miroslav Ilić, Assis- worthiness, all we need for the future. giving a loaf of the new bread to the tant Provincial Secretary for Culture, The values we create are to remain President of Bunjevac National Minori- Public Information and Relations with hardworking and humble, and secondly ty Council, Dr Suzana Kujndžić Ostojić, Religious Communities, underlined the to establish a dialogue within ourselves, while “bandaš” Vladimir Vuković, gave idea of Bunjevacs’ struggle to preserve to have children together, to reflect to- her a wreath made of wheat. identity. gether on values close to both young - As I was receiving this bread, I thought - This fight has been, and continues to and old, to find peace in ourselves, as how much bread had been baked so far, be, a great challenge and temptation. well as peace in relationships with oth- how much grain was harvested, so that The only ones who understand the ers in our beautiful Subotica, Vojvodina we, the Bunjevacs, and all the other gravity of these challenges and who and Serbia. fellow citizens would be here today in have empathy for Bunjevacs are Serbs, The attendees were also greeted by such numbers. How much effort, sweat because Serbs and Bunjevacs relate Dr Ivan Bošnjak, State Secretary of the and willpower have been put into cul- painfully to the experience of attempt- Ministry of Public Administration and tivating this vast plain Local Self-Government. from what our ances- tors found when they - I would like to thank you for got here. Dužijanca the invitation to attend the emerged from all this - Catholic celebration of the Day the Council’s President of Dormition of the Holy Mother pointed out, reminding of God, and we invite you to the that Bunjevac has been Orthodox celebration in Zrenja- formally recognized as nin. This is exactly how we see a language and added: this city, Bačka, Vojvodina and Serbia. We see this as something - I will do my best to where we work together, create, make Bunjevac the of- and celebrate, but also protect ficial language in Sub- each other so that we can last – otica and in all places ed violent assimilation. One such act Bošnjak added. where our history is woven. After all, occurred in May 1945, when the Chief the first Statute of Subotica was written After the welcoming speeches, the Peoples’ Liberation Committee, in the in Bunjevac, and now we can return our cultural and artistic program featur- form of an order, annulled Bunjevac and language where it belongs. ing Bunjevac folklore was performed Shock identity. by BKC “Tavankut”, PG “Kolo” Tom- On behalf of the local government, Za- Provincial Secretary for Higher Educa- pa, GKUD “Sombor”, KPD “Jedinstvo - gorka Panić, Assistant Mayor and City tion and Research, Prof. D. Zoran Mi- Egység”, OKUD “Mladost”, KUD “Alek- Manager, congratulated Bunjevacs on lošević extended his congratulations sandrovo” and KUDZ “Bratstvo” , while the national holiday. on the attendees: Katarina Novaković performed an old - We gathered in the heart of Subotica, song “groktalica”. The celebration was - Thank you for being together and for a place where all our history is woven concluded with a traditional Bandaš promoting something that is not only a and where the present and the future kolo dance, joined by all who observe tradition but also a modern Serbia. We are intertwined. This is a traditional Bunjevac customs. 11 Minoroty News 56 Hungarian Community Saint Stephen of Hungary Celebrated Source: Hungarian National Minority Council Photo: RTV Pannon / Magyar szó

he formal ceremony, hero, Hunyadi Janos or Janko Sibin- the generation of politicians, but with the presence of janin,” Igor Mirović, the Prime Min- not just politicians, who had the T Provincial officials and ister of the Provincial Government wisdom, courage and determina- representatives of the said. tion a few years ago to confront all, National Council of often very painful, his- the Hungarian Nation- torical truths that have al Minority, marked plagued our relation- St. Stephen (István) of ships for decades. I put Hungary, the Hungari- a point here in the past an national holiday, in and continue on about Novi Sad on August 21. the future,” Mirović St. István is celebrated said. as the founder of Chris- tianity in Hungary, the Congratulating the hol- founder of the Hungar- iday to members of the ian state, and the first Hungarian national mi- unifier of all Hungari- nority, the President of ans. the National Council of the Hungarian National Saint Stephen (István) Minority, Jene Hajnal, of Hungary, whose said that the holiday name at birth was Vajk, belonged to The Provincial Prime Minister em- was part of a debt to King St Istvan the Arpadovic dynasty. By receiving phasized that there are common and thanked everyone who recalled the royal crown from Pope Sylvester values that unite the two peoples that great statesman, who laid the II in 1000, the Christianization of the and said that the path of coopera- foundations of Hungarian state- Hungarian people began. This year tion and mutual support is the way hood. is also celebrated as the beginning to go. of the birth of the modern Hungar- The ceremony featured the actors ian state. After his death in 1083, “We celebrate this holiday in the of the Hungarian Chamber Theater, he was canonized and since then, context of the extraordinary rela- the “Kapistran” Youth Choir from August 20 is celebrated as the day tions of our two peoples, the ex- Novi Sad, as well as the folklore of Saint István and the national hol- traordinary relations of Serbs and group of the Cultural Art Society iday of all Hungarians. Hungarians, and to emphasize the “Sandor Petefi” and the “Fokos” pride that all of us here belong to Orchestra in Bečej. “Nearly a millennium ago, the dy- nasty personified by Saint King István struck the foundations of Hungarian statehood. Later, the Serbian Nemanjić dynasty did the same thing. That is why it should be mentioned today that at that time our dynasties often permeat- ed themselves, being on the same Christian side at crucial moments. There were many examples of such a relationship in the later period. A month ago, Presidents János Áder and Aleksandar Vučić in Zemun un- veiled a monument to the common 12 Minoroty News 56 Albanian Community The First Step for Better Relations - Serbs in Kamenica Learn Albanian and Albanians Serbian

