As a State, We 74 Projects for Better Nourish the Unity Information in the Languages of Diversity of National Minorities Funded

49 Minority Neseptwember 2s 018

Branko Ružić: This Is the Year of National Minorities The Slovenian Community Hungarian from Serbia at the Bled Cultural Society Strategic Forum "Karika" Opened HIGHLIGHTS EDITORIAL 49 Government Committed to Improvi ng the Status (N ot) the choic e? of Minority Rights The re is a bit m ore than a m onth left until the elec tions for m e mbers On Septe mber 6, the Directo r of the Go - of natio nal cou ncils o f national mi nori ties . The m ember s of t he vernment Offic e for Hu m an and M inority 22 nat ional min orities will be e xercising the ir right to e l ect their Rights, Suza na Paunov ić, met with the OSCE rep resentatives . The first p recondit ion fo r vo ting is to enrol in the High Com missioner for Natio nal M inorities, Speci al Vo ters’ List fo r Na tional M inorit ies . Acco rd ing to the w ebsi te Lambe rto Zannier, an d she i nformed him about the im plementa tion of the a cti vities of the Min istry of Public A dminist ration an d Local Self-Government, of the Ac tion Plan fo r the Realizat ion of the the conclusion of the Special Voter List will be done 15 days before Rights o f Nationa l Minorities. the elec tio ns, on Oc tob er 1 9. Whether t he ca ll o f th e Min istry of Public A dminist ration and o ther govern ment bodie s to the members of the na tional min orities to r egister in the Special Vote rs’ Lis t will bear fru it w ill be cl ear af te r th is date, becaus e, with the excep tion Sombor Hosts "Europe of the few na tional c ouncils tha t a ctively p ropagate th e imp ortance of voters’ re g istrati o n a nd electi ons, others hav e n ot y et i ncl uded in My City " Conference it i n the agend a . On September 20, Sombor hosted the "Europe By October 19, all those who aim to be in one of the national in My City" conferen ce o n protection and exer - cIounc ils can sub mi t th eir lis ts. By t he conclus ion of this issue, the cise of human and minority rights. The confe - rence was organized by the German Foundation Republic Electoral Commission approved 20 electoral lists of 11 "Konrad Adenauer", in cooperation with the national minoritie s. I t is difficult to forec ast how m any lists will be City of Som bo r and the Ger man Association register ed, but, on t he basis o f the ap proved on es, it izbogs evid togaent "Gerhard" Sombor. thšat the re are dee p di visions in som e national co mmuni ties. Fo r instan ce, t he Ruthe nian comm unity, which, alt hough be ing a less

numerou s commun ity (accordin g to the last censu s , 14,246 citizens declared as members o f this co štomm uzdišemounity) alre zaad „starletama“y has 4 electo kojeral lists , while i n the p reviou s elect ions in 2014 they had a total of 7 lists. The reasons behind this division are, of course, dissatisfaction wit h the ex isting situ ation in the c omm u nity, des ires an d plans for its improv ement, o r someth ing e lse. O n t he oth er han d , a m ore Certificates Awarded to num erous comm un ity - the Slov ak commu nity – has, for the time Participants in th e Summer bein g, o nly two lis ts re g ist ered. T hose who believe that fa ct ions School "We and wit hin a co mmu nity are detrim e ntal for the ove ra ll i ntere sts of the community as a whole would say that this is a good sign, but, the O t hers. Ove rcomin g the B order s" what is interesting about these lists is that they both come from the sam e political party, i.e., th e lead ing can didates on th e lists are members of the same dominant political party. Will these and Participants in the S ummer Sch ool o f In - terethnic, Inte rcult ural and Inter -Con - similar situ ati ons mak e the vot e rs’ decis ions easie r or mo re com - fessional Dialo gue (AID), held at Srebrno plicate d? Jezero, were awarded diplomas for suc - cessful completion of activities in a week- long seminar held from August 26 to 30 d iffer ent national m inorities live in Serbia September 1 under the title "We and the Others. Overcomin g the Borders.”

Prom otion o f the B o ok "Stories f ro m D ias po ra and

Hom e land Countries"

The book "Stories from Diaspora and Home - land Countries" by Admir Lisica was promoted in the Bosniak National Council on September 15. all The book is about people who began their E newsle er for jour ney to Diaspo ra afte r the end of the Se - and ON co nd World Wa r, but a lso about successful Bosniaks from the homeland countries in the re gion. www.minoritynews.rs Minority News Portal OUR INTERVIEW: BRANKO RUZIC, MINISTER OF PUBLIC ADMINISTRATION AND LOCAL SELF-GOVERNMENT This Is the Year

