The Budgetary The Minister of Education Fund for Minorities Meets the Delegation of the Activated Coordination

36 Minority Newmay 2s 017

ZAHARIJEV: The Council’s Emphasis on the Textbooks in the Mother-Tongue

The Bunjevacs Celebrate “Days of Ukraine” 330 Years of in the Cultural Centre the Migration to Bačka of Novi Sad HIGHLIGHT EDITORIAL 36 The Budgetary Fund for Nationa l Minorities Light at the En d of th e Tunnel After 15 years, the Bu dgetary Fund Thi s month, th e member s o f the national minori ty commun i ties re - for Natio nal Minorities ha s been ac - ceived a piece o f good n ews – after fi fteen ye ars, the Budgeta ry Fu nd tivated. Add itiona l funds i n the amount o f RSD 1,8 00,000 hav e been for National Minorities has eventually been reactivated. As the press ann ouncement o f the Minis try of Pub lic Adm in istratio n and Loc al Self earma rked for the pro jects dealing with c ulture, inform a tion , education , Government noted, in addition to the regular funding that national and the o fficial us e of langu ag e of minority c ouncils receive already from the Office for Human and Mi - the nat ional mino rities in Se rbia. nority Rights, supplementary amount of RSD 1,800,000 has also been

allocate d for su pport to th e nati onal m inorities’ in formation projects in . The criter ia and the d ates of the ca ll for the prop osals have not been def ined ye t, but i t doe s not pre vent th e minority co mmun ities to star t pr epa ring the ir proje ct p rop osals im mediate ly. Minority Media The represe nt atives o f th e n ationa l minorities hav e po inte d o ut t o the in Focus are a of informa t ion as one the most c r itical issues the m inority com - munities deal with. If we look back and think of the way the privatization On May 10, a de ba te on the situation oIf loca l media wa s b rou ght to comp le tio n, we w ill see t hat, during this in the minority media was organized in process - considered by many as ultimately unsuccessful - a number Subotica. A study based on the results of the research of minority and multi - of minority media out lets were close d. M any commu nities were le ft lingual m edia carried ou t by the Centre without any media ou tlets in min ority la n guages, wh ich de pzbogrived toga the for Devel opment of the Civil So cie ty wa s nšatio nal minorities from their co nstitu tional right t o be info rmed i n also present ed at th is e vent. their m oth er tongue . However, few media outlet s have su rvived the

privatizat ion and ha ve struggled t o se cure a position i n the me dia mar - ket, as well as the media out let sšto fo uuzdišemonded by t hzae „starletama“national mino kojerity cosu ncils. The findings of the most recent research of the Centre for Development of C ivil Socie ty, point to the fact that the sta te does n ot p ro vide the same conditio ns to all n ational m ino r ities t o e xercise their rig ht t o be infor med i n their m o the r tongue. As the stud y note s, the informa tion Fifteenth Anniv ersary of in mi nor ity language s is “o n i ts knee s” out of Vo jvodina . Some m in ori - NIU „Hrvatska riječ“ ties do not h ave a ny m edia conte nt s in their mo ther to ng ue, an d the others ha ve these c ontents in the online media only, without continued On May 8, NIU “H rvatska ri ječ“ ma rked the fiftee nth ann iversary of it s work, – or without any – support from the state. The activation of the so- resulting in many publications. The called Minori ty Fund give s hop e tha t thing s will c hang e for t he bet ter. “Hrvatska riječ“ W eekly, the only in - And whether the Fund will meet these high expectations, it is yet to formational-po litic al printed me dia of Croats in Serb ia, is publi shed every Fri - be seen . day. In addition to this weekly, NIU “Hr - vatska riječ“ also publishes a children’s insert – “Hrcko“, as well as a youth 30 d iffer ent national m inorities live in Serbia magazine “Kužiš?“.

The We ek end M ark ed by Folkl ore and Trad ition

Representatives of the Slovak National Community and folklore fans had an op - portunity to visit the 47th Folklore Festi - val “Tancuj, Tancuj...”on May 27. Numer - ous folklore ensembles and guests from Slovak vi llages in Vo jvodina, Cr oatia, Hun - gary, Roma nia, and Slovakia came to the r all Bačka village Gložan to take part in the NE newsle er fo fest ival. and O

www.minoritynews.rs Minority News Portal VLADIMIR ZAHARIJEV, THE PRESIDENT OF THE NATIONAL COUNCIL OF THE BULGARIAN NATIONAL MINORITY: THE COUNCIL’S FOCUS IS ON TEXTBOOKS IN THE