Source: N1

amenica Municipality this today, despite so many media is very important,” Teuta Kastrati is located in southeast campaigns and I do not know how says. Kosovo. It has been much pressure of high politics, and K known for ethnic tol- that they only focus on the things How much did this course help the erance for decades, and the story they need for daily life here,” Bojan students? that follows shows an idea that can Atmo says. “I work in a pharmacy, every fourth advance life together and encour- or fifth client is of Serbian ethnicity, age language learning to communi- Teuta Kastrati teaches Serbian to her Albanian colleagues. She says and it has helped me a lot to com- cate better. The idea that Albanians municate with them,” Suna says. learn Serbian and Serbs Albanian it is very important for the future was conceived in the Kamenica Mu- of Kosovo to establish communica- “This course has helped us a lot nicipality. tion, especially among young peo- in our daily lives to communicate ple. with our neighbors, both in the Bojan Atmo teaches Albanian. street and in supermarkets. Also in Bojan, who is fluent in Albanian, “Knowledge of the language is es- pecially important among young the municipality, because they are teaches Albanian to his fellow mostly Albanians,” Milan says. Serbs. He says the course serves to people. During these 20 years, I can make it easier for municipal admin- tell you that the youth in Kamenica “I would recommend it to everyone, istration workers to communicate municipality did not communicate, the more we know, the better. This with clients. He adds that others and the only reason was because applies to any language, but we re- interested in attending the course they did not speak each other’s ally need Albanian here,” Vesna have also come forward. language. This course helped a lot says. Kamenica Mayor, thirty-year- old Qendron Kastrati, is the youngest mayor of Kosovo and is the son of Isa Kastrati, a well-known dissident, fallen KLA fighter. He says this is just the beginning on the path to eliminating prejudice. “This is one way, but we think it is only the beginning, be- cause, in the future, it is very important that we start this project with the younger gen- erations and at a time when they do not yet have prejudic- “It was interesting that, in addition because in my class I had mostly es about others,” Kastrati says. to the municipal officials, we had young people who are students and Kastrati thinks it is time to acknowl- doctors and nurses, ordinary citi- work and who need this language edge that there are more things zens, students, it was a very good while working, because we know that connect than divide people response. I am glad that it is encour- we live in a mixed environment, so living in Kosovo today. aging that people have accepted communication of both languages 13 Minoroty News 56 Ukrainian Community Members of the CES “Carpathians” from Vrbas at the Ukrainian Lemko

Culture Festival Source: www.nasemesto.rs Photo: KPD Karpati n August 1, amateurs of the meeting of the Presidency of the Members of the “Carpathians“ Cul- the “Carpathians” Cultu- World Federation of Ukrainian-Lem- tural and Educational Society went O ral and Educational So- ko Associations was also held. to Ukraine thanks to the Union of ciety from Vrbas traveled to Ukraine Ruthenian and Ukrainians of Serbia to perform at the 20th International In addition to domestic ensembles and their partner in Ukraine, and Lemko Culture Festival “Bells of Lem- from Ukraine, the festival also featu- participation in this festival has alre- ko”, held in Monastirsk from August red guests from the Slovak Republic, ady become a tradition. 2-4. On the margins of the festival, Poland and Serbia.

