Public Invitation of the Action Group Government for Reconstruction Determined to Solve of the Political Questions Important for System the National Minorities june 2015 june 17 Minority News Happy Eid al-Fitr! Coordination of National VASIlIoS PRoVElEGIoS Councils of National Minorities For Change of Finding a Model for law and Respect Survival and Financing of of "Small" the National Minorities Media Communities Bunjevci Community Bunjevac Josif Pančić Was Mourned by the Whole Country HigHligHT EDITORIAL 17 Certificates given to the Publicity is the best protection from privacy interns of the internship program for youth – members of I often ask myself whether it is possible to establish the system minorities in state of open and transparent partner relations with state within institutions of serbia minority politics. Of course, I want such a system, but not so much I believe in it anymore, because I know what the barriers are, and how that utopian idea would finish unsuccessfully. As it is with every relation, so in relation of national minorities and The Fifth Cycle of the Internship Pro- gram for the National Minorities state two are needed at least, but in case of Serbia, you need Youth in the State Institutions of the twenty two. And there appear first problems, because among Republic of Serbia has been brought twenty two there is much more chances for non-transparency to completion in Novi Pazar. The In- ternship Program has been imple- in relations, that will bring into question the whole politics of mented by the Office for Human national minorities. and Minority Rights with support of the UK Embassy in Belgrade. But, happily, we cannot influence number of national commu- nities in Serbia, so we have to see it as objective and given fact. We can, and I would rather say, we must influence attitude of state toward national minorities, if we want those relations to Coordination of minorities be more transparent, but at the same time clearly should be with the Minister defined the ways that national minorities can refer to legiti- of Education mately and communicate with state bodies, and realize their Vice presidents of Bosniak national goals. Otherwise, national minorities are just coins for settling council, Esad Džudžo and Muhedin Fijuljanin, participated in meeting of accounts from election to election within the system representatives of national councils “how somebody manages in the game of the division of of national minorities with the Min- power”. ister of Education, Science, and Tech- nological Development, Dr Srdjan Verbic, and his associates. I see the non-transparency in the relations of the national mi- norities and the state bodies as a big risk for members of na- tional minorities, because my opinion is that it is dangerous to Bosniak National Council trade with the interests of a community. It is not advisable to see national minority as a political party, which later makes visited by the ambassadors “business deal” under the excuse that everything is done on of Hungary and austria behalf of and for the sake of a national minority. Authorities change, political parties change, but national communities stay Bosniak National Council was visited for good. Think about that. by the Ambassador of Hungary, H.E. Dr Attila Pinter, and the Ambassador of Austria, H.E. Mr Johannes Eigner. President of the Council, Dr Sulej- man Ugljanin, with his associates, in 30 different national communities live in serbia! separated meetings welcomed am- bassadors, and introduced them to the work and functioning of Bosniak National Council. The sixth meeting of managing board project “we are here together – European support for roma inclusion” Director of the Office for human and minority rights, Suzana Paunović, presided the sixth meeting of man- aging board project “We are here to- gether – European support for Roma inclusion”, kept in Palace Serbia. www.minoritynews.rs right place for everybody Paunović and schmid talked about questions of inclusion of roma people in serbia irector of the office for human and minority rights, suzana Paunović, bian Government`s plan for making met in Palace “serbia“ with representatives of german Embassy in ser- new Strategy for improvement of the bia, Jurgen schmid, first secretary for economic cooperation and sabine state of Roma people in Serbia for pe- Brendel, oficer of Political section. riod to the year 2025, and that in rela- D tion to this, preparing process of initial Meeting was dedicated to the ques- phasized that the process of Roma in- study for making new strategic docu- tions of Roma inclusion in Serbia. Rep- clusion is long and demands a lot of ment was transparent and included resentatives of German Embassy work, and so she expressed gratitude to number of consultative meetings initiated the established cooperation, German Embassy for partnership and throughout the country with organiza- aiming to give support to the process of support in order to improve the state of tions of civil society, state institutions inclusion of Roma people in the Repub- Roma national minority through inclu- and