he Bulgarian national minority in Serbia was founded after WWI. Nowadays, are majority in the two municipalities: Dimitrovgrad and , where the office of the Bulgarian National Minority Council is located. The President of the Bulgarian National Minority Council, Vladimir Za - harijev, speaks for this issue of the Minority News. WThen did the migration of Bulgarians Bosilegrad, and in the parts of the mu - group of Bulgarians in Serbia, who set - to the territories of our state start and nicipalities of Babušnica i . Af - tled in Vojvodina, around Pančevo where are they concentrated today? ter the WWII and later, during the eco - (Ivanovo, Belo blato etc.) and Zren - nomic expansion in the country, the janin. This group moved from Romania The Bulgarian national minority in Ser - economic migration of the population in 1868, and they originate from north - bia was founded after the WWI. During started and Bulgarians move to all large west , from the city of Čiprovci. the first half of the 20th century, the cities in Serbia, mainly to big economic They are descendants of refugees who Bulgarian population was compact in centres: , , Niš, Zaječar, fled to avoid Turkish persecution after the municipalities of Dimitrovgrad i Bor and Belgrade. There is another the Čiprovci uprising had fallen through 3 Minority News in 1868. They are Catholics, refer to the conclusion that the priority text - in a year and the textbooks distributed themselves as Palćens and speak the books for preparation, translation, and to the schools in September 2018. Thus Palćen language, which is a Bulgarian printing for the School Year 2015/2016 we will complete the textbooks for the dialect with the Romanian influence, should be the textbooks for the first elementary school. We hope to be able and they also use Latin alphabet. and the fifth grade of the elementary to sign a similar Memorandum with school and the first grade of the high the relevant institutions of the Republic How many Bulgarians live in Serbia school. The director of the Textbooks of Serbia for high school textbooks as today? Institute in Belgrade, Dragoljub Kojičić, well, so that this process, too, can be According to the 2011 census, there has helped us a lot in this process. He brought to completion. Also, we are are over 18,000 Bulgarians in living in has showed us the procedural way how yet to prepare additional 30% of his - the Republic of Serbia; however, I per - to get the textbooks, and we have suc - tory, geography, art and music culture sonally believe that this number is sev - ceeded in securing the first textbooks, textbooks, and we hope that the Min - eral times higher. Why they decided for the elementary school after 30 istry of Education of the Republic of not to declare themselves as Bulgarians years, and for the high school after 50 Bulgaria and other relevant institutions is a different issue! years. Later, in March 2016, after our will help us in this endeavour. In short, this is a historic achievement of this Every national community in Serbia has National Minority Council, of course, something that makes the community with great support of all stakeholders distinct and unique. What is typical for in this process. the Bulgarian community? What I would like to take advan - makes the Bulgarians recognizable? tage of this opportunity to Are the language studies organized on the university level as well? The Bulgarians in Serbia are honest and invite the parents from the Presently, there are no universities and hard working people. Our compatriots municipality where the are skilled and diligent professionals, colleges on the territory of the Republic from builders to philosophy doctors, conditions for education in of Serbia where students can study Bul - garian language in an organized and and they are dispersed all over Serbia. the mother tongue have Our old customs, our culture, tradi - institutionalized way. The only excep - tional costumes, and reputation of be - been met use this right, tion is the Belgrade University, where ing good hosts make us recognizable. the Bulgarian language can be studied which guaranteed by the as a foreign language. We hope that How have you organized the schooling Constitution of the Repu - conditions will be created to study Bul - system, can the children have classes garian in more universities and colleges in their mother tongue? blic of Serbia. in the Republic of Serbia in the near Members of the Bulgarian national mi - future. nority in Serbia, in line with the existing You marked the Day of the Bulgarian legislation, are able to get education Council, and subsequently the Govern - Education and Culture this month. in their mother tongue. The National ment of the Republic of Serbia, had How did the Council contribute to this Minority Council, with support of the ratified the Action Plan for Execution celebration? Ministry of Education and other rele - of Minority Rights, we signed the Yes, the Day of the Bulgarian Education vant institutions, has been trying to Memorandum with the Ministry of Ed - provide and promote conditions for a and Culture is celebrated on May 24. ucation and the Textbooks Institute. In line with the tradition, the National quality education in our mother This Memorandum enabled us to tongue. I would like to take advantage Council, with support of the munici - translate, prepare and print the text - palities where Bulgarians live and the of this opportunity to invite the parents books for the second, third, fourth, and from the municipality where the con - cultural and educational institutions, sixth grades, without art and music cul - organized a formal celebration with ditions for education in the mother ture textbooks. The textbooks were fin - tongue have been met use this right, rich cultural and artistic program for ished in September 2016 and distrib - the children and other citizens. which guaranteed by the Constitution uted to the schools. In December 2016, of the Republic of Serbia. we signed the Annex to the Memoran - National minorities are famous for Many minority communities still dum on the basis of which we started their numerous festivals and events struggle with lack of textbooks. What the preparation and translation of the that contribute to promotion of their is the situation in this regard in the textbooks for the seventh and the culture. Which are the most important case of your community? eighth grades of the elementary events for the Bulgarian community? school, again without art and music In March 2015, when we took over culture textbooks. These textbooks will There are numerous festivals and the leadership in the Bulgarian Na - be ready in September 2017, when we events in the Republic of Serbia that tional Minority Council, there was not expect to sign a new Annex, which promote culture, language, tradition, a single textbook translated in Bulgar - would allow us to start the preparation customs, and other characteristics of ian language. We defined this issue as of art and music culture textbooks for the Bulgarian national community. The our top priority in the first session of all eight grades of the elementary Bulgarian National Minority Council, the Education Commission, which