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The Government of the Republic of Serbia

In the service of citizens

Human and minority rights must be respected

Belgrade, 24 May 2004

Serbian Prime Minister Vojislav Kostunica, Deputy Prime Minister Miroljub Labus, Minister of Religion Milan Radulovic, Minister of Culture Dragan Kojadinovic and Deputy Minister of Education and Sport Milan Brdar talked today with representatives of national minority councils.

Kostunica said that the good work of these councils allows for the protection of identity of the minorities which are the most important bond between Serbia and the countries of southeastern Europe.

Representatives of national minorities expressed gratitude to the Serbian government for securing funds for the work of the councils, which enabled them to act in line with the Law on National Minorities.

They pointed put to the importance of closer cooperation between the councils and the government and its ministries, and voiced interest in taking active part in the preparation of the new Serbian constitution.

The Prime Minister said that amendments to the Law on Election of Deputies in the Parliament allowed national minorities to have equal participation in the Serbian parliament, adding that that was the first sign that the government wants to hear their voice. Kostunica stressed that the respect for human and minority rights is necessary, and that special attention will be paid to that issue in the new constitution.

Representatives of national minorities asked to actively participate in the interstate cooperation between Serbia-Montenegro and their mother countries, in which way they would contribute to the better relations between the states and building of mutual trust.

Labus said that the government wants all national minorities to feel like they are at home in Serbia, and invited representatives of national councils to take part in the preparation of the new constitution.

The Minister of Religion said that the national minority councils will be sent copies of a bill on religious communities, whose preparation is underway.

The meeting was attended by representatives of the councils of Hungarian, Ruthenian, Romanian, Croatian, Slovakian, Backa Croatian, Bulgarian, Ukrainian, Roma and Bosniak national minorities, and representatives of the Serbia-Montenegrin Ministry of Human and Minority Rights.