UFCE 2001

RETURN TO THE MIDDLE AGES FOR CARINTHA'S MINORITY POLICY

FUEV has noted the decision of the Austrian constitutional court with satisfaction which declared the previous ruling for unconstitutional according to which town signs were only permitted in two languages in areas with at least 25% Slovenian inhabitants. The previous legislation conflicted with all directives set out in legal instruments and resolved by the Council of Europe regarding the protection of national minorities. In defining a prohibitive percentage unique to Western Europe, it was clearly discriminating and was sure to prevent any open and free promotion of the Slovenian ethnic group.

FUEN observes the reaction of the FPÖ in Carinthia, which forms a government coalition with the ÖVP on a national level in Austria, to the decision with concern and anger. A return to the unfortunate period in 1972 of the town sign turbulence would not contribute to peaceful coexistence between the ethnic groups in Carinthia, but would be a slap in the face for the constitutionally oriented principles of democracy. The notion of appealing against the decision of the constitutional court with a petition of signatures, that has already been initiated in Carinthia, with the aim of making this the subject of a referendum has also to be seen as disregard for the constitutional principles prevailing. A national minority can only exist, in the face of the familiar difficult conditions it faces in its efforts to preserve its lingual and cultural identity, if it knows it is backed by recognition on the part of the majority population and the sanctity of the legal norms prevailing. Both are consciously and negligently being put at stake by the escalation of the dispute concerning the town signs.

FUEN appeals to the political decision makers and to the democratic-minded inhabitants of Carinthia to depart from a retrogressive and emotionally defined aggressive minority policy, and, with eyes open to the future, to undertake everything possible that is in the interests of a peaceful coexistence oriented to rule of law and democracy between the majority population and the loyal minority historically rooted in the region.

PRESS RELEASE 2001-32

BLETSAS SOTIRIS ACQUITTED !

During the 46th FUEN-Congress of Nationalities in Heerenveen the FUEN-Delegates passed a resolution regarding the case of Mr Bletsas Sotiris, an Aromunian in Greece.

Mr Bletsas Sotiris was sentenced for 15 months jail, because he distributed a brochure of the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages EBLUL during a meeting of Aromunians in Greece.

FUEN and also other NGOs have fought several times against the Greek judge`s decision. FUEN`s press release no 31 drew with signatures attention to the fact that a lot of persons felt solidarity with Bletsas Sotiris.

On Tuesday 18 December Mr Bletsas Sotiris was found not guilty!

FUEN received this message with satisfaction and found out that its interventions were of benefit to Bletsas Sotiris.

PRESS RELEASE 2001-31

FROM THEORY TO PRACTICE

The FUEN draws attention to the fact that its assembly has passed a resolution regarding below mentioned case during its 46th Congress of Nationalities in Heerenveen in May 2001:

On the occasion of the International Conference on the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages

held in Noordwijkerhout from 30 November to 1 December 2001, organized by the Ministry of the Interior and Kingdom Relations of the Netherlands and the Council of Europe.

The undersigned participants declare to be very worried about the sentence of Mr Bletsas Sotiris to 15 months imprisonment.

The crime Mr Bletsas committed was that he showed a pamphlet of EBLUL (the European Bureau of lesser Used Languages) whilst in a meeting of Vlachoi, which said that in Greece among others the
Vlach language (a language of latin origin) is used.

We hope that on 18 December during Mr Bletsas appeal in Athens, the Greek government will fulfils it international obligations concerning the protection of languages of linguistic minorities.

