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OSCE minorities commissioner welcomes new statute in southern Serbian municipality
THE HAGUE 17 October 2003
THE HAGUE, 17 October 2003 - The OSCE High Commissioner on National Minorities, Rolf Ekeus, today praised the adoption of a new Statute of the Municipal Assembly of Medvedja in southern Serbia.
The new statute will, among other things, introduce the use of the Albanian language in this municipality in addition to the use of Serbian as the state language.
"The decision is an important step in restoring inter-ethnic co-existence in the region," said Mr Ekeus, who has been closely following developments regarding this issue.
"The fact that the decision was taken by broad agreement of almost all political parties represented in the Medvedja municipality is a further positive signal for the region."
In recent years the High Commissioner has been closely engaged in assisting the authorities, in particular the State Union Ministry for Human and Minority Rights, in the process of adopting and implementing international standards and improving inter-ethnic relations in the country. Mr Ekeus declared his willingness to remain closely involved.
The new statute will, among other things, introduce the use of the Albanian language in this municipality in addition to the use of Serbian as the state language.
"The decision is an important step in restoring inter-ethnic co-existence in the region," said Mr Ekeus, who has been closely following developments regarding this issue.
"The fact that the decision was taken by broad agreement of almost all political parties represented in the Medvedja municipality is a further positive signal for the region."
In recent years the High Commissioner has been closely engaged in assisting the authorities, in particular the State Union Ministry for Human and Minority Rights, in the process of adopting and implementing international standards and improving inter-ethnic relations in the country. Mr Ekeus declared his willingness to remain closely involved.