we school. This process should be finished within his jurisdiction and financial ca - formed in the Council. We came to pabilities, organizes and provides sup - 4 Minority News port to few of these events that con - Bulgarian language on July 1, 2016. All a problem of a publisher, but, more im - tribute to promotion of our culture. remaining workers of the old News and portantly, a social problem of the work - Last year, our Council declared ten fes - Publishing Institution „Bratstvo“ have ers, which is of utmost importance for tivals and cultural happenings as been engaged in the newly formed or - us. In the meeting with Mr. Brajović, events of special importance for the ganization (total of 7 employees). In we offered a few solutions, and, in light Bulgarian national community: “Bugar - 2017, too, thanks to economically savvy of his efforts in support of the social ijada” in Vojvodina, “Nišava Horovod”, operations, the Council has managed rights of journalists, I strongly believe “Kraište Sings and Dances”, “Easter Fes - to secure financial support for unim - that he will do his best to find an ade - tival”, etc. peded work of the “Novo Bratstvo” for quate solution for the problems of the the first nine months. We are presently employees of News and Publishing In - The media in one’s mother tongue can looking for a solution for stable funding stitution “Bratstvo“. contribute greatly to the promotion for the remaining three months in 2017 of one’s culture, and the community You have mentioned that you have in - as a whole. The Bulgarian newspaper formed the officials of the Republic of „Novo bratstvo“ was launched again Bulgaria about the problems in the last year. What was the reason for a In March 2015, when we news and publishing institution „Brat - break that lasted for several years? stvo“. How would you generally de - took over the leadership in scribe the cooperation with your The problems of the News and Publish - motherland? ing Institution “Bratstvo“ existed for the Bulgarian National Mino - many years, and all managements of rity Council, there was not a We have very good relations with the the Council have tried to solve them, Republic of Bulgaria. The cooperation but mostly without any success. The single textbook translated in exists in the area of education, where consequences of the aforementioned Bulgarian language. We defi - majority of high school graduates con - problems were easy to be seen. The tinues their education at the universi - “Bratstvo“ newspaper was not pub - ned this issue as our top ties in the Republic of Bulgaria. This is lished for several years, the publishing priority in the first session of also facilitated by favourable conditions company had enormous debts, the em - provided to the by ployees were desperate over their un - the Education Commission, the Government of the Republic of Bul - solved status. This Council has, from which we formed in the garia, which include dual citizenship, the very start, engaged in an active cross-border cooperation, health in - campaign to solve the problem of Council. We came to the surance and free medical care provided (non)receiving information through conclusion that the priority at the Military Medical Academy in printed media, as well as the related Sofia, close personal contacts, cultural problems of the publishing company as textbooks for preparation, cooperation, sports cooperation, youth a whole and the employees. Since this translation, and printing for cooperation, etc. We are very grateful problem exceeds the financial and for the support and care that the Re - other capabilities of our Council, it was the School Year 2015/2016 public of Bulgaria provides to its com - necessary to bring aboard the Govern - should be the textbooks for patriots who live abroad and this is a ment of the Republic of Serbia, with all good example of a good cooperation. the ministries and relevant institutions, the first and the fifth grade the Government of the Republic of Bul - of the elementary school The cooperation between the two garia, the municipalities of Bosilegrad states exists. Is there any cooperation and Dimitrovgrad and other institutions and the first grade of the between the Bulgarian National Mi - that can contribute to the preservation high school. nority Council and other national mi - of information in the Bulgarian lan - nority councils? guage. We raised this problem to the Yes, we do cooperate with all other na - attention of the President of the Re - tional minority councils in line with our public of Bulgaria, Mr. Plevnevliev, dur - and the coming year. During the visit competencies. This cooperation is most ing his visit to Belgrad on March 16, of the Prime Minister of the Republic visible in the work of the Coordination 2015. Both Chiefs of States, Mr. Nikolić of Bulgaria, Mr. Gerdžikov, to Bosilegrad of the National Minority Councils. and Mr. Plevnevliev, agreed that this in April 2017, we requested a financial problem had to be resolved as soon as support for the “Novo Bratstvo”. We Shall we sum up for the end of this possible so that the “Bratstvo“ could also briefed Mr. Brajović, the State Sec - interview: generally speaking, are you resume its work. Regrettably, nothing retary of the Ministry of Information satisfied with the visibility of your was done in this regard, and we were about the problem of the News and community in the country as a whole? forced to take new steps. In an effort Publishing Institution “Bratstvo“ (“Staro Bratstvo“). We informed him that the The Bulgarian National Minority Coun - to provide the information to the Bul - cil in Serbia has constantly worked on garian national minority through Bulgarian national minority in Serbia, and earlier in Yugoslavia, had a news - enhancement of visibility of our com - printed media, the Council used its own munity through all our activities. I can funds to register a new institution, paper in its mother tongue as early as in 1949. By solving the problem of the say that we are satisfied, but there is “Novo Bratstvo“, and launched the pub - still room for improvement. lishing of a biweekly newspaper in the old “Bratstvo”, not only would we solve 5 Minority News News Budgetary Fund for National Minorities Activated Source: RTV/BNV inister of Public Ad - as well as the willing - ministration and ness of the Ministry of Local Self Govern - Public Administration ment, Ana Brnabić, and Local Self Govern - noted in the May 23 meeting ment to change the oMf the National Minority Coun - methodology in order cil she chaired that, after 15 to include the national years, the Budgetary Fund for minority councils as National Minorities in the al - partners in this lotment of the Ministry of Pub - process. lic Administration and Local Self Government has been ac - The meeting was at - tivated. tended by the repre - sentatives of the na - In addition to the regular funding allo - special training has been organized for tional minority councils and the cated to the national minority councils the national minority councils on the representatives the Ministry of Foreign by the Office of Human and Minority EU funded projects. Affairs, the Ministry of Justice, the Min -

