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20030529-31 48th FUEN-Congress of Nationalities in Bozen/Bolzano
20030610-11 Minorities without »kin state« in Starbienino / Poland
20030617-27 FUEN-Seminar in Grisons and Bern Introduction
20030617-27 FUEN-Seminar in Grisons and Bern Dokumentation
20030905-06 FUEN-Conference in Bischkek
20031009-12 Workshop for German minorities in Sankelmark
DOCUMENTS / EVALUATIONS
20030131 FUEN replies to a consultation paper of the European Commission
20030422 Framework Convention for the protection of national minorities from FUEN`s point of view
FUEN-ASSEMBLY:
20030529 FUEN-Assembly in Bozen / Bolzano
MANUSCRIPTS
20030131 Romedi Arquint in Satu Mare
20030529 Romedi Arquint in Bolzano
PRESS RELEASES 2003
German Chancellor in Kazakhstan
Discussion with German minority
In the course of his Asian journey the Chancellor of the
Federal Republic of Germany, Gerhard SCHRÖDER, also
visited Kazakhstan on the 5th of December.
Besides talks with President Nursultan NASARBAJEV, the
Parliament of Kazakhstan, some Non Governmental
Organisations (NGO´s), representatives of the opposition
parties and industrial companies a meeting was also organized
with representatives of the German minority and their Chairman
Alexander DEDERER.
f.l.t.r.: Nikolai Abt, Chairman of the Society forEntrepreneurs in Karaganda;
Alexander Dederer; Gerhard Schröder, German Chancellor; Eugen Ahman,
Member of the Kazakhian Parliament and member of the German Council of
Kazakhstan; Jochen Welt, Federal Government Commissioner for Matters
Related to Repatriates and National Minorities in Germany and Andreas
Körting, German Ambassador in Kazakhstan.
Alexander DEDERER used this opportunity to explain the specific
situation of the German minority in Kazakhstan to the German
Chancellor, who was accompanied by Jochen WELT, the
Federal Government Commissioner for Matters Related to
Repatriates and National Minorities in Germany. In the focus
of interest were the visa-regulations.
The compete speech of DEDERER is available under the link:
http://www.fuen.org/pdfs/20031205dederer.pdf
15 Years Commissioner for Minority Affairs
in Schleswig-Holstein
With a reception the regional government of Schleswig-Holstein
celebrated on 08th December 2003 the 15 year-long existence
of the voluntary „Commissioner for Minorities“ in the northernmost
Bundesland of Germany. This position was founded in 1988, then
called „Commissioner for border region and minority issues“, and is
considered to be the mediator between the regional government
and the minorities in the Danish-German border region. The present
„Commissioner for national minorities and ethnic groups, border-
regional issues and Low German“ is always appointed for one legislative
period and works politically independently.
The first commissioner was Kurt Hamer. From 1991 until 2000 it was
Kurt Schulz and since 2000 this work has been done by the chairwoman
of the FUEN Advisory Board, Renate Schnack.
Renate SCHNACK
In the course of the celebration politicians and representatives
of the minority associations acknowledged the importance of this
office for the relations between regional politics and minority
organisations. The present commissioner, Mrs Renate Schnack,
greatly supports the work of the associations and has managed to
gain the confidence of the Germans in Denmark, the Danes in
Germany as well as the North Frisians and the Sinti and Roma,
said the speakers.
DialogueForumNorth successful in Brussels
BRUSSELS / FLENSBURG. From 24th – 27th November what
is known as the DialogueForumNorth made a study journey of
about a week to the institutions of the EU in Brussels. The
„DialogueForumNorth“ is an informal discussion circle of the
Danish minority in Germany, the German minority in Denmark
, the Frisians (Friisk Foriining and Nordfriesischer Verein), the
Sinti and Roma, the Commissioner for Minority Issues, the
German border-associations, the Jaruplund Højskole, the
Akademie Sankelmark, the Nordfriisk Instituut and the FUEN.
Willi PIECYK (below, 2nd f.r.), Member of the European Parliament
and from Schleswig-Holstein, introduced the DialogueForumNorth to
the work of the EU.
The participants confirmed their assumption that the EU is
a big complex organisation, where the minorities are forced to
become more active to be seen and noticed. Existing contacts
to relevant institutions were strengthened or new contacts
brought about.
The imparting of information beyond it was done in a couple
of interesting and important lectures. Teresa CODECO,
responsible in particular for the EU language programmes,
agreed to improve her contacts with the German-Danish-
Frisian border region.
In the Hanse-Office, the representation of Schleswig-Holstein
and the Region of Sønderjylland/Schleswig at the EU, Baltic
Sea-cooperation and the regional funds for 2006 were the
main topics of the agenda. Dr. Markus WARASIN, General
Secretary of the European Bureau for Lesser Used Languages
informed the participants about the so-called „Partnership
for Diversity Programme“ which will take place from 19th
– 22nd February in Flensburg.
Hans Heinrich HANSEN, FUEN-Vicepresident, describes
this study journey as very productive, „because the German-
Danish-Frisian border region has moved into the focus of
European coherences“. Now it is the task of the forum to remind
the respective parliamentarians of their responsibilities.
Renate SCHNACK, Commissioner for National Minorities, feels
satisfied that the border region found the way to a common
study journey. This is a step into the future.