14 Minoroty News 56 Croatian Community Textbooks of Exceptional Quality Source: Hrvatska Riječ extbooks for ge Textbook (1st semester) the second and with Workbook and Inte- the sixth grade grated Working Textbook T of the Croatian for the Croatian language language elementary sc- (2nd semester) and for the hool class were translated subject Croatian Language and sent to the Provincial and Literature for the 6th Secretariat for Education, grade of elementary scho- Regulations, Administrati- ol (textbooks of the Croa- on and National Minorities tian language for the sixth - National Communities for grade of elementary scho- approval, and Croatian Nati- ol, workbooks for the Cro- onal Council Education Com- Earlier this year, the Croatian National atian language, the Word mittee Chair, Margareta Uršal, says they Council, in cooperation with the publi- Power and the workbook of the same expect that the Pedagogical Institute shing house BIGZ, initiated the proce- name). These kits have been approved of Vojvodina ( PZV) will complete the dure for approving a textbook kit for for publishing and use in class and have necessary procedures in time for the the subject Croatian Language for 2nd been evaluated by the members of the textbooks to be avalable to pupils on grade (A Letter by Letter No. 2, consi- PSC Review Committee as textbooks of September 1. sting of an Integrated Croatian Langua- exceptional quality, Uršal points out. Certificates Issued by Croatian Language Department Coming Soon he Ministry of Education passing four exams at the Croatian Lan- type of education of teachers in general of the Republic of Serbia guage Department. For this certificate subjects and vocational courses, profe- has informed the Croatian to be recognized, it is necessary to be ssional assistants and auxiliary teachers T National Council that their part of the Regulations on the level and in vocational schools (Medical and Po- initiative for recognition of certificates type of education of teachers and pro- lytechnic). Only when the amendments from the Faculty of Philosophy, which fessional associates in primary school, to these Regulations are published in will be issued after passing four exams the Regulations on the degree and type the Official Gazette of the Republic of at the Croatian Language and Literature of education of teachers and professi- Serbia - Educational Gazette, will the Department, has entered the authori- onal associates in the grammar school, certificate of the program be valid for zation procedure. Upon receiving the and the Regulations on the degree and students who have attended it. expert opinion of the Institute for the Advancement of Education, the Mini- stry will inform the Council of the furt- her action on the submitted initiative for amending / supplementing the re- gulations prescribing the level and type of education in primary and secondary schools. The Council approached the Ministry of Education, Science and Technologi- cal Development with the initiative to initiate the procedure of recognition of the document from the Faculty of Philosophy, which will be issued after 15 Minoroty News 56 Vlach Community Balkan Festival of Vlach Culture and

Customs Source: Vlach National Council

n August 3, the 2nd guage would be Balkan Festival of Vlach standardized in the Culture and Customs coming period. O was held, featuring an exhibition of paintings with the mo- The Festival is orga- tives from the life of Vlachs, author nized by the “Vlach Branislav Barbulović, and the defile Unity Movement”, of participants in the cultural and the Institute for artistic program. Culture of Vlach, MZ Manastirica, the A roundtable on “The Life of Vlachs Cultural Club “Jovi- in the Balkans and Their Coopera- ca Janković Turku” tion with State Institutions” was and sponsored by also organized. The round table the Vlachs of the Republic of Serbia, the National Council of Vlachs of particpants were addressed by the Novica Janošević, who expressed the Republic of Serbia and the mu- President of the National Council of the expectation that the Vlach lan- nicipality of Petrovac na Mlavi. Festival of Original Vlach Songs and Dances or 14 years in a row, the Opening the event, the President of the the local community, of course, and festival of original Vlach National Council of the Vlach National the Mayor of Bor, for preserving our songs and dances has been Minority, Novica Janošević, expressed tradition and culture. According to the F held in the village of Bučje his gratitude that “the Council has last census, 422 people have declared near Bor. This year’s event was held on the opportunity to help such events, themselves as members of the Vlach mi- August 9, organized by the Bučje Local to preserve our tradition, culture and nority, and I know for sure that there are Community and KUD Stol. The event was customs. I would like to congratulate manymore, because the village of Buč- also supported by the National Council the President of the local community, je has over 800 inhabitants,” Janošević of the Vlachs in the Republic of Serbia. his deputy, as well as all members of said.