Rights, additional amount of RSD President of the Hungarian National istry of Culture and Information, the 1,800,000 has been earmarked for sup - Minority Council, Jene Hajnal, pointed Ministry of Education, Science, and port to projects that promote culture, out that the national minority councils Technological Development, the Office informational, education and official appreciate concessions aimed at their of Human and Minority Rights, and the use of language of the national minori - inclusion in monitoring of the imple - Directorate for Cooperation with ties in Serbia, Brnabić said. mentation of the Minority Action Plan, Churches and Religious Communities. The meeting was held in a constructive spirit and with active partici - pation of all represen - tatives of the national minority councils pres - ent. The Ministry noted as particularly impor - tant that all attendees agreed on the method - ology of reporting on the implementation of the Action Plan. Brnabić also said that, in coop - eration with the Office for EU Integrations, a 6 Minority News News from the Coordination of the National Minorities Councils Plenary Session of the Coordination of the National Minority Councils Source: Bosniak National Council n May 12, 2017, the Coor - Council proposed by the Council’s the Coordination’s Deputy President dination of the National Mi - Chairperson, Minister Ana Brnabić, for the previous twelve months. A new nority Councils held its ple - which was to be held in Belgrade in the Deputy President will be appointed in nary session in Novi Pazar last week of May. the next session of the Coordination to discuss the work of the Coordination which is to be held in Subotica in early iOn the previous period and plans for The session attendees were also brie - June. the future. fed on the Draft Law on the Budgetary Fund for National Minorities. The Coor - Representatives of the national mino - The Coordination representatives pre - dination members decided to clear it rity councils, who took part in the ple - sented reports on their participation and suggest amendments as soon as nary session of the Coordination, also in the working groups for preparation possible, so that it can be expeditiously attended the celebration of May 11, of amendments to the minority legi - forwarded to the relevant state insti - the Bosniak Day of the Flag, as guests slation, the activities of the Coordina - tutions. of the Bosniak National Council. tion in preparation, implementation, and monitoring of the Minority Action In the final part of the session, the The Coordination of the National Mi - Plan, and the activities in regard to the Coordination made a decision that, for nority Councils consists of representa - education in minority languages. Furt - the next twelve months, the presidency tives of 21 national minorities. From hermore, the Coordination ratified the over this body will be assumed by the July 2016 through May 12, 2017, this draft agenda for the upcoming meeting Hungarian National Minority Council, minority body was presided by the Bo - of the Republic National Minority whose president held the position of sniak National Council. Minister of Education Meets with the Delegation of the Coordination Source: Slovak National Minority Council n May 31, a delegation of Special attention was given to the polling cial database “Dositej” used for this pur - the Coordination of the Na - of students of all nationalities in all pose. The groups for the mother-tongue tional Minority Councils schools in Serbia, who can now choose education will be formed in the school met with the Minister of to study languages of fourteen national directorates with presence of national Education, Mladen Šarčević. The del - minorities in Serbia as a facultative sub - minority councils’ representatives. The eOgation consisted of Svetlana Zolnjan, ject. To this end, the representatives of groups will be formed in cycles, based Aniko Jeras, Suzana Kujundžić Ostojić, the Coordination pointed out a positive on the Instructions for Forming of Teach - Esad Džudžo, Darko Sarić Lukendić, response to this subject within a re - ing Classes and Groups, which provide and Vitomir Mihajlović. The State Sec - formed fifth grade curriculum, where the that mixed classes can be formed of 3 retary, Anamarija Viček, Assistant Min - subject will be treated as a special op - grades and more for a group of 10 stu - ister for Secondary Education, Alek - tional category, with no competition with dents. Specific characteristics of each in - sandar Pajić, and Assistant Minister other facultative subjects. This subject dividual national minority shall be taken for Preschool and Elementary Educa - will continue to have such a status in the into account in forming the groups. tion, Vesna Nedeljković also attended future, as well, and other grades will be the meeting. reformed following the same model. The Lastly, an agreement has been made that polling of the students in the elementary all national minorities (Romanian, The participants in the meeting exam - and high schools will be carried out in Ruthenian, Croatian, Hungarian, Slovak, ined the network for enrolment in the June, and the parents will have to return and Bosniak) shall send their addendum first grade of the secondary school for the polling forms by June 28, when the to the curriculum for history, art, and students from Slovak, Hungarian, students’ annual degree reports will be music classes, the natural history, history, Croatian, and Bosniak national minori - issued. and the world around us classes, with ties and potential for expansion of the the attached evidence that these ad - network or re-inclusion of a number The Coordination requested that the dendi were sent to the National Council of professional profiles in the existing polling forms be kept in school archives for Education more than 90 days ago. high school network. The Ministry and made available for inspection to the The addendi shall be sent both electron - committed to looking again into the national minority councils. The Ministry ically and by mail and shall be forwarded possibility to introduce certain profes - promised to respond promptly to any in - to the Minister who will use his discre - sional profiles in the education in the quiry in this regard received from a na - tionary right to decide on them on case national minority languages. tional minority council from, with a spe - by case basis. 7 Minority News News Kuntic: Trivialization of the Media and Uniformed Information Affecting the Minority Media as Well Source: Magločistač alman Kuntić, repre - extent that we, as citizens, tol - sentative of the erate it”, Kuntić said. Provincial Secretariat for Culture and Pub - The President of the Executive lic Information, noted in a debate Board of the Centre for the De - inK Subotica, organized on May velopment of the Civil Society 10, that the current trend is a (CRCD), Vladimir Ilić, said that trivialization of the media and the research on the minority uniformed information, which media had been done with may have a significant impact on journalists, editors, and readers the information in the minority of 12 national communities in languages as well. Vojvodina and representatives of the national cultural “elites”. At the debate organized at the Vinko Perčić Gallery, during „The number of followers of the which a study on the minority minority media and as well as media was also presented, the number of readers of the Kuntić said to the journalists that printed media have been in local information has been in a deep cri - He believes that it is a must to keep the steady decline, not only when it comes sis, that the radio has been diminished same level of funding, which is in Vojvo - to the news, but also analyses and com - to a mere jukebox, the number of readers dina currently around Euros two million, mentaries. The latter puts in jeopardy of the printed media has been on a and, at the same time, start financing the the possibility of transferring more com - steady decline, and an everlasting lack of media founded by the national minority plex contents and serious political think - funding has been a major problem for councils in Central Serbia as well. ing targeting the minority population”, the journalists in all media outlets. Ilić said. In response to the journalist’s question „Journalism is among the lowest paid on the level of influence by the minority He noted that censorship and self-cen - professions in Serbia, which inevitably political parties and the national minority sorship in the minority media are com - has an impact on the quality of informa - councils on the editorial policy of the mi - mon characteristics of the majority of the tion, and the investigative journalism can nority media, Kuntić said that it is a com - media, regardless if it is electronic, only be an illusion under these circum - printed, or online media, or whether they stances. The freedom of media in Serbia provide information in the majority or is in the middle of the scale”, Kuntić said. minority languages. He reminded that one of the problems „They are dominant, they are recognized in the minority media is the shrinking of as such, and this a structural fact, linked funds to the media founded by the na - to the attributes of the political and the tional minority councils as well as the de - overall social system in Serbia”, Ilić said. creasing number of the readers of the printed media. He added that in Serbia, with the existing political and social-economic system, it „Information on the local level has fallen is not possible to protect the Serbian ma - apart, not only in the minority languages, mon situation, although not normal, be - jority or national minorities from the cen - but in the as well. Peo - cause – “who has the money, in a way, sorship or self-censorship. ple love to receive local information, but he also has the power and attempts to they are not ready to pay for it. Even the steer the things”, and added that a prob - During the debate “Minority Media in Magyar Szo struggles with the decrease lem is also underdeveloped civil sector Serbia Today – How to Proceed” organ - in the number of readers and this, too, and civic awareness to oppose the afore - ized by the Centre for the Development can have an impact on the position of mentioned trends. of Civil Society, a study based on the re - the media. It is necessary to strengthen search of minority and multilingual me - other platforms, the internet above all, „I cannot see much difference in the at - dia, providing media contents in 16 mi - since it is a media outlet that will reach tempts of the government and local self nority languages, including Hungarian, the highest number of users in the fu - government to exercise maximum con - Croatian, and Bunjevac language, was ture”, Kuntić said. trol over the media. The problem is the also presented. 8 Minority News Slovak Community Competition for Media Contents