FUEN-Conferenc in Kirgisia available as pdf-file
In cooperation with the Kirgisian Parliament and the Council
of the Germans in Kirgisia FUEN organised a minority seminar
on 05th September 2003
Romedi Arquint (left), interpreter and the President
of the Republic of Kirgisia, Mr. Akaev Asgar Akaevitsch,
The documentation of a/m event is just
finished and available on following site:
ATTENTION 28 MB!
http://www.fuen.org/pdfs/20031105KGbischkek.pdf
Dieter Küssner new chairman
of the Danish minority in Germany
HUSUM. The director of the Danish adult education
centre, the so-called Jaruplund Højskole, Dieter KÜSSNER
replaces the previous chairman of the Sydslesvigsk Forening
Heinrich SCHULTZ who has led the main cultural organisation
of the Danish minority since 1987.
Dieter Küssner
SCHULTZ has always cooperated in a fair and trustworthy
way with the regional government, as it was said in an
expression of sincere thanks sent by Minister President
Heide SIMONIS. He achieved a lot for Schleswig-Holstein
and the Danish minority. SIMONIS also sent congratulations
to the 61 year-old Dieter KÜSSNER on his election.
»Minoritypolitics are no subsidies«!
Der Nordschleswiger: 03th November 2003
http://www.nordschleswiger.dk
The President of the regional parliament of
Schleswig-Holstein, Heinz-Werner Arens, appealed
to Folketing and government in Copenhagen. He was
outspoken and said: „ We won´t support a cut in
the financial support as is mentioned in the Koch-
Steinbrüch Draft on cutting subsidies.“ These sub-
sidies are no „charity payments“ but a special positive
treatment in the sense of the Bonn-Copenhagen-
Declarations. They guarantee the balance and equality
of chances between minority and majority in the border
region. This balance is not just of interest for the
minorities but it is „ political aim at a regional and federal
level. This is what we stand by and we urge the state to
behave reasonably“, continued the President of the
regional parliament.
Arens also mentioned the Danish discussion on
structural reforms and expressed his understanding
of the worries of the German minority about their political
representation. „ State structures which show consideration
for the rights of the German minority are as important
as legal protection“, said Heinz-Werner Arens.
President of the Schleswig-
Holstein Parliament,
Heinz Werner Arens
He called upon the Germans of Northern Schleswig
not to underestimate themselves. The commitment,
the work and the conviction of the Nordschleswiger, as
they are called ,fill the legal conditions with life and create
an atmosphere of mutual tolerance. The minorities north
and south of the border „must be protected and given
enough freedom and possibilities for their development“.
He hoped that this would be considered by Folketing
and Danish government.
clk.
49th FUEN Congress of Nationalities 2004 in Poland
FUEN board meeting in Budapest
At the end of October the FUEN board came together
for a board meeting. The meeting took place in the
course of the 8th conference of the Slavic minorities
within the FUEN and dealt among other things with the
venue of the next Congress of Nationalities. It was
decided to organize the 49th FUEN Congress of
Nationalities 2004 from the 19th – 23rd of May 2004
in Poland.
The chairman of the Slovaks in Hungary, Mr Jan
FUZIK opened the 8th conference of Slavic minorities
within the FUEN. Also in the photo: Juri Wuchanski
(association auf Lausitz-Sorbs www.domowina.de)
left and FUEN-President Romedi Arquint.
Further details available as soon as possible.
OSCE-Implementation meeting 2003 in Warszawa
Richard Donitza represented FUEN
In the framework of the OSCE HUMAN DIMENSION
IMPLEMENTATION MEETING from 6 – 17 OCTOBER 2003
in WARSAW, the participants of the meeting also dealt with
minority issues on 15th October 2003. A lot of NGOs, State
representatives from Europe gave status reports about the
minority situations in specific countries.
The FUEN was represented by Richard DONITZA, Executive
Secretary of the Social Cultural Society of the Germans in
Silesia (German minority in Poland http;//www.vdg.pl)
and Deputy of the Sejmik Opole (see photo).
Richard Donitza with the chairwoman of the so-called
FUEN-Advisory Board, Ms Renate Schnack, during
the 48th FUEN-Congress of Nationalities in Bolzano
State representatives in particular value the present
protection of minorities as satisfactory, but unfortunately
there was too little time to go into more detail. That meant
that an exchange of ideas between NGOs and State
representatives was not possible.
DECLARATION
Of the Carpatho-Germans in Slovakia
On the 17th/18th of October the representatives of the
Carpatho-German Association (KDV) met in Medzev. The
participants of this meeting adopted the following declaration
unanimously:
The Slovakian citizens of German nationality have always
supported the moving of Slovakia towards its integration into
the European Union. There is no doubt that it is also their
effort and of those Carpatho-Germans living in Germany and
Austria, that this goal be reached on the 1st of May 2004. (...)
The cultivation of language, culture, traditions and so the identity
of the Carpatho-Germans in Slowakia is endangered seriously
because of the social-political development of Slovakia during
the recent years. Without rapid and effective help by the
government this danger can become reality in the very near future. (...)
One group of the Slovakian citizens with German nationality
continues to suffer discrimination by the decrees of 1945. (...)
