Stories
Minorities in Yugoslavia elect their representatives
28 January 2003
Preserving uniqueness
The event is of importance, not only for the 66,000-strong Slovak community but also for the nation. As a body defined by the February 2002 Law on Protection of the Rights and Freedoms of National Minorities, the National Council will have to be consulted each time a minority-related issue is discussed by governing and national authorities.
"This law is a real breakthrough," said Jelena Jokanovic, Senior Assistant in the OSCE Mission to the FRY. "Minorities are now granted the preservation of their uniqueness, language, education particularities or faith. Their rights are protected, and any form of discrimination is banned."
The law was written in close co-operation between the Federal Ministry of National and Ethnic Communities and the OSCE High Commissioner for National Minorities.
Voting for the community
The law also grants all minorities the right to elect their own National Councils and be involved in the decision-making process. To date, Hungarian, Ruthenians, Romanians and Croats have elected their minority councils with the help of the OSCE, and similar elections will follow soon for other minority communities.
"This is an historical event for our community," said Vladimir Bartos just after casting his ballot. As the oldest voter present this day, he praised the democratic changes in the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia. "Given sufficient financial resources, the Slovak National Council will help us in preserving our identity in the country."
Vladimir was registered as an elector, having put together 100 signatures of endorsement from his minority fellows. Others became electors through appointment as representatives of their civil society organization. A third category became electors automatically, as existing members of Serbian democratic institutions (municipality, parliament).
Partners for democracy
As the electoral assembly gathered on 18 January, debates among participants were intense. With everyone willing to argue on ideas proposed by other candidates, the atmosphere was very reminiscent of an Agora-style direct democracy. This brings a new wind of change for Yugoslavia, a democratic approach brought up by the law.
"Everything went smoothly and all electors voted according to their conscience," said Ana Tomanova Makanova, Chairperson of the meeting. "For the first time a body such as the Slovak National Council will be a true partner for the authorities, rather than a Slovak civic association as before."
The event is of importance, not only for the 66,000-strong Slovak community but also for the nation. As a body defined by the February 2002 Law on Protection of the Rights and Freedoms of National Minorities, the National Council will have to be consulted each time a minority-related issue is discussed by governing and national authorities.
"This law is a real breakthrough," said Jelena Jokanovic, Senior Assistant in the OSCE Mission to the FRY. "Minorities are now granted the preservation of their uniqueness, language, education particularities or faith. Their rights are protected, and any form of discrimination is banned."
The law was written in close co-operation between the Federal Ministry of National and Ethnic Communities and the OSCE High Commissioner for National Minorities.
Voting for the community
The law also grants all minorities the right to elect their own National Councils and be involved in the decision-making process. To date, Hungarian, Ruthenians, Romanians and Croats have elected their minority councils with the help of the OSCE, and similar elections will follow soon for other minority communities.
"This is an historical event for our community," said Vladimir Bartos just after casting his ballot. As the oldest voter present this day, he praised the democratic changes in the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia. "Given sufficient financial resources, the Slovak National Council will help us in preserving our identity in the country."
Vladimir was registered as an elector, having put together 100 signatures of endorsement from his minority fellows. Others became electors through appointment as representatives of their civil society organization. A third category became electors automatically, as existing members of Serbian democratic institutions (municipality, parliament).
Partners for democracy
As the electoral assembly gathered on 18 January, debates among participants were intense. With everyone willing to argue on ideas proposed by other candidates, the atmosphere was very reminiscent of an Agora-style direct democracy. This brings a new wind of change for Yugoslavia, a democratic approach brought up by the law.
"Everything went smoothly and all electors voted according to their conscience," said Ana Tomanova Makanova, Chairperson of the meeting. "For the first time a body such as the Slovak National Council will be a true partner for the authorities, rather than a Slovak civic association as before."