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OSCE Belgrade mission distances itself from discussions on the use of Bosnian in Sandzak schools
BELGRADE 15 November 2004
BELGRADE, 15 November 2004 - The OSCE Mission to Serbia and Montenegro today distanced itself from discussions taking place in the country's Sandzak region on the usage of Bosnian in schools in Sandzak.
In May 2004, the Serbian Ministry for Education and Sports and the OSCE Mission jointly organised a roundtable in Novi Pazar to discuss school education issues of the Bosniak national minority.
Following the roundtable, the media frequently reported on claims that the Bosnian language would be introduced in schools in Sandzak, which are attended by Bosniak students. In some instances, the OSCE Mission to Serbia and Montenegro has been unjustly quoted as supporting these demands.
During and following the roundtable, the OSCE Mission supported the introduction of an elective subject for Bosniak pupils, entitled "Mother Tongue and Elements of National Culture", in accordance with Serbian law. At no time the Mission supported claims to generally introduce Bosnian in Sandzak schools.
The OSCE does not participate in discussions on the specifics of the Bosnian idiom as opposed to other idioms in the region of the former Yugoslavia. The OSCE also does not participate in discussions on the idiom spoken by Bosniaks in Sandzak as opposed to the idiom spoken by other communities in the region. It should be left to linguists to deal with these questions.
As regards minority rights, the OSCE promotes the principle of "integrative diversity". The right of persons belonging to national minorities to maintain and develop their identity has to be respected. At the same time the OSCE promotes the creation of conditions, which contribute to the integration of persons belonging to different national minorities into the society as a whole by respecting their specific needs.
Therefore, the OSCE Mission does not support the segregation of different communities within the society in Serbia and Montenegro. In particular, the Mission does not support a division of the society along ethnic lines on the basis of claims, which refer to the right to learn one's mother tongue.
However, the rights of persons belonging to national minorities, as laid down in international conventions also signed by Serbia and Montenegro, have to be respected. In the area of education of persons belonging to national minorities, this includes the right to learn about one's history, tradition and culture. The OSCE Mission expects from the governments in Serbia and Montenegro to create conditions which further the implementation of these rights.
In May 2004, the Serbian Ministry for Education and Sports and the OSCE Mission jointly organised a roundtable in Novi Pazar to discuss school education issues of the Bosniak national minority.
Following the roundtable, the media frequently reported on claims that the Bosnian language would be introduced in schools in Sandzak, which are attended by Bosniak students. In some instances, the OSCE Mission to Serbia and Montenegro has been unjustly quoted as supporting these demands.
During and following the roundtable, the OSCE Mission supported the introduction of an elective subject for Bosniak pupils, entitled "Mother Tongue and Elements of National Culture", in accordance with Serbian law. At no time the Mission supported claims to generally introduce Bosnian in Sandzak schools.
The OSCE does not participate in discussions on the specifics of the Bosnian idiom as opposed to other idioms in the region of the former Yugoslavia. The OSCE also does not participate in discussions on the idiom spoken by Bosniaks in Sandzak as opposed to the idiom spoken by other communities in the region. It should be left to linguists to deal with these questions.
As regards minority rights, the OSCE promotes the principle of "integrative diversity". The right of persons belonging to national minorities to maintain and develop their identity has to be respected. At the same time the OSCE promotes the creation of conditions, which contribute to the integration of persons belonging to different national minorities into the society as a whole by respecting their specific needs.
Therefore, the OSCE Mission does not support the segregation of different communities within the society in Serbia and Montenegro. In particular, the Mission does not support a division of the society along ethnic lines on the basis of claims, which refer to the right to learn one's mother tongue.
However, the rights of persons belonging to national minorities, as laid down in international conventions also signed by Serbia and Montenegro, have to be respected. In the area of education of persons belonging to national minorities, this includes the right to learn about one's history, tradition and culture. The OSCE Mission expects from the governments in Serbia and Montenegro to create conditions which further the implementation of these rights.