ollowing theo ratfif icNatioan otif ao setn ofa lawl sM reguliantingo thre intiatioenas l minority policy in the Republic of Serbia, regular elections for members of national councils of national minorities will take place on November 4. Some communities have already started their campaigns, and the Republic Electoral Commission has started ratification of lists of candidates. We taFlked to the Minister of Public Administration and Local Self-Government Branko Ružić about the activities that preceded the slating of the elections and about what remains to be done in the coming period. The period since your appointment as Minister of Public Administration and Local Self-Government has been mar - ked by a major commitment to impro - ving the overall minority policy in the Republic of Serbia, including the adop - tion of amendments to two principal laws regulating national minority rights. In August you slated the elections for national councils of national minorities' for November 4. What kind of activities will the Ministry implement in this pe - riod in preparation for the elections? This is the year of national minorities, as we like to say in the Ministry of Public Administration and Local Self Govern - ment, not only because of the set of laws adopted in the Assembly in June, ly. right to vote in national minorities' na - which significantly improve the condi - tional council elections is to register tions for exercising the rights of mino - We have provided all the preconditions in the Special Voters’ List, which is in rities, but also because of the elections for conducting these elections, organi - progress. The number of registered for national councils of national mino - zed a campaign to inform our citizens, voters will determine the method of rities. members of national minorities, to have electing representatives in national the right to vote and to be elected, with councils of national minorities. How We, at the Ministry, as well as other in - the aim of getting these bodies consist stitutions and bodies involved in this long can minority members register of representatives who will best pro - in this List? process – the Republic Electoral Com - mote their interests in the field of edu - mission, local self-governments, national cation, culture, information, official use The Ministry concludes the Special Vo - minority councils, are fully prepared of language and script. ters’ List 15 days before the Election for the coming elections. The role of Day. Citizens can be entered or deleted the Ministry in conducting elections for In your opinion, what are the most im - from the Special Voters’ List after the members of national councils of national portant activities that should be carried conclusion. Requests shall be filed in minorities relates to checking electoral out by national minority councils? municipalities and cities according to lists and confirming electoral applica - the place of residence or temporary tions. Representatives of the national minority residence for internally displaced per - councils should undertake all measures sons. It is important that our fellow ci - The Ministry concludes the Special Voter to inform and encourage their compa - List 15 days before the Election Day. tizens know that they can be registered triots to register in the Special Voters’ in the Special Voters’ List exclusively on During this period, the Ministry makes List and thereby gain the right to elect, entries and changes in the list, while a personal request. The Special Voters' to be elected as a member of the na - List shall be concluded 72 hours prior requests for registration and changes tional minority council, and to nominate of data are submitted to the municipality to the Election Day, when the Ministry candidates for members of the national shall communicate to the Republic Elec - in which they are located. In addition, minority council. there are other administrative jobs to toral Commission all decisions on en - make sure that things function proper - The precondition for exercising the tries, deletions, amendments and cor - 3 Minority News rections in the Special Voters’ List adop - located. A new application through Recently, the Bosniak National Council ted since the conclusion of the voter the Unified Voters’List check enabled and the Albanian National Council sta - register. this change to be made automatical - ted that the adopted amendments to ly. minority laws diminish the rights of It has been mentioned in the media minorities and called for an assessment on several occasions that the new ap - According to our knowledge, in some of their constitutionality. What is your plication for the Special Voter List will national minorities, functionaries, or comment? contribute to a more transparent and presidents of certain political parties, efficient elections process. Can you transfer their functions to their rela - I cannot agree with this, given that the explain to us what kind of changes the tives in order to be able to run in the legislative framework related to the new application has made in the re - elections. Can such a procedure be rights of national minorities in the Re - gistration process? regarded as a violation of the Law on public of Serbia, according to interna - NMCs? What are the sanctions envi - tional experts, is above the European Citizens' data needed for the Special saged by the Law in such cases? average, with original solutions that Voters’ List are taken from the Unified cannot be found in other countries. On Voters’ List. And this is what digitali - Political party officials can run in elec - the other hand, we have worked on all zation brought us. This process was tions (to be elected as members of a of these laws in a wide consultation not automatic in the past, so if a person national council), however, the Law process with national councils of na - who had registered in the Special Vo - stipulates that the president of the na - tional minorities. Everyone had the op - ters’ List changed their place of resi - tional council and a member of the portunity to make comments and sug - dence, there was no possibility for this executive board cannot be a member gestions, many of which were incorpo - change to be automatically entered in of the governing bodies of a political rated into these laws. the Special Voters’ List, and this indi - party such as the president, a member vidual had to file a request for deletion of the presidency or the executive Serbia is a free country, in which eve - in the municipality / city where the board, etc. This is aimed at depolitici - ryone has the opportunity to address data had been originally entered, and sing national councils, which is also a the Constitutional Court and ask for an then apply for a new registration in request coming from the EU. opinion on the constitutionality of any the municipality / city where they re - law provision. Minority News - Elections 2018 You can follow all news related to the - Election List “Bunjevacs Together”/ vement"/Sveevropski romski pokret elections for national councils of national Bunjevci zajedno Romanian National Minority: minorities from September 18th on our - Election List Association of Citizens - Election List "Romanian List - Dr Jon new site www.izbori2018.minorityne - "Bunjevac Kolo" Sombor/Udruženje ws.rs. Omoran” /List Românească - Dr Ion gradjana Bunjevačko kolo Sombor Omoran" According to the data of the Republic Vlach National Minority: Electoral Commission, until the date of Ruthenian National Minority: conclusion of this issue of the Minority - Election List Vlachs for Serbia/Vlasi za - Election List “Ruthenians Together”/ News Bulletin, the following election Srbiju Rusini zajedno / Rusnaci vs lists were declared: - Election List Association "Gergina" Ne - - Election List “Being and Remaining Ashkali National Minority: gotin / Primarius Dr. Sinisa Čelojević Ruthenian” /Biti i ostati RUSIN - OLENA - Election List "For Victory" - Erdelj Egyptian National Minority: PAPUGA/Buc i ostac RUSNAK - OLENA Osman/Za pobedu – Erdelj Osman - Election List Esnaf - Kujtim Demir PAPUGA Bosniak National Minority: - Election List Egyptians for Peace, Sta - - Election List “For Ruthenians – Zeljko bility and Prosperity in Serbia Agim Aj - Kovac”/Za Rusine - Željko Kovač/Za Ru - - Election List “Self-Determination - dr snacoh - Željko Kovač" Sulejman Ugljanin” / Samoopredeljenje ra - dr. Sulejman Ugljanin Hungarian National Minority: - Election List “Ruthenian Future” / Ru - sinska budućnost / Руска будучносц - Election List “Bosniak Heritage” -Aca - - Election List "Magyar Összefogás - demician Muamer Zukorlic Mufti/Ma - Hungarian Unity"/ Madjarska sloga Slovak National Minority: tica Bošnjaka – akademik Muamer Zu - German National Minority: - Election List “Slovaks Forward!” /Slováci korlić muftija vpred! Pavel Surovi Slovaci napred! /Slo - - Election List “Vakat je – prof. dr Sait - Election List "Gerhard" of Danubian váci vpred! - Pavel Surový Germans - Together, Antun Beck Kačapor” / “Vakat je – prof. dr Sait Ka - - Election List “Slovak Heritage in Ser - čapor” Roma National Minority: bia”/Matica Slovaka u Srbiji Libushka Bunjevac National Minority: - Election List "All-European Roma Mo - Lakatos/Matica slovenská v Srbsku - Li - buška Lakatošová 4 Minority News News