The Carpatho-German representatives appeal to the
government of the Slovakian Republic to act against the
discrimination of the Slovakian citizens of German nationality.
The Slovakian citizens of German nationality demand of the
responsible executive and legislative representatives the
discussion of these topics and following positive decisions.
Provinsje Fryslân plans heavy cutbacks on funds for Frisian
The West Frisian provincial government intends to economise heavily on
its budget for Frisian language and culture in 2004. In the framework
of a major cutback operation, the province intends to "lower its ambition
level for Frisian by 50%", as it says in a recent financial plan. Structural
support for two major umbrella organisations will be cancelled completely,
and all non-structural activities will be reduced by half of their present
value. Every year, 1,000 projects apply for these non-structural funds.
The cutbacks on the literary funds amount 12%. For the other cultural
funds the cutbacks will be 32% on an annual budget of 557,000 euro.
Within the framework of the preparation work of the 46th FUEN-Congress
in Heerenveen, FUEN President Romedi Arquint visited the board
of the Ried fan der Fryske Beweging
An organisation that will be struck very hard by the present plans
is the FUEN-member organisation “Ried fan de Fryske Beweging”,
which so far received structural funding. This political lobby
organisation represents several smaller organisations in the
Frisian movement. It is due to its lobby work that four Frisian
municipalities have chosen Frisian as their first official language.
Henk Wolf represented the West-Frisians
during the 2nd Seminar for minorities in Starbienino
Henk WOLF of the Frisian Council, one of the few organisations that are
not affected by the plans presented, indicates that reducing the
above-mentioned fund is contrary to the obligations the province
committed itself to after the ratification of the European Charter for
Regional and Minority Languages. "Both the province and the state
obliged themselves to support contacts between the Frisians in the
Netherlands and in Germany. Immediately afterwards, the state
cancelled their financial support to the Frisian Council. And now the
province cuts half of the most important fund for interfrisian youth
contacts. These are odd politics."
13th annual meeting of the workshop for German minorities
available as pdf
In cooperation with the German Ministry for Interior FUEN
organised its annual workshop for German minorities from
09th to 12th October 2003 at European Academy Sankelmark
/ Schleswig Holstein (see press release 2003-56).
The 13th meeting of this kind focused on digital media.
The documentation of a/m event is just
finished and available on following site:
http://www.fuen.org/pdfs/20031022AGDM.pdf
»Framework conditions and educational concepts
for the teaching of minority language based on the
European Charter for regional or Minority languages«
Annual meeting of the workshop of Slavonic national minorities in the FUEN
from 24th- 26th October 2003 in Budapest
The FUEN-member organisation the Slovaks in Hungary »Celostatna
slovenska samosprava« is organizing the annual meeting for Slavonic
national minorities in the Federal Union of European Nationalities.
The topics of these annual meetings change regularly and are evaluated
correspondingly.
The main topic of the annual session will focus on »Framework
conditions and educational concepts for the teaching of minority
language based on the European Charter for regional or Minority languages«
The conference will be opened by the Chairman of the Slovaks in Hungary,
Mr. Jan FUZIK and Jan NUCK, Chairman of the Lusatian Sorbs.
FUEN will be represented by its Vice-President Dr Ludwig ELLE. Among
lectures and seminars to a/m conference there will also be a visiting
programme to the »Slovensky Institute« and a city guided tour of
Budapest. Musical contributions will be made by the »Ozvena« Choir.
The event ends with an exkursion to Ostrihom and Kestuc
The organizers expect guests from Austria, Estonia, Lithuania,
Latvia, Germany, Hungary, Slovakia, Ukraine, Serbia-Montenegro
and the Czech Republic
FUEN-Seminar focused on digital media
13th annual meeting of the workshop for German minorities
at the European Academy Sankelmark
In conjunction with the German Ministry for Interior FUEN
organised its annual workshop for German minorities from
09th to 12th October 2003 at European Academy Sankelmark
/ Schleswig Holstein. The 13th meeting of this kind
focused on digital media. In opposition to former events, the
participants took the opportunity to present their specific status
reports with the help of so-called Power Point presentations.
An additional workshop edited a movie. The results of the
presentations are available at the FUEN-Secretariat as soon
as possible.
The workshops were divided into 4 groups:
One workshop consisted of representatives from the former
Soviet Union. Two workshops consisted of representatives from
the Enlarged EU and finally one workshop edited a movie.
The second day of the conference focused on the specific minority
situation of the German minority in Denmark. Four individual persons
took the opportunity to show theirbranches: Farmer Jes JEPSEN
(www.ligaard.org), Vet Hans Heinrich Hansen, Beer Brewer Kim
FUGLSANG (www.fuglsang.dk) (see photo below) and Director
of the South Danish Centre for Economies, Asmus Peter ASMUSSEN
( www.sjec.dk). Attention was drawn to their honorary activities for the
German minority in Denmark
At the Fuglsang Brewery
Next meeting in Hungary
All participants agreed to move the next workshop for German
minorities to Hungary. The hosts will be the German minority
in Hungary (www.ldu.hu).
A documentation is in preparation and will be available soon.
Support Frisian language in the Kindergarten!