16 Minoroty News 56 Roma Community Nikolić: Integration of the Roma Community in Vojvodina Has Been Significantly Improved Source: Roma Inclusion Office of AP Vojvodina

he Provincial Government He also noted discrimination as another is committed to implement- common problem faced by Roma. ing policies in the area of the rights of all national “Combating Roma discrimination and T creating conditions for access to the -ex minorities, especially the Roma com- munity, the Director of the Office for ercise of human and all other rights is Roma Inclusion, Miloš Nikolić, said one of our most important tasks, which in the meeting with Provincial Prime we must work on together,” Nikolić em- Minister Igor Mirović and provincial MP phasized. Jelena Jovanović, held on August 8. Provincial MP Jelena Jovanović said she In his address, Mirović emphasized the ing the living conditions of Roma in was very pleased with the implemen- position and status of the Roma nation- Vojvodina, and announced that, in tation of measures in Vojvodina so far al minority in Vojvodina, and particular- the coming years, programs aimed at that aim to improve the situation of ly noted the importance of education, Roma inclusion in the society would be Roma, and added that this process will employment and social policy. He said implemented. continue, thanks to the serious policy towards all citizens, implemented by that these three segments need to re- Miloš Nikolić stated that, in order to ceive the most attention, as they are the Provincial Government, led by PM achieve the essential equality of the Mirović. the most important for the integration Roma, in addition to the institutional of this national minority. support and political will, a certain de- The participants in the meeting also dis- The Prime Minister of the Provincial gree of social solidarity is needed, and cussed the Office’s plans and budget for Government assessed that significant he especially emphasized that more 2020, scholarships for Roma students, progress had been made in improv- work is being done on education and and activities related to the employ- employment of the Roma community. ment of members of this community.

Hungarian Community

More Books, Fewer ReadersSource: RTV Pannon he first Hungarian library es- Mihalj Dani, a native of Torda, returned tablished after the Second from Australia to spend his retirement World War in Zrenjanin is days in Zrenjanin. He primarily loves T 74 years old. It was the first world literature. department of the Hungarian Cultural Club “Petefi”, founded in May 1945. “I loved to read more than listen to the radio or watch TV. Everything was timed There are many valuable books among or thematically related. One could not the 13,500 titles. Book lovers at the lo- choose too much what to look or listen cal library of MKUD “Petefi” in Zrenjanin to. And you can open the book nicely can choose between works of art, chil- when you have the will, the time and that Zrenjanin’s Hungarian families die dren’s literature, bibliography, encyclo- the interest. ” and offspring, who no longer speaks pedia. The library is open twice a week. Hungarian, bring books. The second Thanks to donations from Serbia and reason is when they move abroad and “I can say that the number of readers Hungary, the library has continued to in many cases their personal library in our library has decreased, unfortu- expand. Most of the books are donat- reaches us. ” nately. I have been in this library for 19 ed by Zrenjanin families. Lajos Jenovai, years. I used to tell the kids to get the president of MKUD, says: The library of the Hungarian Cultural book back after two weeks, because Association “Petefi” in Zrenjanin has other kids are waiting for it. Unfortu- “Books are coming in safe hands, but been operating continuously since its nately, that is no longer the case today,” we are not happy about the reason why inception. This library has the most librarian Edit Tabački says. they come to our library. The issue is Hungarian books in Zrenjanin. 17 Minoroty News 56 Hungarian Reformed Church in Debeljača and Evangelical Church in Pančevo - Cultural Monuments ollowing the decision of the municipality of Kovačica. By ethnic was a temple of Germans - Protestants, Serbian Government, the structure, just over half is made up of hence the locally inscribed name - Ger- Hungarian Reformed Church Hungarians, one third is made up of man Church. F in Debeljača and the Evan- Serbs, with the remaining 15 percent gelical Church in Pančevo were granted are members of numerous minority There are no worship services today, the status of a cultural monument. communities. the building is neglected, the priest serves the mass in the auxiliary room, The Hungarian Reformed Church in De- The congregation of the Reformed and the main building occasionally beljača is the largest reforming temple Church in Debeljača, whose church now hosts cultural events, especially con- in the region in terms of size and capac- has the status of a cultural monument, certs. Eight years ago, the Institute for ity. The construction was completed in has about 2000 members. the Protection of Cultural Monuments 1838, and its present shape in 1903, of Pančevo requested a special protec- when the dome was built. There are The Evangelical Church in Pančevo, tion regime for the church building, also mechanical organs in the church which was also given the status of a which is in the center of the city, and that were built 150 years ago and are cultural monument, was built between the latest decision of the Serbian Gov- used at worship on Sundays. 1904 and 1906, in the same way as the ernment creates formal conditions to church in Leipzig. It was built with the support the restoration and preserva- Debeljača, with about 5,000 inhabi- means and contributions of the citizens tion of these cultural monuments from tants, is the largest settlement in the of Pančevo, of various religions, and state funds.

