Integration policies are an effective way to prevent conflicts, says OSCE High Commissioner on National Minorities at conference in Estonia

Promoting policies to facilitate the integration of diverse societies and the inclusion of all social groups is one of the most effective ways to prevent conflicts, said OSCE High Commissioner on National Minorities Kairat Abdrakhmanov in his keynote address to the conference “'Together or Apart: Searching for the Middle Ground” on 10 November 2022 in Tallinn. 

The High Commissioner highlighted Estonia’s longstanding experience in integration policies, which has evolved in parallel with the work of his institution. As the office of the OSCE High Commissioner on National Minorities prepares to mark 30 years since it started its work in 2023, the OSCE region is experiencing dramatic challenges. Abdrakhmanov pointed out that this makes such moments of joint reflection all the more important. He stressed that inclusive, balanced policies in various policy areas can help participating States avoid the risk of national minority issues being instrumentalized. The Ljubljana Guidelines on Integration of Diverse Societies provide a practical blueprint on how to achieve that.

While in Estonia, the High Commissioner met with key representatives of Estonia’s authorities, including Foreign Minister Urmas Reinsalu, Education Minister Tõnis Lukas and Culture Minister Piret Hartman. He shared with them his observations from his visit to the city of Narva and the wider Ida-Viru region earlier in the week, where he met local authorities and minority representatives, and students and education professionals at the Narva College and the State Gymnasium in Kohtla-Järve. He appreciated the opportunity to discuss issues related to education, use of language, participation and citizenship, among other topics. He also acknowledged the impact of the war in Ukraine on Estonia, and the need to address related integration questions. “I commend the efforts made by the State to come close to the community in Narva at this crucial time, and I recommend such dialogue to continue in a sustained manner,” said Abdrakhmanov.

Reflecting on prospective changes to the education system, the High Commissioner praised the authorities for their plans for increased investment in promoting the State language. He encouraged opportunities for minorities to continue learning and practicing their mother tongues, as well as gradual, inclusive and incentive-based implementation modalities.