on Slovak CommunitySo uirnce: SlSovaek Nratibonaila Minority Council n May 9, 2017, the Slo - or broadcast in the last twelve vak National Minority months – from August 1, 2016 Ana Njemogova-Kolarova (Padina, 1951 Council opened the sixth through July 15, 2017. – Bratislava, 2008) was our director, competition for annual writer, and journalist, the Editor of Chil - award “Ana Njemogova Kolarova“ Every journalist can send up to dren’s Desk and the Principal Editor of fOor the best media contents on the three pieces of media contents. the Artistic Programs Desk of Radio Tel - Slovak national minority in Serbia. The contents in national minority evision of Vojvodina. The Competition will be closed on languages must also be translated July 15, 2017. in Slovak or Serbian. She was the author of numerous radio and theatre plays for children, which This award will be granted to the The award consists of a diploma were broadcast on the Radio Novi Sad, best media contents dealing with and monetary prize in the amount the Radio Beograd, the Radio Sarajevo, any aspect of life of the Slovak of Euros 250 in dinars for the au - and the Radio Skopje stations. In the community or a Slovak individual thor. nineties, she continued her life and ca - in Serbia. reer in the Slovak Republic. Applications for this competition The media contents can be pub - can be submitted by individuals or For her work in documentary and artis - lished in any language other than media outlets by mail to the ad - tic movies (screenplay and director) she Slovak, in the printed or electronic dress of the Slovak National Mi - received many awards in prestigious in - (radio, TV, internet) media. nority Council, Bulevar Mihajla ternational festivals, including the Mon - Pupina 1/IV, 21000 Novi Sad, with treal Movie Festival (Canada) and the The media contents submitted in annotation “for media competi - Short Film Festival in Siena (Italy). the competition must be published tion”.

