09.12.2018.
Minister Vulin: Serbia has developed minority rights at the highest European level
Today, Minister of Defence Aleksandar Vulin attended the opening of the Third Fair dedicated to national minorities living in Serbia – “Harmonious mosaic of Serbia” in the Hall 5 of the Belgrade Fair.
The opening of the Fair, organised by the Office for Human and Minority Rights of the Serbian Government, was attended by the Office Director Suzana Paunović and Vice President of Serbian National Assembly Vladimir Marinković.
Minister Vulin expressed his personal satisfaction, and satisfaction of every member of Serbian Government, in being able to say that the state of Serbia has developed minority rights at the highest European level.
- The far more developed and richer than us, who take pride in their great achievements in the field of minority or human rights, could hardly measure with Serbia when it comes to the treatment of minority communities. In the Serbian Armed Forces, which are a part of the Ministry of Defence, the minorities participate in defence of their country, first of all as good people, patriots, professionals, people who by doing their jobs protect the security of every Serb, Hungarian and Croat and Bosnian. When they work in the Serbian Armed Forces, they protect the security of each of us. All religious freedoms in the Serbian Armed Forces are certain and guaranteed, and everyone can satisfy their religious needs in accordance with their rules and customs and we are immensely proud of the fact that the Serbian Armed Forces are just like Serbia is – multiconfessional, multinational; the Serbian Armed Forces which represent Serbia and its every citizen – said the minister of defence.According to his words, he is proud of the fact that the Serbian Government pursues such policy towards national minorities living in Serbia.
- They will never be hostages of the policy of someone from out of Serbia. Never, no matter how this or some other government behaved, or the government of some other country in the region which has its national minority here, will they be able to disrupt our relations and our treatment of the national minority which lives in Serbia. Whatever politicians across our borders did both to the benefit or detriment of their people, their countries, to Serbia, our relation towards national minorities will never be caused or in relation to their relation towards Serbia. We will always protect, love our citizens and ensure that they feel well and dignified in their country – the country which loves them the most. No one will ever be able to love them the way their neighbours love them, the people with whom they spend their life and share both good and evil. The policy of the Government of Serbia towards national minorities will never be tailored according to other states, but exclusively to the people that we love and appreciate, who live in our country – Minister Vulin concluded.
The Office Director Suzana Paunović stressed that the “Harmonious mosaic of Serbia” was dedicated to all of us who live in Serbia.
- The members of 26 national minorities that live in Serbia, by this Fair observe the International Day of Human Rights – 10th December. We in the Government of Serbia are very proud of this event because it shows the richness of culture and tradition which Serbia has managed to preserve, but it also shows that despite tumultuous times we lived in, and in which we still live, we have managed to preserve our concord and unity. In 2018, elections were held for national councils of national minorities, so we have 22 national councils, two new ones – Polish and Russian, and the Government of Serbia will continue financing their work. In this year, additional 10 million of dinars have been allocated for the work of the national council, and I would point out that the Government of the Autonomous Province of Vojvodina gives a great contribution to development of cultural heritage, cherishing traditions of all national minorities who live in that area – said the Director of the Office.As she emphasised, Serbia is an example for many member states of the European Union and beyond of how and in what manner the human rights standards are safeguarded, honoured and what they truly look like in practice.
- We will continue doing this in the future, since it is only through joint work that we can preserve our cultural heritage and tradition and show what Serbia should be proud of, and it is the unity of all who live in this country, Suzana Paunović sent the message.At the Fair, organised to observe the International Human Rights Day, the national minorities will present their cultural heritage and panel discussions are to take place on the topics significant for national minorities living in Serbia.
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