September 23-24, the Coordinating Board of Nationality Councils convened in Subotica/Sbabadka, Serbia  at the headquarters of the Croatian Nationality Council, with representatives from 19 national minorities participating. Siginificantly,  Jasna Vojnić, President of the Croatian Nationality Council, assumed the body’s presidency.

On the agenda was determining strategic directions to improve the situation of national minorities and to exchange experiences. Jasna Vojnić emphasized that all national minorities in Serbia face similar challenges, and joint efforts can help Serbia in its European integration process. “One-eighth of Serbia’s population consists of national minorities, and further developing their rights is absolutely necessary,” Vojnić emphasized.

The Ministry of Human and Minority Rights and Social Dialogue actively participated in the meeting. Ljiljana Bekčić, a representative of the ministry, expressed full support for the work of the Coordination Body of National Councils.

Árpád Fremond, President of the Hungarian Nationality Council, pointed out that the meeting provided an excellent opportunity to discuss key minority issues and to establish a set of rules acceptable to all nationalitycouncils.

The meeting emphasized  the crucial role the 23 nationality councils operating in Serbia have in preserving the cultural, educational, informational, and linguistic rights of national communities, as well as representing their interests at various levels of government.

Source: Pannonrtv.com

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