Signature

Mr Nadir Bekir / Ukraine
Mr Ante Katalinic / Croatia
Mr Emil Petru Ratiu / Italy
Prof Gyorgy Andrassy / Hungary
Mr Karl-Peter Schramm / Germany
Ms Cornelia Nath / Germany
Dr Alastair Walker / Germany
Mr A.M.J Riemersma / Netherlands
Mr Romedi Arquint / Switzerland
Mr Jean-Luc Fauconnier / Belgium
Dr Mirjam Polzer-Srienz / Austria
Mr Gerhard Lepa / Germany
Mr Goran Hausser / Sweden
Mr Joe Zammit Ciantar / Malta
Dr M.Stikova / Czech Republic
Ms Marija Tasheva / Republic of Macedonia
Ms Vjolca Voci Demiri / Macedonia
Ms Ucha Nanuashvili / Georgia
Ms Sascha Dubbeld / Netherland
Mr Urko Aiartza Azurtza / Spain
Ms Aliona Brasoneanu / Moldova
Ms A.Piebenga / Nederland
Mr Donall O’ Riagain / Ireland
Ms Alie van de Schaaf / Nederland
Mr Bjorn Gyllix / Sweden
Prof Patrick Thornberry / United Kingdom
Ms Olga Ostap / Poland
Mr Hans Goran Rosenland / Finland
Mr Gosta von Wendt / Finland
Mr Alain Viaut / France
Mr Herve Guillorel / France
Ms Annet Westerdijk / Nederland
Mr Lucas Machon / Czech Republic
Mr Jozif Szaniszlo / Romania
Mr Bjorn Olav Megard / Norway
Ms Marie-Helene Korsvoll / Norway
Ms Andrea Mihaela Nita / Romania
Mr Dorel Popa / Romania
Ms Luminita Vinulescu / Romania
Mr Attila Marko / Romania
Mr Jelle Baker / Nederland
Mr Hans Landberg / Sweden
Ms Josefin Emanuek Brattberg / Sweden
Mr Bilal Laipanov / Russian Federation
Mr Henrikus Mickevicius / Lithuania
Ms Smaranda Enache / Romania
Mr Nils Oivind Helander / Norway
Mr George Nakratzas / Nederland
Mr Gabriel Andreescu / Romania
Mr Hose Luis Mendoza Pena / Spain
Ms Paula Kasares / Spain
Mr Ken Gardner / United Kingdom
Mr Suad Missini / Macedonia
Mr Alinadir Ademi / Macedonia
Ms Miren Mateo / Spain
Ms Amaia Agirre Pinedo / Spain
Mr Bossia Kornoussova / Russia
Ms Tamara Borgoiakova / Russia
Mr Gennadiy Zugravyi / Ukraine
Mr Andrey Skerlavij / Slovenija
Mr D Donati / Italia
Mr Boulent Feurdter / France
Prof Miklos Kontra / Hungary
Prof Gyorgy Andrassy / Hungary
Mr Cian O’ Lionain / Ireland
Ms Vera Shengelija / Lithuania
Ms Kristina Ostrovska / Lithuania
Mr Hen Zhupanyev / Ukraine
Mr A.Woerling / France
Ms Silvana Schiavi Fachin / Italy
Mr Vyacheslav Tolkonanov / Ukraine
Mr Dimbrund / United Kingdom
Ms Eva Blasoom / Finland
Ms Kyriaki Topidi / Hellas
Mr John Eskine / United Kingdom
Ms Veronica Hertzberg / Finland
Mr Rein Tolsma / Nederland
Ms Ingrid Baumannova / Slovakia

PRESS RELEASE 2001-30

Dr Harry Augst new president of the Germans in Georgia

Dr Harry Augst (see photo), new elected President of the Organisation of Germans in Georgia helped us very much to organise our missions in Georgia (see Fact Finding Missions 1998-2000) and accompanied us most of the time. His organisation »the German Association EINUNG« was founded in 1991, has about 2.000 members; additional there are Georgians who feel attached to the German language and Culture as associated members.

The German minority has no schools of its own. At the time being, there are 15 language courses for members (supported by the German Foreign Office). Although, Einung maintains a German kindergarten ”Veilchen” (Violet) and a youth theatre studio, where German fairy tales are performed.
The judicial problem of the return of the Germans who had been deported during World War Two is still unsolved; the law of repatriation that has to be elaborated for the Meskhetians would therefore concern the Germans, too.