Lars Harms, Member of the Schleswig-Holstein Parliament visited the FUEN
A couple of days ago Lars Harms, Frisian representative
of the so-called »Südschleswigscher Wählerverband«
(www.ssw-sh.de) visited the Head Office of FUEN. FUEN
Secratary General Frank Nickelsen introduced him in the
aims and work of FUEN.
Harms was very interested in the the support of minority
languages at a European level. Nickelsen drew attention
to the 2nd Seminar for minorities without »kin-state« in
Starbienino / Poland,which was organised by the Kasubians www.fuen.org/pdfs/20031009DOKUStarbienino.pdf
Among other minorities the Sorbian minority presented their
so-called Witaj-Project, which exactly deals with
the support of minority language in the Kindergarten
(www.sorbischer-schulverein.de).
MdL Lars Harms
»The financial support for kindergartens in Schleswig-Holstein
will be totally renewed. The minortiy issue must not be forgotten
in this case. Financial incentives must be provided so that
kindergarten children in North Frisia can be tought bilingually,
i.e. also in the Frisian language. The examples in other regions,
e.g. the Sorbians in Lusatia show that Schleswig-Holstein can
adopt other ideas for our own use«, said Harms.
2nd Seminar for minorities without »kin-state« in Starbienino
available as pdf
In cooperation with the Regional Parliament of Pomerania,
the Land Schleswig-Holstein and the Kasubian-Pomeranian Association
FUEN organized the 2nd Seminar for minorities without »kin-state« in Starbienino.
The documentation of a/m event which took place in June is just
finished and available on following site:
http://www.fuen.org/pdfs/20031009DOKUStarbienino.pdf
International Symposium for Aromunian Studies
FUEN President Romedi Arquint visited Aromunians in Sofia
At the invitation of the Center for Aromanian Language
and culture in Sofia FUEN President Romedi Arquint took
part in an international conference which focused on
Aromunian issues. Also State representatives from Bulgaria
and Romania listened to status reports from Aromunians
linving in Albania, Bulgaria, Macedonia, Romania and Bulgaria.
In Macedonia the Aromunian language is present in schools,
media and various organisations e.g. writers` organisation.
Besides own productions in the Aromunian language a lot of
best-sellers are translated into Aromunian as material for schools.
In Bulgaria the Aromunian language has a high level. In Albania
there is only one school that offers Aromunian.
Unfortunately no Aromunian representative from Greece
attend the symposium In all regions folklore is closely
identified with Aromunian but teaching aids as well as
teaching staff are missing and it is still difficult to introduce
Aromunian as an optional language.
These a/m demands are only possible in Macedonia on a
private basis.
Romedi ARQUINT is convinced of the fact,
that cross border cooperation is the only basis to preserve
and protect the Aromunian language. ARQUINT`s stressed
that the recommendations of the Council
of Europe must be realized.
The venue which was organised by Toma KIURKCHIEV
and Michail CHRISTOV ended with a cultural programme,
which showed the Aromunian enthusiam for folklore.
Unrest in Karachay
Since last weekend (05-07 September 2003) the Russian
Caucasus Republic of Karachay has been suffering from
severe unrest. At the last elections the former president
General Semjonow, a member of the ethnic group Karachay,
did not reach a majority of the given votes. The new president
is Mustafa Badtyjew. The main organisation of the Karachay-people
and FUEN-member „Dzhamagat“ speaks of massive election
cheating and has been organizing silent protest marches in
Cherkessk and other places in the Republic since last Sunday.
After the rounding up and isolation of the protesters by the army
during the night on monday morning hundreds of them lay ill on
the ground. The chairman of the Karachay-organisation „Dzhamagat“,
Mr Azret Ketscherukow, alleges poisoning. Why and by whom is
not clear yet. On the other side officials and members of the army
are climbing an epidemic.
„The situation is out of control and the Karachay-people and
Dzhamagat, who is at the head of this movement, are in a
desperate situation“, according to the Karachays..
Further information is available at „Dzhamagat“
+7-878-79-44074
FUEN-Congress in Bozen/Bolzano available as pdf-format
48th FUEN Congress on Nationalities from 29th-31st May 2003 in Bozen/Bolzano
The Federal Union of European Nationalities held its 48th Congress
on Nationalities and its obligatory Assembly of Delegates in Bozen/
Bolzano from 29th–31st May 2003. The documentation
of a/m event is just finished and available on following site:
Congress: http://www.fuen.org/pdfs/20030908DOKU_BOZEN.pdf
Assembly: http://www.fuen.org/pdfs/20030625FUEN_Assembly.pdf
German minorities from 22 states meet in Sankelmark
Annual meeting of the Workshop of German national minorities in the FUEN from
09 - 12 October 2003 at the European Academy Sankelmark / Schleswig-Holstein
http://www.eash.de
The workshop of German national minorities in the Federal Union
of European Nationalities (FUEN) will be meeting for the 12th time
this year. This workshop was established on the initiative of the German
Ministry for Internal Affairs in 1991 in Budapest as an informal workshop,
including all those organisations within the FUEN, the umbrella organisation
of national minorities and ethnic groups in Europe, which regard
themselves as German minority organisations.
The annual conference will focus on medias in general
and an excursion to the German minority in Denmark in particular.
The organisers expect 60 persons from 22 different states
A first draft of the programme is available on following link:
http://www.fuen.org/pdfs/20030924AGDMprogrammD.pdf
FUEN - Conference in Kirghizia
Romedi Arquint and Hans Heinrich Hansen from 03-07.09.2003
in Bischkek
In cooperation with the Council of the Germans in Kirghizia and
the Kirghizian Parliament the Federal Union of European Nationalities
arranged a conference on the present situation of the national
minorities within the Kirghizian Republik and possible ways of closer
colaboration. The board of FUEN was represented by President
Romedi Arquint and Vicepresident Hans Heinrich Hansen. Among
the participants were a.o. the President of Kirghizia Mr. A. Akaev,
the chairman of the Parliament Mr. A. Erkebaev, representatives
of the OSCE as well as the ambassadors of the United States
of America, Russia, Usbekistan, Kazakhstan, Ukraine and Belorussia.
Valeri Dil (left), Member of the Parliament of Kirghizian and Chairman of
the Germans in Kirghizian was the contact person between
FUEN and Parliament of Kirghizian. Besides him the Chairman of the
Germans in Kazhakstan, Alexander Dederer.
On the following days after the conference the representatives of
FUEN visited several institutions of the German minority and other
associations.
The FUEN assesses this conference as a sign of goodwill of the
Republic of Kirghizia to solve ist minority problems by involvement
of the persons concerned and in cooperation with the minority
organisations.
FUEN-Commissioner of the Germans in Hungary visited FUEN
Dr Koloman Brenner was a guest at the FUEN-Secretariat in Flensburg
Within the framework of a visit to North Frisland and the FUEN-
Secretariat in Flensburg, the FUEV-Commissioner of the Germans
in Hungary (http://www.ldu.hu) Dr. Koloman BRENNER visited the
FUEN-Secretariat a couple of days ago.
Dr. Koloman Brenner (right) with Jörgen Jensen Hahn and
Bernhard Ziesch during the FUEN-Assembly in Bolzano.
Brenner, who was part of the Election Commitee during the
FUEN-Assembly in Bolzano took the opportunity to ask about
the present situation regarding the 13th annual workshop of
the German minorities of FUEN from 09th to 12th October 2003
at the European Academy Sankelmark. A programme is just in
the process of preparation and will be sent at the beginning
of September.
FUEN-Seminar in Grisons documentation available
FUEN held a conference in Grisons for 25 participants
from Georgia (see PR No. 2003-39). A detailed documentation
has just been finished and is available on following link:
http://www.fuen.org/pdfs/20030822RAMMgech.pdf
Further details:
http://www.fuen.org/pdfs/20030606CH_Grisons.pdf
»Partnership for Diversity Forum« 2004 in Flensburg
Johan Hägman, EBLUL, and Renate Schnack visited FUEN
Johan Hägman, from the European Bureau for Lesser Used
Languages (www.eblul.org) visited the FUEN-Secretariat a
couple of days ago. His aim was to introduce the conference
the »Partnership for Diversity Forum« which is planned from
19th-22nd February 2004 in Flensburg.
Renate Schnack and Johan Hägman
HÄGMAN, who was accompanied by the Commissioner for Minority Affairs in
Schleswig-Holstein, Ms Renate SCHNACK, welcomed the
readiness of the FUEN to participate and cooperate in such
seminars in general. FUEN-President Romedi ARQUINT will
make a speech on the aims of FUEN and the lingual
diversity in Switzerland in particular.
Further details are available at the EBLUL office in Brussels.
„„Minority Policy in Schleswig-Holstein“
a brochure is available now
A brochure on the minority policy in Schleswig-Holstein
was finished a couple of days ago. The publication consists
of minutes, a report on the Schleswig-Holstein Government
as well as detailed extracts regarding statistics, etc.
Further details
Schleswig-Holsteinischer Landtag,
Referat Europaangelegenheiten,
Ostsee-kooperation und Minderheitenfragen,
Düsternbrooker Weg 70, D-24105 Kiel,
Anja.Freudenthal@landtag.ltsh.de or
Anke.Pfitzner@landtag.ltsh.de
Frisian language signs for the Safety of School Children
in North Frisia
Within the framework of school starting again for many school
children in North Frisia the Friisk Foriining (Frisian association in
Germany) is starting a project to safeguard school children and
support Frisian culture. The signs are to be seen near schools,
Kindergartens and motorways.
The signs bear the inscriptions “Look out for children! -
Jeew åcht aw da bjarne!"
Further information:
http://www.friiske.de
Statment by FUEN Vice-President Dr. Ludwig Elle
In an article published on 5th July, the "Sächsische Zeitung" (Dresden)
reported the controversies within the PDS parliamentary group in Saxony
concerning the participation of delegate Heike Kosel at the annual FUEN
Congress of Nationalities.
FUEN Vice-President, Dr Ludwig Elle:
"I do not wish to interfere with the internal affairs of the PDS, but,
since the controversies which have been published in the media relate
to the FUEN, of which I have been Vice-President since 1994, I wish to
express my view. Clearly, some PDS delegates are unaware of
- or ignore - the existence of various national minorities (ethnic groups).
According to the Council of Europe's (European) Framework Convention
for the Protection of National Minorities, minorities are entitled to the
same political, cultural and linguistic rights as the majority.
Various minority associations are members of the FUEN (an organisation
which was founded in 1949 and which was associated with the "fight against
imperialism" by a GDR publication in 1979).
