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The Government of the Republic of Serbia

In the service of citizens

Ethnic minorities contribute to good relations between Serbia-Montenegro, Hungary

Belgrade, 20 October 2004

Serbian Prime Minister Vojislav Kostunica met with Hungarian Parliament Speaker Katoliu Szili and representatives of all parties in the Hungarian parliament and agreed that the Hungarian ethnic minority population in Vojvodina and the Serb minority in Hungary are of great importance for friendly relations between the two countries.

Kostunica stressed that Serbia-Montenegro has opted for European integration, noting that as the first neighbour to gain full membership in the European Union, the Hungarian experience will be valuable for Serbia-Montenegro.

The Prime Minister said that the Serbian government wants all citizens of Serbia, regardless of their ethnicity, to feel safe and secure. He reiterated that the Law on Minorities was adopted and that national ethnic councils have been established.

Szili said that it is necessary to improve tolerance among the young, and pledged for an intensification of cooperation in all spheres. She stressed that Hungary fully supports the state union of Serbia-Montenegro on its road to the EU.

Kostunica expressed satisfaction that after Belgrade, Budapest has also ratified the Agreement on protection of ethnic minorities, and announced that in December an intergovernmental joint commission for ethnic minorities will be set up. He also said that ethnically motivated incidents need to be prevented, adding that if they happen they must neither be silenced nor exaggerated.