Before World War II, about 40.000 Germans lived in Georgia. As in Azerbaidshan, all Germans and members of mixed marriages with a German husband were deported on decree of Stalin during the last world war. Therefore, nearly only descendants of German women married to non-German husbands are to be found in Georgia. Never the less, the feeling of being of German origin is still strong, as well as Lutheran religion.

The a/m Fact-Finding-Missions are available at the FUEN-Secretariat.

PRESS RELEASE 2001-29

»Germany would today stand no chance of being admitted to the EU«
The Federal Republic evades its responsibility to the Frisians

At the congress 'Lingual diversity and democracy in Germany' in Berlin on 16 and 17 November held by the Bündnis für Demokratie und Toleranz (alliance for democracy and tolerance) and the European Bureau for Lesser Used Languages, Chairman of the Foriining for nationale Friiske, Jörgen Jensen Hahn (see photo), criticised the policy of the Federal Republic concerning the old-established minorities in Germany: 'In recent years some things have been done in Germany to promote the minorities, but we are still far away from being able to consider the situation for the Frisians reasonable. On the contrary, the cultural and lingual diversity in North Frisia is being starved as the state does not afford adequate support to foster the Frisian language. We risk cultural poverty that a Central European land is not worthy of. Thus the threat of lingual decimation has to be prevented'. Hahn particularly drew attention to the fact that the old-established Frisian minority is in need of collective rights, to which it can refer. 'The members of the Frisian minority are taxpayers like all the other citizens in our state and have a legitimate right to a basic culture,' Hahn continued and called for an equal status for the Frisian's as the German minorities abroad have.

The chairman of Foriining also stated: 'Democracy also means that the minorities have to be actively protected and promoted by the state. This primarily means that adequate economic conditions have to be created for the Frisians and that legal security for the minorities is laid down in the German constitution.'

Finally, Hahn quoted the position in Germany as follows:
'In the European languages league, Germany is risking relegation as far as the Frisian language goes:
- 3 minutes of radio per week on public radio—the last place in Europe
- no TV programmes in the Frisian language—the last place
- Frisian lessons only in single classes and work groups—the last place in Europe
- minimal financial support—the last place in Europe.

»Germany would today stand no chance of being admitted to the EU«

More about the Frisians:

PRESS RELEASE 2001-28

Solidarity 'Silver Rose 2001' presented to Rudolf Sarközi

On 17 October 2001 the solid 'Silver Rose 2001' was awarded under the auspices of MEP Glenys Kinnock and EU Commissioner for Employment and Social Affairs, Anna Diamantopoulou, in the presence of numerous delegates and journalists at the European Parliament in Brussels. This award is to honour the exceptional achievements of an individual or organisation in matters relating to civil society and in struggling for a fairer and more just society.

One of this year's winners is a representative of the FUEN member organisation Cultural Society of the Austrian Roma, Rudolf Sarközi (see photo). Sarközi's involvement for his ethnic group has decisively contributed to the Roma and Sinti being recognised as a national minority. He advises officials and staff of the People's Aid in Austria on issues concerning ethnic minorities, integration and anti-discrimination.

The Cultural Society of Austrian Roma has been a member of FUEN since 1997 and is regularly represented at FUEN congresses by Rudolf Sarközi.

PRESS RELEASE 2001-27

The German minority in Denmark registered a slight drop in the number of votes during the elections

The »Schleswigsche Partei (SP)«, the political organisation of the German minority registered a slight drop in the number of votes during the local and district elections in Denmark on 20 November 2001.

In the district elections the SP received 4.420 votes - 119 fewer than in 1997. This resulted in the SP receiving one mandate in the district council.
In the local elections the SP received 4.037 votes (in 1997: 4.160).

The chairman of the SP, Gerhard MAMMEN, says »We set ourselves a high target. We wanted to be established as a regional party. We are still on the right track, but we hoped for a better result. We will continue our work«
From the SP`s point of view, the linking of the regional elections with the Danish Parliament (Folketing) was the main reason for the bad result.
Other more nationwide topics, e.g. how to deal with refugees anf foreigners were the most discussed topics. Other topics had no chance to be discussed.

More information available
http://www.nordschleswig.dk

PRESS RELEASE 2001-26

Conference on Minority Rights Implementation Mechanisms
from 30 November to 02 December 2001
at the European Academy Sankelmark

The FUEN plans a conference in cooperation with the European Centre for Minority Issues ECMI and the European Academy Sankelmark on »Minority Rights Implementation Mechanisms«, in order to demonstrate to the national minorities the present situation of minority rights (see programme below).

The aim of the conference is to create a documentation in which the Implementation Mechanisms will be included.

The organisers will invite scientists, representatives from international Human Rights Departments (United Nations, OSCE, EU, Council of Europe, Council of Baltic Sea States, Stability Pact for South Eastern Europe etc.), and the representatives of the national minorities themselves.

Regarding the amount of accomodation of the European Academy Sankelmark, the organisers invite the speakers and up to 40 representatives of the national minorities from 30 different states. 40 is exactly the number of ordinary FUEN-memberor ganisations.

Conference on the

“IMPLEMENTATION OF MINORITY RIGHTS STANDARDS”

organized by the
Federal Union of European Nationalities (FUEN)
in cooperation with the
European Centre for Minority Issues (ECMI)
at
Europäische Akademie Sankelmark, Flensburg, Germany

on November 30 – December 2, 2001

This event is supported by a grant of the Federal Ministry of the Interior, Germany and the Minister President of Schleswig-Holstein, Germany

Day one: Friday 30 November

16:00 – 16:30 Arrival and registration of participants

16:30 – 16.45 Welcoming Words: Hans Heinrich Hansen,
FUEN-Vice President

16:45 – 17:30 Comparative Introduction of Minority Rights Implementation Systems; Dr Gaetano Pentassuglia, Lecturer of International Law, University of Munich, Germany and Raoul Wallenberg Institute, University of Lund, Sweden and non-resident ECMI Researcher

18.00 Reception to mark the 5th ECMI Anniversary
“Welcome to Sankelmark” by Dr Jürgen Schöning, Chairman of the Board of Directors of the Europäische Akademie, Director of the Landtag Schleswig-Holstein, Kiel, Germany.

18.10 Welcoming Words: Marc Weller, ECMI Director

18:30 “5 Years ECMI”:
Ms Heide Simonis, Minister President of Schleswig-Holstein

19:00 Celebratory Dinner

Dinner Speeches by:
Ms Dr Cornelie Sonntag-Wolgast, State Secretary, Federal Ministry of the Interior, Berlin, Germany
Dr phil Henrik Becker-Christensen, Consul General of the Kingdom of Denmark, Flensburg

Day two: Saturday 1 December

09:30 – 10:15 The United Nations Human Rights Committee;
Dr Alexander H.E. Morawa, Research Associate, European Centre for Minority Issues (ECMI)

10:30 – 11:15 The Committee on the Elimination of Racial Discrimination; (NN)

11:30 – 12:15 Non-treaty Based UN Bodies and Mechanisms;
Dr Asbjørn Eide, Senior fellow and former Director of the Norwegian Institute of Human Rights, Oslo

12:30 – 13:00 The Advisory Committee on the Framework Convention for the Protection of National Minorities;
Mr Alan Phillips, Vice-President of the Advisory Committee on the Framework Convention for the Protection of National Minorities (tentatively confirmed)

13:00 – 14:30 Lunch

Words of Greeting: Dr Detlev Rein, Ministerial Delegate, Federal Ministry of the Interior, Germany