As a State, We NoSuourrcei: sMihnist ryt ohf Puebli c UAdmninisitrtatiyon aond fLo cDal Seilvf-Goeverrnsmeintt y

n September 6, Minister of Pu - pulation in Serbia consists of members of to the status of national minorities is a blic Administration and Local national minorities speaks of the unity of resource for the whole society," the Com - Self-Government, Branko Ružić, differences that we nourish as a state and missioner said. met with the OSCE High Com - as a government, and therefore we are missioner on National Minorities Lamberto trying to improve it," Ružić said. Asked by journalists whether the initia - ZOannier and presented the Ministry's ac - tives of the Albanian and Bosniak Na - tivities on improving the conditions for the He thanked Zannier and the OSCE Office tional Council, which require the Con - exercise of minority rights in Serbia. for the outstanding cooperation and ex - stitutional Court to reconsider the con - pressed his hope that they will jointly con - stitutionality of the amended laws, could Ružić pointed out that this year alone four tinue to improve the legal regulations and provoke political tensions and influence regulations under the Ministry's jurisdiction status of members of national minorities the upcoming elections, Zannier noted were adopted that improve the legal fra - in Serbia. that it is positive that national minorities mework and status of national minorities in Serbia can take part in ratification of in Serbia. Zannier assessed that Serbia has a good laws, as well as to express their disa - legislative framework that deals with na - greement with them and address the "These laws have been received with the tional minorities and supported recent Constitutional Court. approval of members of national minorities, amendments to the Law on National Coun - and also praised by the OSCE and other cils of National Minorities and the Law on "I welcome the fact that this possibility reference international institutions that the Protection of the Rights and Freedoms exists at all, because in theory it should participated with the Ministry in a tran - of National Minorities, as well as the par - contribute to a reduction in tension," sparent and inclusive law drafting proce - ticipation of members of national minorities Zannier said. dures," Ružić said and assessed that, in so - in that process. me segments, Serbia is far ahead of indi - Answering the same question, Minister vidual EU member states when the exercise "We put emphasis on communication with Ružić ruled out the possibility that the of minority rights is in question. members of national minorities so that we demands of certain national councils can hear what their priorities are, especially would influence the election cycle and The Minister reminded that the Fund for before the coming elections for national underlined that this is a proof of the de - National Minorities was launched last year, councils," Zannier said. mocracy of a well-regulated system. after a 15-year deadlock, and that the Fund’s budget was 1.8 million dinars in the He assessed positively the form of coope - "The process of drafting this regulation previous year, while 21.8 million dinars ration that the state has with national mi - was very inclusive and transparent, with were provided in 2018. norities through bilateral commissions dea - the participation of representatives of ling with the issues of national minorities all national councils of national minorities The Minister pointed out that national mi - and praised the fact that Serbia is making in Serbia. They had the opportunity to norities are a great value and comparative efforts to integrate national minorities into point to their comments and suggestions, advantage of Serbia in relation to many society. many of which were incorporated into countries in the region. these laws. This is a legitimate way, and "I can see that Serbia works well in this the public will judge what the ba - "The fact that about 13% of the total po - area. Investing in resolving issues related ckground is," Ružić concluded. 5 Minority News News Government Committed to Enhancement

of Minority RSiogurche: Otffisce for Human and Minority Rights n September 6, dinars were allocated from Director of the the budget of Serbia for re - Government Of - gular financing of the work fice for Human of national minority coun - and Minority cils. ROights, Suzana Paunović, met with the OSCE High Commis - The OSCE High Commissio - sioner for National Minorities, ner on National Minorities, Lamberto Zannier, and infor - Lamberto Zannier, welco - med him on the activities of med the efforts that the Of - the Action Plan for the Exer - fice for Human and Mino - cise of National Minority rity Rights invests in the pre - Rights, stressing that the crea - paration and implementa - tion and monitoring of the tion of the Minority Action activities of this Action Plan Plan, stressing that the AP show in the best possible way the firm com - minorities, the Director of the Office said. is a solid foundation for further work. Zannier mitment of the Government that the laws praised the efforts of the Government and related to the exercise of the rights of na - Paunović presented to the High Commis - commitment to work on the promotion of tional minorities are fully applied. sioner the reports prepared by Serbia re - the rights of national minorities, as well as lating to the Framework Convention for the the inclusiveness and transparency of the Paunović stated that eight reports have Protection of National Minorities and the overall process of reporting on the imple - been prepared to date, and that the ninth European Charter for Regional or Minority mentation of this action plan. report on the implementation of this stra - Languages, and stressed that, after the re - tegic document is being drafted. porting cycles, the implementation of the The meeting was also attended by the head recommendations received will follow. She of the OSCE Mission to Serbia, Andrea Ori - The trainings that were held in the previous announced that a list of all the recommen - zio. period have achieved their goal, which is dations received will be made in order to to raise the quality of reporting of all par - monitor adequately their implementation The meeting was organized during the visit ticipants in this process, especially local self- in an effective way. of the High Commissioner to the Republic governments, who know best the needs of Serbia from 5 to 7 September 2018. and problems faced by members of national Paunović said that for this year, 245 million Ružić: I do not Expect Any Problems in the