Bosniak Community Dr. Jasmina Curić Registered as President of the Council in the National Minority Councils Registry

Source: BNV

he Bosniak National Coun- The Ministry’s decision cil today received a de- notes that the process cision by the Ministry of of dismissing the former T Public Administration and and electing the new Local Self-Government authorizing the president of the Bosniak change of the name of the President National Council was car- of the Council in the National Minority ried out in accordance Councils Registry. with the Law on National Councils of National Mi- The new President of the Council, dr norities and the Statute Jasmina Curić, was elected at the June and Rules of Procedure 24, 2019 session. of the Council. The Bosniak National Council, acting The National Minority in accordance with the law, informed competent ministry was also sent a Councils Registry is kept by the Minis- the Ministry of Public Administration reminder note, as there was no re- try of Public Administration and Local of changes in the leadership of the sponse. Self-Government, and the minister in Council. During the month of July, the charge is Branko Ružić. 18 Minoroty News 56 The Bosniak National Council Appeals to Independent Bodies he Bosniak National time, the existence of the Bosniak Establishment of a Bosnian language Council has appealed to mother tongue, violated the rights editorial desk at the RTS was request- the Protector of Citizens of members of the Bosniak national ed on the basis of the Law on Pro- T and the Commissioner for community guaranteed by the Con- tection of Rights and Freedoms of the Protection of Equality with the stitution and the Law. National Minorities as well as the complaint on the conclusion of the necessity for public interest in the Program Council of the Radio Tele- In its decision to reject the establish- field of information. vision of Serbia, which rejected the ment of a Bosnian-language news- request to form an editorial board in room desk at the RTS, the Public Ser- The Bosniak National Council re- the Bosnian language. vice Program Council grossly violated minds the public that the Croa- the principles of equal rights and tian-language editorial desk at Vo- The complaint states that the RTS obligations and severely discriminat- jvodina Radio Television has been Program Council, by denying the es- ed against members of the Bosniak operating and producing the program tablishment of a Bosnian language national community on grounds of for nine years. editorial board, denying, at the same nationality and language.

Slovak Community UNS: Slovak National Council Not to Interfere with Editing of the “Hlas

Ljudu” Source: UNS

he Journalists’ Associ- ation of Serbia (UNS) supports the decision of T the editorial board of the weekly in the Slovak language “Hlas Ljudu” to send journalist Juraj Bartoš to the event “Meeting of Journalists” in Bački Petrovac, despite the pres- sure and opposition from the Nation- er of the media, can suspend the the measures of the Working Group al Council’s Information Committee, rights of editors and journalists. for the Development of the Media which is their founder. UNS has informed the editorial staff Strategy seeks to establish editorial A letter from the Information Com- of the Hlas Ljudu that the interfer- independence of the media, founded mittee of the National Council of the ence in editing the newspaper in by national councils of national -mi Slovak National Minority addressed Slovak language has been intensified norities, which means, among other to the editorial board of the “Hlas after the dominance in the National things, that without the consent of Ljudu”, which the UNS had insight Council of the Slovak National Mi- the editorial staff, they cannot named into, requested Bartoš not to report nority was given to the newspaper and dismiss editors-in-chief of the from this event, in order to avoid “Matica Slovaka” and members of the media. “greater conflict between the two in- “Slovaks Forward” party. Colleagues from the weekly Hlas stitutions” (cf. UNS: National Council UNS supports colleagues from the Ljudu were also supported by the and the editorial board of the “Hlas Independent Journalists’ Association Ljudu”). Hlas Ljudu, believes in their exper- tise and professionalism, and opposes of Vojvodina, which condemns any UNS points out that the sovereign political shifts and interference with threat posed to journalist Bartoš by right of editorial boards is to deter- editorial staff. the chairwoman of the Information mine who will report from an event Committee of the Slovak National and that no one, not even the found- UNS recalls that the proposal for Minority Counci 19 Minoroty News 56 Publikaciju podržavaPublikaciju Fondacija podržavaju za otvoreno Fondacija društvo, za otvoreno Ambasada društvo Sjedinjenih i MSP Republike Američkih Bugars Državake. iz Beograda i Misija OEBSMišljenja u Srbiji. objavljena Mišljenja u objavljenabiltenu ne predstavljajuu biltenu ne predstavljaju nužno zvanične nužno stavove zvanične donatora. stavove vlada i organizacija koje finansiraju projekat