14:30 – 15:15 The Use of the European Court of Human Rights to Address Minority Related Issues;
Dr Fernand de Varennes, Former Director of the Asia-Pacific Centre for Human Rights and the Prevention of Ethnic Conflict, Murdoch University, Australia

15:30 – 16:15 Lecture (NN)

16:30 – 17:15 The Committee of Experts on the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages;
Professor Dr Stefan Oeter, Director of the Institute for International Affairs, University of Hamburg, Germany and Member of the Committee of Experts on the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages

17:30 – 18:15 The EU, CoE and OSCE Political Conflict Management Mechanisms in Europe (incl. OSCE High Commissioner on National Minorities);
Dr Ulrich Schneckener, Institute for Intercultural and International Studies, University of Bremen, Germany and non-resident ECMI Researcher

19:00 – 22:30 Dinner

Dinner Speeches:
Hans Heinrich Hansen, FUEN Vice President
Professor Sven Tägil, ECMI Advisory Council, Professor of History at the University of Lund, Sweden (to be confirmed)

Day three: Sunday 2 December

09:30 – 10:15 The Council of Europe Mechanisms for the Implementation of Minority Rights;
Professor Patrick Thornberry, Professor of International Law at Keele University and member of the UN Committee on the Elimination of Racial Discrimination

10:30 – 11:15 Implementing Minority Rights; The Nordic Dimension;
Professor Lauri Hannikainen, Director of the Northern Institute for Environmental and Minority Law, University of Lapland, Finland

11:30 – 12:15 Stability Pact Treaties and their Implementation Committees;
Dr Kinga Gál, Vice President of the Government Office for Hungarian Minorities Abroad, Budapest, Hungary

12:30 Lunch

Concluding remarks:
Mr Romedi Arquint, President of the FUEN and Member of the Graubünden Cantonal Parliament, Cinuos-chel, Switzerland

14:00 – 16:00 Meeting of FUEN-delegates

16:00 End of the Conference

PRESS RELEASE 2001-25

FUEN Advisory Board meeting in Bozen/Bolzano

The FUEN Advisory Board set up in June 2000 in Komarno/Komarom (Slovakia) will hold its next session on 10th November 2001 in Bozen/Bolzano (South Tyrol). The last session took place during the 46th FUEN-Congress of Nationalities in Heerenveen in May.

Background to the FUEN Advisory Board:

Idea:
Representatives of the political institutions (governments and parliaments) of countries in which FUEN member organisations live and which morally and financially support and foster the activities of FUEN will form an independent, informal FUEN Advisory Board. In this way, FUEN expresses that the demands of the national minorities essentially depend on constructive cooperation between the minorities and the political institutions of the regions and countries.
With this, it also underscores a prime characteristic of a mature democracy, in which organisations of civil society and political institutions work together in partnership.

Purpose:
Information exchange; coordination of activities to support national minorities; provision of advice by FUEN; support and development of its own and joint initiatives in Central and Eastern Europe; support and development of its own and joint initiatives in European and international institutions (Council of Europe, EU, OSCE; UN, etc.) and FUEN financial support.

PRESS RELEASE 2001-24

Non-Governmental Organisations
from Macedonia visit the FUEN

On the initiative of Project Leader Ms. Farimah DAFTARY from the European Centre for Minority issues ECMI , a couple of days ago the FUEN was visited by Non-Governmental Organisations from Macedonia. FUEN-Executive Secretary Frank NICKELSEN presented to those NGO`s the aims and the work of the FUEN.

The group (see photo) consisted of 10 representatives of non-governmental organisations from Macedonia who were in Flensburg for a brainstorming meeting on 20-21 October on the strategy and further development of the "ECMI NGO Network for the Improvement of Interethnic Relations in the Republic of Macedonia."

