Max van der Stoel award 2009 presented to Ukrainian NGO from Crimea

THE HAGUE, 14 October 2009 - The Dutch Minister for European Affairs, Frans Timmermans, presented the 2009 Max van der Stoel Award to the Integration and Development Centre for Information and Research (IDC), a non-governmental organization from Crimea, Ukraine, today.

An international jury led by the OSCE High Commissioner on National Minorities, Knut Vollebaek, recognized the IDC for "its efforts to promote tolerance and understanding among the multi-ethnic population of Ukraine's Crimean peninsula and to facilitate genuine integration and participation of all ethnic communities".

"The relationship between ethnic groups in Crimea is fraught with stereotypes, prejudices and historical woes. Furthering tolerant interethnic coexistence on the peninsula is therefore a priority. The IDC does precisely that - it is a builder of bridges in a divided society," Vollebaek said.

Since its founding in 1997, the IDC has trained government officials and members of the police service in diversity management, monitored the media for hate speech, assisted formerly deported peoples and engaged in local conflict prevention. In 2006, the IDC introduced a course entitled "Culture of Good Neighbourhood" in Crimean schools.

"Those who prevent conflict do not always get the recognition they deserve," said Timmermans. "The IDC does that, and its work is tremendously valuable."

Oleg Smirnov, director of the IDC, said, "We are concerned with changing the majority's attitude to minorities. From the very outset, the activity of the IDC has not only been educational in character, but has been aimed at all sections of the population."

The Max van der Stoel Award is presented every second year in recognition of "extraordinary and outstanding achievements aimed at improving the position of national minorities in the OSCE participating States". The 50,000 euro prize was established by the Dutch Foreign Ministry in 2001 and honours the man who served as the first OSCE High Commissioner on National Minorities between 1993 and 2001. Today's award was the fourth.