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OSCE welcomes restoration of minority languages in Slovakia
THE HAGUE 19 July 1999
THE HAGUE, 19 July 1999 - The OSCE High Commissioner on National Minorities, Mr. Max van der Stoel, issued the following statement today:
"I welcome the restoration of the use of minority languages in official communications in Slovakia, according to Article 2 of the Law on the Use of Minority Languages adopted by the Slovak Parliament on 10 July. As a result of the new Law, persons belonging to minorities will be able to use their language in communications with public administrative organs and organs of local self-administration in those municipalities where the minority constitutes at least twenty per cent of the population.
"By adopting Article 2 of the new Law concerning the use of minority languages in official communications, not only has the Slovak Republic restored an established practice which was eliminated under the previous Government, but it brings Slovakia's law in this matter back into conformity with the Slovak Constitution, applicable international standards and specific recommendations from relevant international institutions, including my own office.
"With regard to application of the Law as a whole, I have received the assurance of the Government that the provisions of the Law on the Use of Minority Languages will prevail, as a matter of subsequent and specific law, when interpreting and applying the Law in relation to provisions of the Law on the State Language.
"I consider solution of the question of the use of minority languages in official communications to be a step forward which follows previous decisions of the Government in the field of inter-ethnic relations, for example with regard to use of bilingual school certificates and improvements in the policy of cultural subsidies.
"I hope that the Government will move without delay to settle other still unresolved inter-ethnic issues."
"I welcome the restoration of the use of minority languages in official communications in Slovakia, according to Article 2 of the Law on the Use of Minority Languages adopted by the Slovak Parliament on 10 July. As a result of the new Law, persons belonging to minorities will be able to use their language in communications with public administrative organs and organs of local self-administration in those municipalities where the minority constitutes at least twenty per cent of the population.
"By adopting Article 2 of the new Law concerning the use of minority languages in official communications, not only has the Slovak Republic restored an established practice which was eliminated under the previous Government, but it brings Slovakia's law in this matter back into conformity with the Slovak Constitution, applicable international standards and specific recommendations from relevant international institutions, including my own office.
"With regard to application of the Law as a whole, I have received the assurance of the Government that the provisions of the Law on the Use of Minority Languages will prevail, as a matter of subsequent and specific law, when interpreting and applying the Law in relation to provisions of the Law on the State Language.
"I consider solution of the question of the use of minority languages in official communications to be a step forward which follows previous decisions of the Government in the field of inter-ethnic relations, for example with regard to use of bilingual school certificates and improvements in the policy of cultural subsidies.
"I hope that the Government will move without delay to settle other still unresolved inter-ethnic issues."