This Network is the result of the project "NGO Roundtable on Interethnic Relations in FYR Macedonia" launched by ECMI in December 2000 and funded through a generous grant by the Royal Danish Ministry of Foreign Affairs (FRESTA- Secretariat for Peace and Stability) and the Royal Norwegian Ministry of Foreign Affairs. The overall aim of this project is to foster constructive discussion between domestic NGOs in Macedonia on the question of inter-ethnic relations in order to identify common ground for action.
In addition to establishing an NGO Network in Macedonia, this initiative seeks to encourage the development of joint projects between member NGOs of the network which will benefit their local communities, irrespective of ethnic background. The ECMI will assist NGOs in the evaluation of these projects and in seeking sources of funding with the international community.

In the framework of a visit in Macedonia in the beginning of December, FUEN President Romedi ARQUINT will take the opportunity to meet those Non-Governmental Organisations.

The participants in alphabetic order:

Ms. Yllza ADEMI, Inter-Ethnic Project - Gostivar (IPG) (Gostivar),
Mr. Senat BEQUIRI, Association for Education, Culture, Ecology and Humanity "MILENIUM" (Vrapciste)
Ms. Dijana GEORGIEVSKA, President, Group Felix (Bitola)
Mr. Feat KAMBEROVSKI, ARKA Forum for Roma Rights (Kumanovo)
Ms. Suncica MILJKOVIC, Project Coordinator, Civic Centre "Neven" (Skopje)
Ms. Mirjana NIKOLOVSKA, Member of the Board, Union for the Culture of the Vlach in Macedonia (Skopje)
Mr. Shenaj OSMANOV, Association for the Human Rights Protection of Roma (Shtip)
Mr. Nadir REDZEPI, Association "Sonce" (Tetovo)
Mr. Pajtim SAITI, Permaculture and Peacebuilding Center (PPC) (Gostivar)
Mr. Samet SKENDERI, Coordinator, Humanitarian and Charitable Association of Roma "Mesecina" (Gostivar)
Mr. Gorazd Smilevski (interpreter) (Skopje)
and Ms. Farimah Daftary, ECMI (Flensburg)

PRESS RELEASE 2001-23

FUEN is organising a Minority Seminar in Latvia

Olgerts TIPANS, personal advisor of the president of Latvia in
minority-, human rights and religion issues, visited the FUEN-Secretariat a couple of days ago.
Vicepresident Hans Heinrich Hansen and Executive Secretary Frank Nickelsen presented to the Latvian State representative the aims and the work of the FUEN.
It was decided to organise a seminar for national minorities in Latvia - especially on account of the fact that Russians in Latvia became FUEN-members during the last FUEN-Congress of Nationalities in Heerenveen. In the framework of his visit to Flensburg, Mr. TIPANS also visited the European Centre for Minority Issues ECMI.

Photo from left to right: Hansen, Interpreter, Tipans

Further details available as soon as possible.

FUEN-Secretariat
Schiffbrücke 41
D-24939 Flensburg
0049-461-12855
0049-461-180709 Fax
info@fuen.org

PRESS RELEASE 2001-22

The National Minorities and the State - Minority in the Majority
Annual meeting of the workshop of Slavonic national minorities in the Federal Union of European Nationalities (FUEN)
from 18 - 21 October 2001 in Kromeriz / Czech Republic

The FUEN-member organisation »Obec Slovákov v Ceskej republike (the Slovaks in the Czech Republic) and the Council of Lusatian Sorbs »Zwjazk Luziskich Serbow Domowina« organise 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 »The National Minorities and the State - Minority in the Majority«

The seminar will be opened by the President of the FUEN, Mr. Romedi Arquint.

The organizers expect guests from from Austria, Estonia, FR of Germany,
Hungary , Lithuania, Slovakia, Switzerland, Ukraine, FR of Yugoslavia
and the Czech Republic.