bodies, local self-governments, in- lic of Serbia. sion into social, economic, cultural and dependent bodies and international or- Director of the Office for human and political life. Paunović introduced repre- ganisations. minority rights, Suzana Paunović, em- sentatives of the Embassy with the Ser- Paunović congratulated Eid al-Fitr Director of the office for welfare, tolerance, feeling of fa- human and minority rights, miliarity and enjoyment. May suzana Paunović, congratu- this big holiday inspire in you lated Eid al-Fitr to the religious strengthening of real values, servants and to all believers of importance of togetherness, islamic community. “i wish you mutual respect and under- to spend the holiday in peace, standing“, is stated in congrat- with family and friends, and ulation of Paunović. may your home be filled with Minority News 3 NEWS government determined to solve questions important for national minorities rime minister of the republic of serbia, aleksandar Vučić, who is also foreign and of internal policy, praising president of the Council for national minorities, send message today Government`s effort to as soon as pos- that government is determined to give its best in order to solve ques- sible try to realize all sorts of rights which tions which are important for all national minorities. national minorities deserve by constitu- tional and legislative framework. At the “VučićP in his address to the representa- human and minority rights, should be meeting were actively present also vice- tives of national councils of national mi- organized meetings with the represen- president of the Government and min- norities, at the second meeting of the tatives of the Ministry for foreign affairs ister of state government and local mentioned council, reminded that from , in order to improve bilateral relations self-government Kori Udovički, who is the time of founding of this body in with mother countries of national mi- also deputy president of the Council for 2004, to 2009, were kept only five meet- norities. “This sort of dialogue is the only national minorities, and minister of ed- ings, while from April 2015 this is already right way for all citizens, regardless of na- ucation, science and technological de- second meeting. He emphasized that velopment, Srđan Verbić. At the Serbian Government with its active At the meeting agreement is meeting were also present state secre- measures for decreasing budget deficit achieved that, with agency of tary of the Ministry for culture and infor- clearly shows that to its citizen, regard- the Office for human and mation, Saša Mirković, general secretary less of the fact whether he belongs to minority rights, should be of the Ministry for foreign affairs, Veljko majority or to the national minority, it organized meetings with the Odalović, and acting director of the Of- wants to ensure realisation of all his representatives of the Ministry fice for human and minority rights, rights guaranteed by the Statute. for foreign affairs, in order to Suzana Paunović. Also, to the work of Supporting the Action plan, as a key doc- improve bilateral relations meeting contributed acting director of ument that will define measures for im- with mother countries of the Office for cooperation with churches provement of the state of national national minorities. and religious communities, Mileta minorities, prime minister asked state Radojević, assistant of the minister of bodies to as soon as possible opera- justice, Čedomir Backović, and represen- tionalize settlement of key questions in tionality, to feel progress - personal as tatives of all national councils of national education and informing, and he prom- well as of country”, concluded Vučić. minorities in Serbia” – is stated in report ised to personally engage himself in this. Representatives of national councils of the Cabinet of vice-president of the At the meeting agreement is achieved sent support to Serbian Government in Government and minster of state gov- that, with agency of the Office for their further activities and directions of ernment and local self-government. Minority News 4 NEWS The sixth meeting of managing board for project “we are here together – European support for inclusion of roma people” irector of the office for human and minority rights, suzana Paunović, participants, specified Paunović. presided the sixth meeting of governmental board for project “we are Also is initiated third cycle of trainings for here together – European support for inclusion of roma people”, in raising capacities of mobile teams and Palace serbia. mentor support. She introduced mem- bers of managing board to the fact that PaunovićD pointed out the importance of effectively in their community. Paunović Guide about Roma rights on local level the project for establishing better coor- summarised all activities from the last is published - Patrin – How to realize dination and Inter-section cooperation meeting of managing board until today, your rights, made in Serbian and Roma on the local level, and she expressed emphasizing that law teams of partner language.