Elections in Preševo, Bujanovac and MSourece:d wwvw.ket.gđov.rsa ranko Ružić, Minister of slated for November 4. The most im - Public Administration and portant thing is that we have done eve - Local Self-Government, rything that had to be done. We ma - said in Leskovac that naged to improve the legislative frame - "members of national mi - work before the elections, and ratified nBorities, as loyal citizens of Serbia, a set of minority laws," Ružić said. As certainly have the opportunity to af - he said, he "would not give exclusivity firm their values and, in keeping their to any minority community in Serbia". tradition, do so within the state of Serbia." "I think it is a great treasure that almost 30 percent of Serbia's population be - When asked by the journalists whet - longs to national minorities," he added. her he expected members of the Al - banian national minority to partici - Ružić expects that "everyone will use pate in the elections for the National their voters' right to participate in the Minority Council in the context of that "he does not expect any problems". November 4 elections, to propose their the negotiations on Kosovo and Metohija lists and, after that, national councils will and the request of the municipalities of "Elections for representatives of national further improve their work, promoting Presevo, Bujanovac and Medvedja to se - councils of national minorities have been their values that are truly precious to Ser - cede to Kosovo and Metohija, he replied bia." 6 Minority News News Sombor Hosts "Europe in My City"

Conference Source: RTV |Photo: Office for Human and Minority Rights n September 20, Sombor ho - She also said that, in recent years, the re - sted the "Europe in My City" ports of the relevant bodies in regard to Conference, on the protection the respect and exercise of international and exercise of human and norms and standards in this area do not minority rights. In her remarks contain serious criticism, but mainly point aOt the conference, Direc - to the possibility of further tor of the Office for Hu - improvement of the position man and Minority Rights, of minorities. They someti - Suzana Paunović, noted mes note sporadic problems, that Europe is in all Ser - weaker implementation and bian cities, and that Ser - suggest additional measures, bia is proud of it. first of all in terms of remo - ving the difficulties in the im - Paunović said that the plementation of the legisla - entire legal system in the tive framework. systemic problems in their position that field of human and mi - could in any way endanger the European nority rights protection Paunović pointed out that integration of the country," Paunović said. was based on internatio - further advancement of the nal standards and agree - position of national minori - The Deputy Speaker of the AP Vojvodina ments made within the ties should not be considered Assembly, Damir Zobenica, also addressed framework of the United only in the function of Euro - the attendees and pointed out that MPs Nations and the Council pean integration, and emp - have the right to receive parliamentary of Europe. She added hasized that this is an impe - documents in their mother tongue, ask that it could even be said that the exercise rative for a democratic state for Serbia. questions in their mother tongue, and of the rights of members of national mi - follow parliamentary sessions in their norities is above the European average "I think there are no major structural and mother tongue, as the sessions of the As - and that, in certain segments, it can serve sembly are simultaneously interpreted as an example for many member countries into 5 languages. of the European Union. However, as Prof. Dr Goran Bašić, the di - She particularly noted that Serbia is one rector of the Institute of Social Sciences of the few countries that, in addition to noted, there is still ethnic distance in individual rights, has also recognized col - Serbia and no major shift has been made lective rights to members of national mi - in relation to the 1990s, while the second norities. problem is within the national commu - nities themselves. "In this way, members of national mino - rities are enabled to participate directly "There is a distance towards members of or through their representatives in deci - the Albanian, Bosniak, Roma and Croat sion-making or decide on specific issues national minorities. Another problem is related to their culture, education, infor - that there is homogenization within the mation and official use of languages and national communities, the language of scripts," she explained. the social environment is not learnt. Those who are educated in their mother tongue only cannot further engage in the edu - cation system, and they leave Serbia," Prof. Bašić said. One of the areas of minority rights is in - formation in the languages of national communities. An example is Radio Tele - vision of Vojvodina. "Since 1975, RTV Vojvodina has “spoken” five languages, and now we have a radio program in 16 languages, and whereas the television program will be soon broad - cast in 12 languages," Hajnalka Buda, edi - tor of minority programs of RTV Vojvodina, said. 7 Minority News News 74 Projects for Better Information in the

Languages of NatiSouorce:n Minaistrly oMf Publicn Admoinirstriation eands Lo cFal Suelf-Gnovedrnmeend t n September 13, Minister Branko "This is the second year in a row that the Special Voters’ List has been additionally Ružić and representatives of 74 Ministry, after 15 years of non-activation, is enhanced. projects signed contracts on the distributing the funds from the Budget Fund," "In all this, the role of you, representatives allocation of funds from the Bud - Ružić said, adding that the funds available of civil society is of great importance, and get Fund for National Minorities, last year were much more modest and you, together with us, contribute to the re - wOhich this year amounted to 21.8 million amounted to 1,800,000 dinars, and that the gulations we ratify, and ensure that the po - dinars, 12 times more than in 2017. The Ministry will aim to increase the fund addi - licies we create correspond to the real needs funds can be used only for the purpose of tionally in the next year. of our citizens by coming up with initiatives, better information in minority languages, Minister Ružić noted that, for the Ministry, dialogue and implementing projects of public as recommended by the Council of the Go - this year is the year of minorities, not only interest," Ružić said. vernment of Serbia for National Minorities, because of the Fund, but also because re - which consists of both representatives of Representatives of the projects expressed gular elections for national councils are to their appreciation for the possibility to pre - the state institutions and the presidents of be held, the legislative framework has been national councils of national minorities. sent national minorities in Serbia as a wealth significantly improved in the spring, and the of our country.

The First Human Rights SchoolS ouCrceo: Prmovinciapl Omlebudtsmean d y the certificates award ceremo - children's rights, rights of national minorities, workshops were interesting, and the most ny and the remarks by Prof. Dr. human rights instruments, as well as inter - interesting areas in the evaluation were the Zoran S. Pavlović, the Provincial national standards in Serbia's accession to areas related to the rights of the child and Ombudsman, the first human the European Union were provided by experts the issue of gender and gender equality. rights school organized by the in the mentioned areas - Zorica Mršević, dr Organization of the human rights school was PBrovincial Ombudsman in Ečka, a village near Ivana Stefanović, dr Goran Bašić, prof. Dr. supported by the OSCE Mission to Serbia, Zrenjanin, was brought to completion. Tanja Miščević and prof. Dr. Zoran S. Pavlović. and John David Clayton, Head of the Depart - The school lasted for three days - from August After each lecture, a debate was organized, ment of Democratization of the OSCE Mission 22 to August 24, and it was attended by 20 and some of the topics, primarily those di - to Serbia, also addressed its participants. students. The thematic repertoire of the rectly related to the work of the Provincial Ombudsman, were also processed. The Provincial Protector of Citizens - the Om - school was focused on the competences of budsman will continue to organize similar the Provincial Protector of Citizens, and the The school, according to the students, met schools in the future in order to improve the lectures on the topic of gender and equality, their expectations. Lectures were informative, culture of human rights. Certificates Awarded to Participants in the Summer School "We and the

Others. Overcoming the BSouorce:r Fodrume forr Esth.ni"c Relations articipants in the Summer about achievements and problems related three panel discussions were held, and a School of Interethnic, Intercul - to the politics of national minorities, but psychodrama group workshop was also tural and Inter-confessional also to acquire skills to solve these pro - organized. Dialogue (AID), held at Srebrno blems. Participants in the summer school had Jezero, were awarded diplo - The certificates received by the participants the opportunity to visit Golubacki Grad mPas for successful completion of activities are compliant with the standards of the and the medieval fortress, which was re - within a week-long seminar called "We ERMA and the European Student Mobility cently restored and accessible to visitors, and the Others. Overcoming the Borders". Standard, and they will help them in their located on high cliffs at the entrance to From August 26 to September 1, eleven further work on the issues and topics they the Djerdap Gorge. young people attended the summer school deal with. The organizer of the summer school was in order to gain new knowledge that will Sixteen lecturers from Serbia and abroad, the Forum for Ethnic Relations in coope - help them in monitoring and analyzing in - in addition to the lectures on pre-deter - ration with the Higher School for Business tercultural, interethnic and inter-confes - mined topics, were also at the disposal Economics and Entrepreneurship (PEP), sional relations in Serbia. to the summer school participants for a the ERMA program, Sarajevo-Forli, with The aim of this type of education is to wider discussion on certain topics that the support of the Embassy of the Repu - help young people acquire knowledge were of interest to them. To this end, blic of Bulgaria in Belgrade. 8 Minority News Jewish Community

Jews Celebrated the New Year Source: RTS Photo: Jewish Municipality of Zemun n September 10, Jews from around the world celebrated the arrival of the 5779th Jewish New Year-Rosh Hashanah. They believe that at that time aO man is freed from social distress, in order to enter into the New Year cleared of all sins. And for the whole year to be sweet, there are sweets - apples and honey – ser - ved on the New Year’s table. "We greet each other with “Shanah Tovah” - Happy New Year," Danilo Medić, president of the Jewish municipality, said. He added that the only difference bet - ween the New Year’s dinner and an ordinary dinner is in dipping the chal - there's another symbol linked to the It is celebrated for two days, in syna - lah, the bread, into honey instead of New Year, pomegranate. It has a lot gogues, with prayers of repentance. salt, so that the New Year would be of seeds in it, which means that the sweet. New Year will be fertile," Medić says. This is a period of retrospective, acknow - ledging and repenting mistakes and bad "We also dip apple into honey so that Jewish New Year is counted in the To - things done in the previous year, so that the New Year would be sweet. And rah from the beginning of the world. they could be corrected in the New Year.

Czech Community School Plus Bicycle Caravan

- Czech-Serbian Friendship RaSocure ce: School Plus or the seventh time in a the way from the Czech Republic to promoted through recreation, culture, row, the School Plus orga - participate in the caravan. and art. Each participant was given a nized a bicycle caravan, the gift and a number of prizes were awar - "Czech-Serbian Friendship An outdoor art studio was created in ded. Race" with support of the Ministry of the beautiful nature of Češko Selo, FoFreign Affairs of the Czech Republic poetry was recited in both languages, In the afternoon, the caravan drove and the Ministry of Trade, Tourism and participants also visited the Mu - back on the same route, again with a and Telecommunications of the Re - seum of Czechs, where a short lecture high level of safety. In their thanksgi - public of Serbia, and in cooperation was held. ving messages, all participants expres - with the local self-government, the sed the same wish - to meet again in National Council of the Czech National Bela Crkva and the School Plus were Bela Crkva next year. Minority, the Church, and numerous friends of the School Plus. Ninety-six active cyclists participated in the caravan that travelled from Bela Crkva to Češko Selo, while, in Češko Selo, there were 136 members and friends of the School Plus. The caravan was accompanied by a dozen of or - ganizers and several cars that secured the safety of all participants. The or - ganizers were particularly pleased with the fact that a Czech language teacher, Standa Havel, and his family came all