Contact
Obec Slovákov v Ceskej republike

Zwjazk Luziskich Serbow Domowina
Postplatz 2
D - 02625 Bautzen / Budysin
Domowina@t-online.de
http://www.sorben-wenden.de

PRESS RELEASE 2001-21

ANNUAL MEETING
of the WORKSHOP of German national minorities in the Federal Union of European Nationalities (FUEN)
from 11 - 14 October 2001
in 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 11th 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. T he topic will be MINORITIES in the EUROPEAN PROCESS.

The event will be opened by
• FUEN-Vicepresident Hans Heinrich HANSEN,
• Deputy Head of Section. in the German Ministry for Internal Affairs, Mr. Roland DUBYK,
• the Commissioner to the Minister of the Land Schleswig-Holstein for
Minority Affairs, Ms. Renate SCHNACK and the Director of the European
Academy Sankelmark / Schleswig-Holstein, Mr. Rainer PELKA.

Mr. Rolf FISCHER, Member of Parliament in Schleswig-Holstein and chairman of the European-Commitee will hold a speech on basic principles and Mr. Uwe PAULS will focus on the Charta of Regional or Minority Languages from the Government of the Schleswig-Holstein`s point of view.

60 visitors from 24 different countries are expected to attend.

Picture from the last years event:

From left to right:
Mr. Rainer PELKA, Ms. Renate SCHNACK, Dr. Detlev REIN (German Ministry for Internal Affairs)
and Hans Heinrich HANSEN

PRESS RELEASE 2001-20

FUEN-Delegation in the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia

A couple of days ago a delegation of the Federal Union of European Nationalities FUEN, which consisted of President Romedi ARQUINT, Vicepresident Dr. Ludwig ELLE and its Executive Secretary Frank NICKELSEN travelled to Subotica, Novi Sad and Belgrade in order to focus on the present situation of the national minorities in Yugoslavia just one year after the fall of the Milosevic-Regime. The visit was also the preparation work for the next 47. FUEN Congress of Nationalities, which will be held from 08 -12 May 2001 in Subotica. The hosts of the a/m congress will be the Demokratski Savez Hrvata u Vojdonini (Democratic Union of Croats in the Vojvodina).
Its chairman, Bela TONKOVIC - also FUEN-Vicepresident - took the opportunity, to organize a seminar for all national minorities living in the Vojvodina (Hungarians, Croats, Ukrainians, Ruthenes, Slovaks, Germans and Gypsies). This conference ended with a press conference.
Furthermore the FUEN-delegation held first talks with the municipality of Subotica, the Autonomous Province of the Vojvodina and the Government
in Belgrade. All official representatives of the country welcomed the a/m congress and promised any help in the framework of preparation work.

Mr. Arquint, Mr. Elle and Mr. Tonkovic chaired the press conference.
see above).

From left to right: Romedi Arquint (FUEN), Jelena Markovic and Dr. Agnes Kartag-Odri (Federal Ministry of National and Ethnic Communities of the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia), Dr. Ludwig Elle (FUEN), Interpret and Bela Tonkovic (FUEN).

PRESS RELEASE 2001-19

FUEN-Presidium on XII European Congress on Ethnic Minorities in Carinthia

At the invitation of the Carinthian Government and the Carinthian
Institute for Ethnic Minorities CIFEM, the FUEN-Presidium took the opportunity to take part in the annual European Congress on Ethnic Minorities in Carinthia from 27 - 29 September 2001 in Ossiach. The Congress, which regarded the topic »Learning languages - Living languages« was opened by a speech on basic principles by FUEN-President Romedi Arquint (the speech is available at the FUEN-Secretariat). The FUEN-Presidium, which held its regular meeting in Ossiach, also held advisory talks to its members in Austria in general and the Carinthian Slowenes in particular.
Furthermore the contact to the Carinthian Institute for Ethnic Minorities with its representatives Prof. Reiterer and Dr. Anderwald wee improved and projects planned.

Just before the a/m Congress a FUEN-Delegation travelled to the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia for the preparation work for the 47th FUEN-Congress of Nationalities from 08 12 May 2001 in Subotica. Further details will be available as soon as possible.