Respecting and promoting language rights critical to building a sustainable, multi-ethnic society, says OSCE High Commissioner on National Minorities in Prishtinë/Priština

Respecting and promoting the use of the official languages is critical to meaningful integration and the building of a sustainable multi-ethnic society, said OSCE High Commissioner on National Minorities (HCNM) Lamberto Zannier at the “Forum on Language Compliance in Kosovo” held in Prishtinë/Priština on 9 November 2017.

The Forum, organized by the OSCE Mission in Kosovo, brought together government officials and experts from bilingual and multilingual jurisdictions from Europe and beyond to discuss strategies to promote language rights and awareness of the importance of compliance with regard to the use of languages.

“Where governments successfully guarantee the enjoyment of the right to use one’s own language, members of all communities view such acts as a sign of respect and inclusiveness,” said Zannier. “Failures to comply with language requirements can fuel resentment against local and central officials and prevent integration.”

During the forum, participants discussed solutions to pressing challenges, including the discrepancies between the official Albanian and Serbian versions of the same legislation. Zannier gave an example of a successful project carried out by his office to promote bilingualism by helping municipal officials to learn the official language that they do not speak.

The High Commissioner took the opportunity to meet authorities in Prishtinë/Priština, including Prime Minister Ramush Haradinaj, Deputy Prime Minister Dalibor Jevtić and Language Commissioner Slaviša Mladenović. He also met representatives of the European Union, the European Union Rule of Law Mission (EULEX), the Kosovo Force (KFOR) and the United Nations Interim Administration Mission in Kosovo. Discussions focused on addressing common concerns and shared challenges, such as improving inter-community relations and fostering language compliance.