Croatian Community Fifteenth Anniversary of the

NIU „Hrvatska riječS“ ource: Croatian National Council ifteen years ago, on May 8, tian community and numerous activi - tutional framework for the citizens 2002, the majority of depu - ties in regard to the actual creation of of Croatian ethnicity to implement ties in the Assembly of the the institution, which was successfully the right to information in their mot - Autonomous her tongue in a printed me - Province of Vojvodina made dia format. Furthermore, aF decision to create a news the objective was also to publishing institution “Hr - create an institution that vatska riječ”. This was one will contribute to promo - of the most important tion of cultural, scientific, events for information in and literary work of Vojvo - the mother tongue in the dina Croats by newspaper modern history of Croats in and book production. For Vojvodina. The initiative to the last fifteen years, NIU found the NIU “Hrvatska ri - “Hrvatska riječ“ has been ječ“ came from the Croatian the only independent pro - Academic Society. The then fessional media outlet of deputy of the Croatian Peo - the Croats in Serbia, which ple’s Alliance in the Vojvodina Parlia - brought to completion when the first publishes the printed news. Its histo - ment, Kalman Kuntić, brought this ini - issue of the “Hrvatska riječ“ Weekly ric role is as important as its infor - tiative into the complex and relatively was published on January 31, 2003. mational function, since it records all slow Parliamentary procedure and en - events and processes in the Croatian sured its ratification. This was followed The founders of NIU “Hrvatska riječ“ community in Vojvodina and the Re - by intensive consultations in the Croa - aimed at creating an adequate insti - public of Serbia. 9 Minority News Ukrainian Community “Days of Ukraine” at the Cultural Centre

of Novi Sad Source: Cultural Centre of Novi Sad he “Days of – The modern world has two Ukraine” festival paths – the one that leads to took place at the abyss, gaps, conflicts, wars, Youth Debate hatred and disaster, and the Club of the Cultural Centre of other, which leads to coope - NTovi Sad from May 16 to ration and cultural, econo - May 24, 2017. For eight days, mic, and other symbiosis. Novi Sad audience had an From the very first minute opportunity to learn more we met in my office a year about the Ukrainian culture ago, HE Ambassador Ale - and enjoy in a rich program, ksandrovič made the impres - which consisted of debates, sion of a positive and well- round tables, exhibitions, and intentioned man. In this first screenings of Ukrainian mo - meeting we decided to cele - vies. brate a week of Ukraine at the Cultural Centre of Novi The “Days of Ukraine” festival Sad – Bojan Panaotović, was opened by an CCNS director said. exhibition, “History of Ukrainian and Ser - Panaotović noted that the Mayor of bian Relations” at Novi Sad, Miloš Vučević, supported this the Youth Debate idea fully, since Ukraine and the Ukrai - Club, and continued nian culture have a lot to offer to Novi with a round table Sad. In the same way, Serbia and the discussion “Novi Sad Serbian culture have many admirable and Ukrainian Re - values, and these values place both of gions – the History our nations among the citizens of Eu - of Brotherhood”. rope. The exhibition featu - Natalija Bunda, the head of the delega - red 20 displays with tion of the City Government of Lvov, the narrative and photo - city in Western Ukraine with population graphic contents on of around 720.000, which is called, be - the history of Ukrai - cause of its rich cultural heritage, the nian and Serbian friendship, from the Ukraine and Serbia are so close, that “we “Ukrainian Paris”, thanked the hosts for time of Old Russia, through Cossacks, sometimes forget about differences and their cordial reception and expressed Ukrainian monks in the Fruška Gora mo - are not always fully aware of the many hope that this festival will strengthen nasteries, to the WWII, settlement of bridges of friendship that connect us”. the bonds between the two nations. Ukrainians and Ruthenians in Serbian ter - ritories, and contemporary cooperation between Ukraine and Serbia (with grea - test achievements in culture, science, and education). This exhibition shows that the Ukrainian and Serbian peoples have always been bonded by close friendship, similar culture, and tradition. The event was opened by HE Ambassa - dor of Ukraine in Serbia, Oleksandar Ale - ksandrovič, the Director of the Novi Sad Cultural Centre, Bojan Panaotović, the Speaker of the Novi Sad City Assembly, Zdravko Jelušić, and the leader of the de - legation of the Lvov City Government, Natalija Bunda. Ambassador Aleksandrovič greeted the hosts and the guests and noted that 10 Minority News Bunjevac Community Celebration of 330th Anniversary