9 Minority News Croatian Community Intensive Week of Collecting Signatures of Support Source: Croatian Word

embers of the Croatian com - Monoštor and Stanišić old age or inability to do it in person, and munity throughout Vojvodina In the territory of the City of Sombor, the we are currently waiting for the response and in Belgrade are working support to the HRvati List has been given of the competent Surčin authorities on both in organized groups and by the associations of KUDH Bodrog from whether they will accept this way of sub - independently on collection of support Monoštor and HKD Vladimir Nazor from mitting the request," President of the Croa - sMignatures for electors who will partici - Stanišić, where the collection of signatures tian Library Fischer from Surčin, Katica pate in the November 4 electoral assem - was also organized. Stanišić's electorate Naglić said. bly and elect new members of the Croa - candidates are: Ivan Karan, candidate of tian National Council. For the time being, MO DSHV from Stanišić and Marko Gundić, the only group that is doing this publicly, Croatian Civic Alliance, too, Collects Si - candidate of HKD Vladimir Nazor. Support gnatures of Support with the campaign in the media and in to these candidates has been given by Croats the social networks, are activists gathered from Riđica, Čonoplja, Lemeš and Aleksa The activists of the Croatian Civic Alliance, around the HRvati List, made by the De - Šantić. Karan collected 60 required signa - headquartered in Novi Sad, have also col - mocratic Alliance of Croats in Vojvodina, tures, and Gundić's collection of signatures lected signatures of support for electors. and dozens of Croatian associations and was organized at the office of the notary The president of this association, Dr Tomislav individuals. Lidija Karanović in Sombor, 1 Arsenija Čar - Stantić, was the leading candidate on the The activists of the HRvati List are working nojevića St., on September 21. list that had eight councillors in the last con - daily on collecting and verifying the si - vocation of the Croatian National Council. gnatures in Subotica (in the House of "Every candidate for the electorate in my DSHV on working days from 17:00 to Collection of Signatures in Srem place of residence is organizing a collection 21:00), and, in the last ten days they The activists of the HRvati List collected si - of signatures, and we will provide assistance have done it also in Petrovaradin, Tavan - gnatures in Sremska Mitrovica, in the parish as much as anyone can have in collecting kut, Đurđin, Žednik, Vajska, Plavni, Sta - hall of St. Dimitry, every working day from a sufficient number of signatures," Stantić nišić, Monoštor, Surčin, Zemun and Srem - 2.30 pm to 4.30 pm and on Sunday after says. ska Mitrovica, as well as in several places Holy Mass from 10.30 am to 12 pm. Accor - The Croatian Civil Alliance has not come in Banat. ding to activist Zlatko Načev, the collection up with a list yet, but their activists collect "Signatures for twenty electors have of signatures has been successful thus far, signatures for participation in the electoral been collected so far. Regarding the tech - with no problems in regard to the services assembly on November 4th. nical aspects of the registration, there provided by public notaries. However, there is still a call to all those interested in providing "We have not prepared any list in advance, have been no major problems, and we the lists will be made on November 4," have been successful in the collection support to a candidate to do so in Septem - ber in the above mentioned addressed. Si - Stantić says. According to him, the Croatian of signatures so far," DSHV President, Civil Alliance does not have a special pro - Tomislav Žigmanov, says. gnatures are also collected in the parishes in Zemun and Surčin. gram for these elections, it follows the prin - With the engagement in the above-men - ciples of the 2016 Alliance Program Initia - tioned cities and villages, the collection "On Tuesday, September 4, signatures were tive, available on their website at of signatures will be organized in other collected for the first elector from Surčin, www.hgs.org.rs. pensioner Josip Čačić. The collection of si - places where Croats live in a larger num - The deadline for the collection of the si - ber - Sonta, Bajmok, Mirgeš, Verušić, gnatures for the second elector, Irena Obra - dović, has begun. A few voters have sub - gnatures is October 4, and, for the electoral Mala Bosna, Bikovo, Odžaci, Šid, Slan - assembly to be held, the presence of at kamen, Golubinci and Belgrade. mitted a written request for registration in the Special Voters’ List by mail due to least 60 electors is needed, with a total of 3,600 support signatures to be collected.

10 Minority News Bunjevac Community Promotion and Support to the "Bunjevacs Together" List for the Coming Elections for

the National Minority CoSouurcne: Bcunjielvas c Media Center n September 6, at meski Bunjevci" - Lemeš, KUDŽ the premises of the "Bratstvo" - Subotica, KUD "Ale - Bunjevac Heritage, ksandrovo" - Subotica, UG "Bu - the list "Bunjevacs njevac Heritage" - Subotica, UG Together" and the Bunjevac as - "Bunjevac Youth Center" - Subo - sOociations that provide support tica, UG "Bunjevci" - Novi Sad, to this list were presented. Bunjevac Educational and Re - The list "Bunjevacs Together" search Center "Ambrozije Šarčević aims to achieve unity and not "- Subotica, UG" Bunjevacka vila to repeat mistakes from the "- Mala Bosna, UG" Vila potiska previous elections, when a large "- Becej, UG" Bunjevacka kasina number of lists sent a bad mes - "- Subotica, UG" Bunjevci Ljutovo sage for potential voters. The "- Ljutovo, Bunjevac Media Center candidates hope that the joint - Subotica, Bunjevac Media Center election list will have a positive impact on The Bunjevac associations that support - Sombor. the Bunjevac national community and that the list are: BKC "Subotica" - Subotica, The citizens' association "Bunjevac Kolo" the new convocation of the Bunjevac Na - KUD "Bunjevka" - Subotica, BKC "Baj - from Sombor expressed the desire to tional Minority Council will be able to im - mok" - Bajmok, BKC "Tavankut" - Tavan - participate in the elections indepen - plement all envisaged objectives. kut, BKC "Novi Sad" - Novi Sad, BKC "Le - dently with its own list.

