OSCE High Commissioner on National Minorities visits Belgrade, Prishtinë/Priština and Skopje
OSCE High Commissioner on National Minorities Astrid Thors made her first visit to Belgrade, Prishtinë/Priština and Skopje from 22 to 25 October 2013.
The High Commissioner acquainted herself with the current situation and met high-level officials, political leaders and civil society representatives.
In Belgrade, Thors chaired the inaugural meeting of the stakeholders’ committee of the Bujanovac Department of the University of Novi Sad’s Faculty of Economics in Subotica. The multi-ethnic department located in southern Serbia currently offers degrees in economics in the Serbian and Albanian languages to 265 students.
“These students have chosen to stay in southern Serbia. In two years, we will see the first of them graduating, and contributing their newly acquired skills and knowledge to the local economy. Their aspirations can only be met if we all work together in a constructive and co-ordinated manner,” Thors said. The High Commissioner also expressed satisfaction that the European Union has decided to fund the construction of dedicated premises for the department in Bujanovac to meet the high interest and demand among students.
During her visit to Prishtinë/Priština, the High Commissioner, together with the local Language Commissioner Slaviša Mladenović, visited a language training venue in Fushë Kosovë/Kosovo Polje. The training is being delivered by the European Centre for Minority Issues Kosovo in ten municipalities for 295 municipal officials; the goal is to improve the provision of municipal services in official languages.
In Skopje, the High Commissioner discussed measures to facilitate the integration of society, including in the field of education. Thors also looked at the current situation with regard to inter-ethnic co-operation and understanding. She was also informed about the implementation of the Ohrid Framework Agreement.
Information about previous visits of OSCE High Commissioner on National Minorities to the region: