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OSCE High Commissioner visits Serbia and Montenegro, discusses national minority rights
BELGRADE 22 April 2004
BELGRADE, 22 April 2004 - Following a series of official meetings in Belgrade today, the OSCE High Commissioner on National Minorities, Rolf Ekeus, commended Serbia and Montenegro's authorities for the progress achieved in protecting national minorities and pledged further assistance from his office in the implementation of the Law on National Minorities.
"Since the end of the Milosevic regime, a lot has been achieved with regard to the protection of rights of national minorities," Ekeus said. "We are committed to assisting the authorities in their efforts to build trust between all ethnic groups in Serbia and Montenegro."
During his meetings in Belgrade with Serbian Prime Minister Vojislav Kostunica, Minister for Human and Minority Rights Rasim Ljajic, Minister of Education Ljiljana Colic and other officials, the High Commissioner discussed the situation in the region and in particular the impact of recent events in Kosovo.
He also promised more intensive involvement in southern Serbia, including in the field of education. "Education has always been one of our priorities, and if we can be of assistance, we will further support the region's authorities in this field," said Ekeus. The High Commissioner also plans to travel to southern Serbia in the near future.
After his visit to Belgrade, Mr. Ekeus travelled on to Montenegro, where he discussed with officials the draft Law on National Minorities and the future of the union of Serbia and Montenegro. The High Comissioner announced that his office would continue to assist the Montenegrin authorities in drafting the law. His interlocutors in Podgorica included President Filip Vujanovic, Speaker of Parliament Ranko Krivokapic, Deputy Prime Minister Dragan Djurovic, Minister for National and Ethnic Groups Rights Protection, Gezim Hajdinaga, and representatives of the opposition and minorities.
"Since the end of the Milosevic regime, a lot has been achieved with regard to the protection of rights of national minorities," Ekeus said. "We are committed to assisting the authorities in their efforts to build trust between all ethnic groups in Serbia and Montenegro."
During his meetings in Belgrade with Serbian Prime Minister Vojislav Kostunica, Minister for Human and Minority Rights Rasim Ljajic, Minister of Education Ljiljana Colic and other officials, the High Commissioner discussed the situation in the region and in particular the impact of recent events in Kosovo.
He also promised more intensive involvement in southern Serbia, including in the field of education. "Education has always been one of our priorities, and if we can be of assistance, we will further support the region's authorities in this field," said Ekeus. The High Commissioner also plans to travel to southern Serbia in the near future.
After his visit to Belgrade, Mr. Ekeus travelled on to Montenegro, where he discussed with officials the draft Law on National Minorities and the future of the union of Serbia and Montenegro. The High Comissioner announced that his office would continue to assist the Montenegrin authorities in drafting the law. His interlocutors in Podgorica included President Filip Vujanovic, Speaker of Parliament Ranko Krivokapic, Deputy Prime Minister Dragan Djurovic, Minister for National and Ethnic Groups Rights Protection, Gezim Hajdinaga, and representatives of the opposition and minorities.