of Bunjevac Migration to BačkSa ource: he Bunjevac community in Sombor marked the 330th anniversary of the most re - cent Bunjevac migration to Bačka by a formal ceremony “Our Branch MTay Be Small, but It Is Great”. The event was organized under the pa - tronage of the Sombor City Assembly, and in cooperation with the Bunjevac Na - tional Minority Council and all Bunjevac associations in Sombor – UG “Bunjevačko kolo”, BKC “Lemeški Bunjevci”, and “Bunjevački Media Centar Sombor”. The ceremony started by opening of the exhibition of the straw art work (straw grad” wearing traditional folk costumes was also organized as a part of the event. The ceremony marking more than three centuries of the arrival of Bunjevac com - munity was wrapped up by a perform - ance by the tamburitza band TA “Velos” iz Novog Sada. During the concert, a fash - ion show of the traditional Bunjevac folk costumes owned by the GKUD “Ravan - grad” and GKUD “Sombor” and the cos - tumes from the private collections was also organized. Aleksandra Medurić Kalčan, deputy president of the UG “Bunjevačko kolo” held another brief presentation, reminding the attendees of the history and numerous Bunjevac names and events recorded in the Som - bor City archives. art made by members of “Bunjevačko kolo” and BKC “Lemeški Bunjevci”) at the entrance hall of the National Theatre in Sombor. The guests and visitors were ad - dressed by the President of the Bunjevac National Minority Council, dr Suzana Kujundžić Ostojić, and by the represen - tatives of the Bunjevac associations – Dejan Parčetić (UG “Bunjevačko kolo”), Stipan Budimčević (BKC “Lemeški Bun - jevci”) and Stanislava Lutkić (BMC Som - bor), as well as the Speaker of the Som - bor City Assembly, prim. dr Zoran Parčetić, who formally opened the event. The deputy president of UG “Bunjevačko kolo”, Aleksandra Medurić Kalčan, briefed the audience on the straw art. The parade of horse drawn carriages and young members of the GKUD “Ravan - 11 Minority News Czech Community Representative of the OSCE Mission to Serbia

Visits the Czech National MiSonurcoe: Crzeicth yNa tiConaol Muinonrityc Coiul ncil n May 17, Milica Rodić, repre - the civil society in the process of democratic tion of the rights of the Czech community in sentative of the OSCE Mission development and the protection of human the areas of the Council’s competencies. to Serbia, who is in charge of rights, including the minority rights. In order the national minorities portfo - to promote the democratization process, tol - The Law on the National Minority Councils lio, paid a visit to the Czech National Minority erance, the rule of law and observance of the and pending amendments to this Law were COouncil. OSCE standards and goals, the Mission pro - also addressed in the meeting. The inter - vides assistance and support in regard to the locutors agreed that the changes of the Law Prof. dr Jože Sivaček, the President of the implementation of the laws in these areas were necessary, predominantly to define National Minority Council, Jaroslav Hoc, the and monitors the functioning of the demo - more comprehensively the areas that have Chairman of the Executive Board, Davorin cratic institutions and processes. With the not been adequately addressed in the ex - Škornjička, the Secretary General, and Štefan objective to ensure better integration of the isting legislation. Furthermore, the partici - Klepaček, member of the National Minority national minorities in all spheres of life, the pants in the meeting paid a special attention Council, attended the meeting on behalf of Mission collaborates closely with the national to the issue of differences in the overall po - the Czech National Minority Council. minority councils in Serbia. To this end, the sition of the numerous national minority objective of the meeting was to exchange the communities and those with fewer mem - The mandate of the OSCE Mission to Serbia information on the work of the Czech Na - bers and the ways to overcome these dif - is to provide support to the institutions and tional Minority Council and the implementa - ferences.

Bulgarian Community Bulgarian Language School

Opened in Niš Source: www.far.rs n May 4, a language school mother tongue, but it is also open for all the end of the one-semester course, the “Let’s Learn Bulgarian” was other citizens and friends who love Bul - students will take an exam and receive a opened in Niš at the premises garia. certificate on the level of proficiency ac - of the homeland society “Cari - quired. brod” and the “Novo Bratstvo” magazine The headmaster of the school is Prof. Va - oOf the Bulgarians living in Serbia. The lan - leria Todorov, PhD. of the Veliko Trnovo The organizer of the Bulgarian language guage course aims predominantly at help - University in Bulgaria. The school’s first course is the Bulgarian Homeland Society ing Bulgarian minority preserve their generation consists of fifteen students. At “Caribrod” from Niš. Day of Slavic Literacy Marked at the “14. Oktobar“ School in Niš n the occasion of May 24, the minority, honouring Slavic missionaries and the project “Cultural Centre Caribrod – En - Day of Bulgarian Education and educators Cyril and Methodius. The recital hancement of Cultural, Information and Culture and Slavic Literacy, the featured the Shopska Folk Dance and Le - Literary Networking in Serbia”, implemen - Bulgarian Homeland Society skovac choreography by the third ensem - ted with support of the Ministry of Foreign “Caribrod” organized a gathering of stu - ble of the Cultural-Artistic Society “Cari - Affairs of the Republic of Bulgaria. The Ho - dOents of the Dimitrovgrad Elementary brod” and performance by a young singer, meland Society “Caribrod” from Niš, has, School “Hristo Botev” and the Niš Elemen - Marija Georgiev. on the same occasion, organized an exhi - tary and High School “14. Oktobar” in Niš bition of the work of the media and pu - on May 26. The hosts enjoyed greatly in the program, blishing association “Bratstvo”, and, in coo - and, after the recital, the students and peration with the General Consulate of the The students from Dimitrovgrad prepared teachers together danced a traditional kolo Republic of Bulgaria in Niš, a debate on a musical-poetic collage for their friends folk dance. development of culture and education of in Niš to present the culture and tradition the Bulgarian national community in Serbia of their school and the Bulgarian national The Program was organized as a part of at the Faculty of Philosophy in Niš. 12 Minority News Bosniak Community Bosniak Community Marks May 11,

the Day of Bosniak Flag Source: BNV n May 11, Sanjak Bosniaks raised the flag together marked one of the most im - with the Council’s Presi - portant national holidays, dent, dr. Sulejman Ugl - the Day of the Flag, cele - janin brated in memory of May 11, 1991, wOhen the Bosniak National Council of In his address to the audi - Sanjak was founded in Novi Pazar. ence, President Ugljanin reminded that, in rich On the occasion of the national holiday, Sanjak history, the call of the Bosnian National Council carried out the Bosniak National numerous activities and organized com - Council to the Sanjak petitions with children and youth par - youth to avoid the army ticipation. draft refuse to go to war against any Yugoslav na - The central celebration was opened with tion twenty-six year ago traditional rais - Sanjak were the first who organized an ing of the institutional resistance against fascism Bosniak national during World War II. flag in front of the Bosniak Na - The celebration of May 11 – the Day of tional Council’s Bosniak Flag – continued with a parade main office and of folklore groups from Brčko, Rožaje, the Bosniak an - Sjenica, Tutin, Priština, Podujevo, Skoplje them “I Am Your and Novi Pazar, the participants of this Son”. year’s Bosniak Folk Festival – SBONI 2017. Irfan Hamzagić, the captain of After the parade, the citizens in Sanjak the Novi Pazar enjoyed in the program of the SBONI Volleyball Team, this year’s winner of was “a ray of light”. He also noted that 2017 finals at the Concert Hall of the the National Serbian Volleyball Cup, Bosniaks, , and Montenegrins in Cultural Centre in Novi Pazar. The Day of the Flag Competitions Award Ceremonies n the occasion of the Day of the The objective of the competitions was to grade student of the elementary school ”Jo - Bosniak Flag on May 11, the promote the level of creativity among the van Jovanović Zmaj“ in Novi Pazar. Bosniak National Council youth in Sanjak. awarded prizes to the winners The Expert Panel of Judges decided that the of the literary competition “Oh, my home - The Council’s President, dr. Sulejman Ugl - winner of the competition for the best slo - laOnd, I wish to tell you...” and the competi - janin, awarded prizes and diplomas to the gan is Almedin Asotić from Sjenica, the au - tion for the best slogan and the best poster winners of the literary competition in both thor of the slogan „Bosniak, you must be promoting Bosnak national identity in San - categories, as well as to the winners of the persistant, you have who to fight for”. jak.. best slogan and the best poster competi - tions. The winner of the competition for the best Sixteen elementary schools from Novi Pazar, slogan based on the number of internet Tutin, Sjenica, and Rožaje participated in Emina Spahić, the fifth grade pupil of the votes is Šemsudin Ljajić from Novi Pazar, the literary competition “Oh, my homeland, elementary school “Jovan Jovanović Zmaj“ the author of the slogan “Bosniaks – tradi - I wish to tell you...” with eighty-four works. in Novi Pazar won the first place in the first tion, religion, unity”. category (the fifth and the sixth grade) in There were 26 slogans in the competition the literary competition “Oh, my homeland, The winner of the competition for the best for the best slogan, whereas 10 designs I wish to tell you...”, whereas the winner in poster based on the number of internet were submitted in the competition for the the second category (the seventh and the votes is Ishak Kamberović from Novi Pazar, best poster. eighth grade) is Emin Biševac, the eighth the author of the poster “Our homeland, I kiss your beautiful lilies”. 13 Minority News Slovak Community Weekend Marked by Folklore

and Tradition Photo: Hlas ljudu n May 27, the 47th festival “Dance, Dance...”(“Tancuj, tan - cuj...”) was organized in Gložan. This is the oldest folk festival of Vojvodina Slovaks. The village oOf Gložan, which is part of the Bački Petrovac municipality, was the host of nu - merous folklore ensembles from the Slovak villages in Vojvodina, as well as from Croa - tia, Hungary, Romania, and, understand - ably, Slovakia. This is a competition event and, this year, the jury selected the performance of the Kovačica Creative Centre for Tourism, Art, and Culture as the best one in the festi - val. The members of the groups have group of the SKUD „Jednota“ from manufacturers, wine and rakia producers also been awarded for the best tradi - Gložan. from Bački Petrovac, Kisač, Gložan, Bačka tional folk costume. SKUD „Đetvan“ from Palanka, Pivnice, Selenča, Lalić, Padina, Pančevo (Vojlovica) has been selected The festival also featured a special event Kovačica, Aradac, Janošik, Lug, Erdevik, as the best orchestra, whereas the best “On the Fair”, presenting the women’s as - Boljevac, Dobanovci, and from abroad: group of singers was the women’s singing sociations, craftsmen, cooks, handicraft Bekeščaba, Nadlak, Ilok i Našice.

14 Minority News This newsle9er is funded by the Open Society Founda8on, Embassy of the United States of America in Belgrade and the OSCE Mission in Serbia. Opinions expressed in Minority News newsle9er do not necessarily represent the official posi8ons of the Governments and and organiza8ons that fund this project.