Dr. Ludwig Elle
Currently, there are 73 member organisations from 30 countries and these
include the associations of the Frisians, Danes, Sorbs, Polish, and Gypsies
in Germany.
A fundamental principle of the FUEN is to facilitate the fostering of
solidarity between minority organisations and minority politics, based
on the democratic process involving cooperation between the minority and
the majority. Since 1996, the President of the FUEN has been a Rhaetian
Social Democrat from Switzerland - one who can hardly be described as an
"instrument for German minority politics abroad".
Notwithstanding that "the destruction of the Sorbian basis is
unconstitutional" , I now wish to disassociate
both myself and FUEN from the comparisons made between the political
school problems in Saxony, involving the Sorbs, and the "darkest chapters" of
Sorbian history.
Further details:
Sächsische Zeitung
Statement von Heiko Kosel
FUEN-Assembly of delegates available as pdf-format
On 29th May 2003 FUEN held its obligatory Assembly of Delegates
in Bolzano / South Tyrol Italy. The documentation of a/m event is
just finished and available on following site:
http://www.fuen.org/pdfs/20030625FUEN_Assembly.pdf
The complete documentation of the 48th Congress of
Nationalities will be available soon.
Successfull seminar Seminar for 25 Georgians in Switzerland
FUEN-Seminar from 17th-27th June 2003 in in Grisons and Bern
The Aaims of the seminar was firstly to give the opportunity to a group of
personalities from politics, media, public life and science to get to
know the trilingual canton Grisons and its political structure and
secondly to deal with Switzerland as a federal state and the international
laws and instruments for the protection of national minorities over a
period of 10 days.
The 25 persons who participated in the seminar came from the separated
regions of Abchasia, Acharia and South-Ossetia.
This experiment, to bring people together from different and hostile
regions, can be described as successful.
During the 10 days there was a fruitful and constructive dialogue, in
content and on a personal level, among the participants
Among those who speak at the seminar were Prof. Daniel Thürer (Zürich),
the National Councillors Andreas Gross and Gabi Vermot-Mangold as well
as Regina Jensdottir and Hanno Hartig from the Council of Europe.
In Samedan the participants got a deeper insight into local politics and
the everyday life of a bilingual school.
In addition they got insight into theory and practice of language and
cultural politics in a federal state.
In the Swiss Peace Institute Ambassador Keller informed practicants about the
conflict in Sri Lanka, which is also based on ethnic reasons. In the
Headquarters of the Federal Council they were confronted with
language politics at federallevel and in Geneva they visited the
International Red Cross, the UNHCR as well as the Centre for Security Policy.
The seminar ended with a reception by the Georgian Ambassador and
an evaluation of the seminar in Castle Lenzburg.
This seminar was realized by financial help of the Canton Grisons. It
was part of the activities celebrating 200 year anniversary of the Canton.
Further information:
http://www.fuen.org/pdfs/20030606CH_Grisons.pdf
Scholarship of the Minister President Heide Simonis
On the occasion of the 15 years` anniversary of the function of a
»Commissioner for national minorities« of the Land Schleswig-Holstein
the Minister president of Schleswig-Holstein, Ms Heide SIMONIS is
granting a doctorate scholarship for young scientists, who deal with
the minority issues.
Research work on minority issues which has its focus on recent history
or linguistic and cultural aspects will be supported. Current references
to the European process of integration will be taken into account“, said Ms
Heide SIMONIS
The awarding of the scholarship will be decided by a
selection-committee in which the Commissioner for national
minorities of Schleswig-Holstein, Mrs Renate Schnack, will also participate.
Renate Schnack (left) und Heide Simonis
Further information available:
http://www.Minderheitenbeauftragte.schleswig-holstein.de
International interns of the German Parliament
visited FUEN
Within the framework of a visit to Flensburg FUEN was
visited by a group of international interns of the German
Parliament, the Bundestag.
Onca a year international students do work experience
in the offices of Members of the Parliament. In 2003 there
are students from following countries: Albania (3), Bulgaria (5),
Estonia (3), Croatia (3), Latvia (3), Lithuania (3), Macedonia (3), Poland (6),
Romania (6), Russia (10), Slovakia (3), Slovenia (3), Czech Republik (6),
Ukraine (5), Hungary (6) and the United States (19).
The programme consist of visits to universities and a visit
to each constituency of the MPs.
Interns from Ukraine, Macedonia, Bulgaria and the United States
were introduced to the aims and work of FUEN by Secretary General Frank Nickelsen.
F.l.t.r.: Theo van der Zee / USA (office of MP Cornelia Behm);
Biljana Mojsovska / Macedonia (office of MP Detlev Dzembritzki);
Ivan Gayvanovych / Ukraine und Doroteya Pandava / Bulgaria
(offices of MP Andrea Voßhoff and MP Michael Stübgen);
The International Parlamentarian-Internship IPP which stood under
the chairmanship of the German Parliament ends
on 31st Juli 2003.
Implementation Conference on 25th and 26th June 2003 in Berlin
Letter written by the chairman of the Lusatian Sorbs Domowina,
Jan Nuck from 21st June 2003
On June 25th and 26th 2003 the capital of the Federal Republic
of Germany will host a so called „round table“ with the participation
of the representatives of German authorities, responsible delegates
of umbrella organizations of the minorities settled in Germany and the
representants of the pertinent bodies of the Council of Europe.