Slovenian Community The Slovenian Community from Serbia at the Bled Strategic Forum Source: Association of Slovenians "Sava" ach year, the Bled Strategic Fo - ving the Diaspora in activities to preserve border countries with Slovenia, and new rum (BSF) gathers most officials cultural and linguistic identity, as well as approaches to preserving the Slovenian from the Republic of Slovenia the challenges faced by the states in relation language - such as an online language cour - and other countries as well as to their Diasporas and how to overcome se. The speakers noted that one of the strategic partners from the business sector. them. The panel was opened by the out - great challenges facing Slovenia is the brain BESF is one of the most important economic going minister, Gorazd Žmavc, who, in his drain, i.e. the departure of a large number and political events in the region of Sout - introductory address, talked about the si - of highly qualified labour force, primarily heast Europe. This year, the Forum hosted gnificance of the Slovenian Diaspora for the younger population. 1200 participants from 80 different coun - Slovenia. Speakers from different countries The conclusion of the panel is that there tries, the program featured 27 panels with followed, giving examples of good practice is a lot of what has been done in Slovenia’s more than 180 speakers, while the event in how Diaspora relations are fostered by relations towards the Diaspora, and the was supported by as many as 99 partners other countries. As a positive example, results of this engagement can be seen and sponsors. Deputy Foreign Minister of Greece, Terence now. However, there is a lot that can still At the invitation of the Office for Slovenians Spenser Nikolaos Quick, said that so far be done. Slovenia is learning through exc - Abroad, the President of the National Coun - over 60,000 trips to Greece have been or - hange of experiences with other countries. cil of the Slovenian National Minority in ganized for young people from their Dia - This is also evidenced by the position of the Republic of Serbia, Saša Verbič, and a spora, in order to get acquainted with the the candidate for the new Minister of the member and representative of the Slove - country they come from. Dr. Zvone Žigon Office for Foreigners of Slovenia, Jožef P. nian “Sava” Society in Belgrade, Aurena of the Office for Diaspora Slovenians has Česnik, whose attitudes are positive re - Dinic, attended the panel "Diaspora as a been complementing examples of projects garding the deepening and strengthening Bridge in Contemporary International Re - and programs organized by Slovenia for of relations with the Diaspora and even lations", about the importance of the Dia - their Diaspora, such as language schools, more attention dedicated to the Western spora for Slovenia, modern ways of invol - projects to encourage youth activism in Balkans. 11 Minority News Bosniak Community The Sixth Generation of Students Attending Classes in the Bosnian Language Source: BNV he Bosniak National Coun - Bosnian language and thus show a procurement of textbooks for these cil, the highest represen - desire and a high responsibility for classes both in the Serbian language tative body of Bosniaks in preserving the national, ethnic and and in the languages of national mi - the Republic of Serbia, ex - cultural identity of the new genera - norities will be delayed. pressed satisfaction over the increase tions of the Bosniak people in Sandzak inT the number of students who at - by acquisition of knowledge and skills With the help from donors, the Bo - tend all classes in the Bosnian lan - in the mother tongue and literature, sniak National Council will endeavour guage. history, culture and tradition. this year to provide textbooks from a group of national subjects to pupils The Council congratulated parents Because of the changes in the curri - of the first grade in the Bosnian lan - whose children attend classes in the culum for the first and fifth grade, guage classes free of charge. Promotion of the Book "Tales from Diaspora and Homeland Countries" he book "Tales from Diaspora and Home - land Countries" by Ad - mir Lisica was promo - ted in the Bosniak National CTouncil on September 15. The book is about people who started their journey to Diaspora after the end of the Second World War, but also about suc - cessful Bosniaks from the ho - meland countries in the region. The stories from the book were published in several Bosnian and regional media, the regional ne - twork of Al Jazeera Balkans, the media agency Anadolu Agency, on the portal Akos.ba , as well as in the Bosnian-Herzegovinian weekly newspaper Stav. The promoters of the book we - re Dr Fuad Baćićanin, director of the museum in Novi Pazar, and Sanadin Voloder, journalist and editor of the book. At the end of the evening, the author of the book, Admir Lisica, than - ked the Bosniak National Council for the promotion of the book and shared his experiences from talking with the Bosniaks living around the world with the au - dience.

12 Minority News Romanian Community A Pragmatic Approach to Improving the Position of Minorities in Romania and

SoSurce: Mrinbistryi oa f Public Administration and Local Self-Government tate Secretary of the Ministry in the Romanian language. status of both minority communities in of Public Administration and the two countries. Local Self-Government, Ivan Ciamba assessed the need for a prag - Bošnjak, and State Secretary matic performance in the work of the In - State Secretary Bošnjak informed Ciamba of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Ro - tergovernmental Mixed Commission for about recent meetings with representa - mSania, George Ciamba, both co-chairing National Minorities, and representatives tives of the Romanian national minority the Intergovernmental Mixed Commission of Serbia and Romania agreed to hold in central and eastern Serbia, attended for National Minorities of Serbia and Ro - the next meeting of the Commission's by the Consul General of Romania, as mania, discussed cooperation in solving co-secretaries on October 30 and 31 in well as the new legal solutions concerning issues relevant to the situation of the Ro - Bucharest. minority issues, in the drafting of which manian and Serbian national minorities the representative of the National Council in the two countries in the upcoming pe - He concluded that he expects the con - of the Romanian National Minority took riod. structive work of this Commission and a part. positive role in the process of European The focus of their discussion were edu - integration of Serbia, as well as Romania's Bošnjak also said that all actions related cation and information issues, and Ciamba support during the upcoming EU Presi - to the elections for national councils of expressed satisfaction that the Serbian dency. national minorities are proceeding as President, Aleksandar Vučić, publicly pro - planned, and that 18,970 citizens with mised to improve the information of the At the meeting in Bucharest, already the right to vote for the National Council Romanian national minority in Serbia in established conclusions shall be confirmed of the Romanian national minority are their mother tongue, as well as to increase and new recommendations should be currently enlisted in the Special Voters’ the number of teaching staff for classes prepared in the interest of improving the List.