The agenda of the Imlementation Conference will enclose the following issues :
1. Coordination of the German authorities´s approach towards the minorities
2. Implementation of the Conventions of the Council of Europe (- General
Convention on the Protection of National Minorities, 1995, - European
Charter of Regional and Minority Languages of the Council of Europe, 1992)
and
taking on suitable measures in accordance with the German Constitution
which would meet the requests and conclusions of the European
Council´s experts ensuing from the inspection of the European Council´s
inspecting bodies
3. Better mutual exchange of information among the countries involved
and also between those countries and the German Federation´s
authorities will be stressed during the discussions of the Conference.
Similarly, more sensible approach of regional and local authorities towards
the issues included in both documents of the Council of Europe will be
dealt on.
The Conference is of the utmost importance for the Lusatian Sorbs living
in Saxony. Still it does exist the intention to abolish the exemplary important
Sorbian secondary school at Crostwitz.
Stephan Kleinschmidt new YEN-President
Extraordinary assembly in Flensburg
The Youth of European Nationalities YEN held its extraordinary
assembly on 07th June in Flensburg. The Danish youth organisation
in Germany, the so-called »Sydslesvigsk danske ungdomsforeninger« was the host.
There were several reasons for a/m meeting. First of all there were no
organisers for the Easter seminar 2005 and for the YLS 2004.
Furthermore a new presidium should be elected
Stephan Kleinschmidt (DJN) is new president of
YEN. Ydwine Willemsma (FYK) and Matjaz Jaklic
(MOSP) are the new vice-presidents, Gergely Dardai
(GJU) is new treasurer and Alice Ratyis
(MISzSz) is for a further period secretary of YEN.
Organisers of the so-called YLS in 2004 is GiuRu and the SJR will
organise the Easter seminar 2005.
Further details available:
http://www.yeni.org
http://novinet.info/yeni/docs/pr_GA_flensburg_2003.pdf
»The involvement of minorities in the decision making process is a
fundamental aim which must be supported!«
2nd Seminar for minorities without »kin-state« in Starbienino
Within the framework of the Polish Memorandum regarding the EU-Enlargement,
FUEN held a 2day seminar in Starbienino / Poland. The seminar was organized
in conjunction with the Regional Parliament of Pomerania, the Kasubian-
Pomeranian Assciation, the Land Schleswig-Holstein and FUEN.
The President of the Regional Parliament of Pomerania - who also is the chairman
of the Kasubian-Pomeranian Assciation, Prof. Brunon SYNAK opened
the seminar and welcomed up to 50 participants from 7 different states. In
addition to the a/m hosts the Cornish minority in Great Britain, Frisians in
Germany and the Netherlands, Ladins in Italy and Rhaetians in Switzerland
also attended. FUEN was represented by the two Vice-Presidents
Dr. Ludwig ELLE and Dr. Nigel HICKS, Secretary General Frank NICKELSEN
and Deputy Secretary Gary FUNCK.
FUEN-Vice-President Dr. Ludwig Elle (Lusatian Sorb)
introduced in the so-called WITAJ-Project of the Lusatian Sorbs.
Prof. SYNAK took the opportunity to welcome the two representatives from
the land Schleswig-Holstein, Vice-President Dr. Garbiele KÖTSCHAU and the
Frisian repressentative of the Danish Party SSW, Lars HARMS.
The involvement of minorities in the decision making process is a
fundamental aim which must be supported. »It is not enough to install
instruments for those concerned. They must also be involved in the process
of decisions, said Prof. SYNAK. Furthermore he gave an example how his
Regional Parliament cooperates with the land Schleswig-Holstein and
recommended such examplified cooperation to all other minority areas.
The event was the second of this kind. The first was executed in Sankelmark
Further sessions are planned. A detailed documentation will be available
as soon as possible
Democracy, federalism and multiculturalism
– the example of Switzerland
FUEN-Seminar from 17th-27th June 2003 in in Grisons and Bern
In 2003, the Swiss canton of Grisons celebrates 200 years as part of the
Swiss Confederation. To mark the occasion and as a 'gift to Europe', the
Federal Union of European Nationalities (FUEN) took the initiative to hold
a seminar entitled 'Democracy, federalism and multiculturalism – the example
of Switzerland' in this canton. The reasons behind this initiative are that the
Canton of Grisons is home to two linguisitic and cultural minorities, and FUEN's
vocation to promote the interests of national minorities in Europe.
Switzerland with its federalist structure and highly developed democracy is
generally recognised as a model of statehood worthy of emulation, particularly
for multiethnic regions in conflict.
The seminar will focus on Georgia, a multicultural society currently
experiencing serious difficulties making the transition from a Soviet Socialist
Republic to a genuinely sovereign democratic state. The country has
experienced a decade of regional conflicts which have created an unstable
political situation and complicated the process of democratisation and its
search for suitable institutional structures. Georgia is a member of the
Council of Europe.
FUEN has cultivated close contacts with Georgia and, as a non
-governmental organisation, wants to highlight the importance of the role
of civil society in the process of democratisation and the creation of a
federal system in the country. FUEN is responsible for the organisation
and implementation of the seminar. It will work closely with the Swiss canton
of Grisons, which is providing financial and moral support, together with
the Swiss Federal Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) and Lia Rumantscha,
which are supporting the project with both funds and consulting services.
Contact:
romedi.arquint@bluewin.ch
murezi.michael@bluewin.ch
Further details:
http://www.fuen.org/pdfs/20030606CH_Grisons.pdf
2nd Seminar for minorities without »kin-state« in Starbienino
FUEN-Seminar in cooperation with the Regional Parliament of Pomerania,
the Land Schleswig-Holstein, the Kasubian-Pomeranian Association and FUEN
From 10-11 June 2003 the 2nd seminar for for ethnic groups without a so-called
kinstate will be executed. Follwing groups will be focosed on Kasubians in
Poland, Rhaetians in Switzerland, Ladins in Italy, Frisians in Germany and
the Netherlands, Sorbs in Germany and Cornish in Great Britain.
About 50 persons from 6 different states will be expected.
The Conference will be hold in Polish, English and German.
The programme of a/m conference is available on following link:
http://www.fuen.org/pdfs/20030602Starbienino.pdf
The national minorities in the »new Europe«
48th FUEN Congress on Nationalities from 29th to 31st May 2003 in Bolzano
The Federal Union of European Nationalities held its 48th Congress
on Nationalities and its obligatory Assembly of Delegates in Bolzano.
The congress focused on "The national minorities in the »new Europe«"
and was attended by more than 200 participants from 25 different states.
The majority of these were representatives of minorities from over 73
member associations, although state representatives, scientists and a
number of members of the media were present (see photo below).
FUEN-President
Romedi Arquint
The conference was opened by FUEN-President Romedi Arquint.
His speech is available on following link:
http://www.fuen.org/pdfs/20030529RA_Bozen_E.pdf
Further welcoming words were spoken by the president of the Autonomous
Province Bolzano, Dr. Luis DURNWALDER, the Vice-President of the
Autonomous Region Trentino, Dr. Richard THEINER, the chairman
of the South Tyrolian Party, Dr. Siegfried BRUGGER, the Head of South
Tyrolian Culture and FUEN-Vice-President Dr. Bruno HOSP and finally the
the chairwoman of the Union Generela di Ladins dla Dolomites,
Mrs Hilda PIZZININI.
The speeches on basic principles were made by the Ombudsman of
the Hungarian Government, Prof. Dr Jenö KALTENBACH and
the newly elected Director of the Congress of Local and Regional
Authorities of Europe), Mr Ulrich BOHNER. Both speeches will be
a part of the final documentation of the the whole conference which
will be available soon.
The status reports of FUEN Member organisations
demands a new point of view!
48th FUEN Congress on Nationalities from 29th to 31st May 2003 in Bolzano
Within the framework of the 48th FUEN Congress on Nationalities in Bolzano
attention was drawn to the fact as to important it is to execute the present
iinstruments like the Framework Convention for the protection of national
minorities and the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages.
Specific cases were dealt with regarding the Crimean Tatars in Ukraine, the
Carinthian Slovenes, the Makedonians in Greece and the Russians in Latvia.
FUEN-Advisory Board meeting in Bolzano
48th FUEN Congress on Nationalities from 29th to 31st May 2003 in Bolzano
The FUEN-Advisory Board formed in June 2000 in Komarno/Komaron (SK)
also convened. Within the framework of a specific workshop which dealt with
the Regional Polish Parliaments of Pomerania and Opole, the chairwoman
of this FUEN-Advisory Board, commissioner for minority issues of the federal
state of Schleswig-Holstein, Ms Renate SCHNACK, took the opportunity to
introduce the audience to the aims and work of this Advisory Board. It was
the fiirst time of this kind.
Mrs SCHNACK was able to welcome numerous representatives from
parliaments and governments from countries in which FUEN member
organisations live (see photo below).
For Ms SCHNACK the Congress offered a good opportunity to demonstrate
cooperation between State institutions and an NGO like the FUEN, in
order to demonstrate the benefit for the national minorities in Europe and
to interest and inform the general public beyond what is usually known.
The committee is an informal body for information and exchange that aims
to accompany and support the work carried out by FUEN. By creating the
committee, both FUEN as an NGO and the state representatives emphasise
the will to maintain constructive cooperation, without which minority issues
cannot be successfully approached or solved. Further meetings are planned.
Dr. Nigel Hicks New Vice-President of the FUEN!
Delegate Assembly of the FUEN
Within the bounds of the delegate assembly of the FUEN on May 29th 2003,
the following Organizations have been admitted as members of the FUEN
Ordinary Members:
Cornish Stannery Parliament / GB
Slaavi Haridus-Ja / EE
Assoziation der Deutschen in Georgien / GE
Associated Members:
Tschechen in der Slovakei / SK
Kirim Karaylar / UA
All members of the FUEN:
http://www.fuen.org/pages/english/e_3_2002.html
Furthermore, the delegate assembly was working on the ordinary tasks,
such as the annual report of 2002 and the budget draft for 2003. The
annual reports were approved and adopted unanimously.
Unusual was this year the election of a FUEN vice-president. This position
had been vacant since the former FUEN vice-president Per Le Moines had
left office in 2001