Roma Community Roma Empowerment through ROMACTED Source: Rhythm of the City romoting good governance are discrimination, retraining and addi - representatives of local self-government and empowerment of the Ro - tional qualification for deficient profes - and Roma NGOs, we plan, Manojlović ma community at the local sions, possibility of scholarships for high said, to include the Center for Social level is being implemented school students, unemployment. They Work, the National Employment Service, in 11 towns and municipalities in Serbia. are interested in knowing more about and the Red Cross. TPhe task of local self-governments, inc - problems of drug addiction, domestic luding Kragujevac, based on the signed violence and reproductive health through The key to the success of ROMACTED, Memorandum of Cooperation, is that workshops. according to Dragan Gračanin, is to esta - by building political will and sustainable blish communication with people in the policies through the engagement of local There are many problems, and our task field, whomt we have asked what is im - authorities, they work to improve de - is to define priorities and start solving portant to them in everyday life. Out of mocratic public administration, strengt - these problems, Prof. Nedeljko Manoj - the 11 cities involved in the implemen - hen the commitment of institutions, lović, a member of the City Council for tation, six have highlighted Roma culture their capacities, knowledge and skills in Education and the Contact Person of the and Roma folklore, or sections, as prio - the work on Roma inclusion. City of Kragujevac for the implementation rities. This has not been envisaged by of the ROMACTED Program, said. He the Strategy or the Action Plan. Finally, Dragan Gračanin, the president of the emphasized the importance of the Local the Roma population has the opportunity Association of the Coordinators for Roma Action Plan for the Inclusion of Roma to identify their problems on their own, Affairs, visited Kragujevac with his asso - for this year, and it is precisely the field and it is up to the local community to ciates in order to get acquainted with information that will significantly con - solve them. It is a process that should the activities so far realized in the process tribute to the development and impro - influence the improvement of the posi - of forming the Local Action Group and vement of the new LAP, which should tion and strengthening of the Roma com - defining priorities. come to life next year. munity in the next two years, in order to enable them to take on civil respon - According to information from the field, Regarding the establishment of the In - sibility and represent their interests the problems of the Roma in Kragujevac stitutional Working Group, apart from themselves. 13 Minority News Hungarian Community Hungarian Cultural Society "Karika"

Opened in BelgradSe ource: RTV Panon / Magyar Szo n September 8, the Hungarian Cultural Society "Karika" was opened in Belgrade. The So - ciety already has 60 members. TOhe idea of establishing a Hungarian cul - tural society came from Anet Tokić Varga, a native of Budapest, who was active in Vršac with the "Sandor Petefi" scholarship program. She says that the main goal is to popularize the Hungarian language and culture, teach Hungarian children in their mother tongue, and also provide lectures about culture, history and tra - dition. As part of their program, they plan to or - ganize Hungarian language courses, both for children and adults, movie evenings, where Hungarian films with Serbian sub - titles will be shown, quiz evenings, and open-fire fish stew cooking classes. The Society’s long-term goals include the or - ganization of major events, excursions, Hungarian kindergarten, weekend school, and folklore classes. The premises of the Society are open every Wednesday and Saturday from 18:00 to 20:00. The Hungarian National Minority Council Supports Classes with a Small Number Source: RTV Panon he Hungarian National Council of Students has decided that classes with small number of students will be established in 40 schools. AtT a session held on September 14, the Hungarian National Minority Council made a decision to open 24 elementary and 16 high school classes in the Hungarian lan - guage with less than 15 students per class. Chairman of the Executive Board of the Hungarian National Council, Aniko Jeras, said that the Executive Board supported the opening of 32 classes with small num - ber of students in 24 elementary schools. Of this number, seven classes will be com - bined. 14 Minority News Slovak Community Masters of Photography

in Kisač Photo: Hlas ljudu he third Biennale of the Speaking about the exhibition, aca - era of photography, it is a daily me - Masters of Photography demic painter Mihal Djurovka emp - dium of both the applied and the was officially opened at hasized that the great interest of artistic expression, "Djurovka said, the Gallery of the Slovak the authors for participation in this emphasizing that various genres of NTational House in Kisač on Septem - year's Biennale of Photography ju - photography are also present this ber 15. This time, 29 authors pre - stifies the exhibition’s existence. Ac - time - from the reporting, rock, ap - sented their work - 25 from our cording to him, the Gallery of the plied artistic, non-standard, expe - country, three authors from Slovakia Slovak National House did the right rimental... and one from Great Britain. thing when it decided to establish this biennale, in order to present The exhibition was opened by Ana The gallery's director, selector and the photography to the public in Hrćan-Leskovac, director of the In - curator of the exhibition, Mihal Ma - this way, too. stitute for Culture of Vojvodina Slo - dacki, presented the photographers, vaks, who pointed out that after Oc - who included: Jan Valo, Jan Agarski, "Photography has long been a fairly tober 10th, when the exhibition will Darko Dozet, Radivoj Hadžić, Jaroslav equal segment of fine arts with other close in Kisač, it might move to the Pap, Jasmina Panjik, Elena Shranka, classical branches of artistic creati - premises of the Institute in Novi Andrea Mernjik, and others. vity. Especially in the contemporary Sad.

15 Minority News PublikacijuThe issu podržavaance of t hFondacijae newslett zae rotvoreno is suppo rdruštvo,ted by th Ambasadae Ministry Sjedinjenihof Foreign A Američkihffairs of th Državae Repu bizl iBeogradac of Bulga riia. MisijaOpini oOEBSns ex up rSrbiji.essed Mišljenja in the ne objavljenawsletter d ou nbiltenuot nec eness apredstavljajurily represen tnužno the o ffizvaničnecial pos istavovetons of tvladahe do nor. i organizacija koje finansiraju projekat