International conference "Governance and participation: Integrating diversity"

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From: MINELRES moderator <[email protected]>
Date: Tue, 13 Oct 1998 11:36:35 +0300 (EET DST)
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Subject: International conference "Governance and participation: Integrating diversity"

From: MINELRES moderator <[email protected]>

Original sender: High Commissioner on National Minorities
<[email protected]>

International conference "Governance and participation:
Integrating diversity"


Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe
High Commissioner on National Minorities        
Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights
 
 
INTERNATIONAL CONFERENCE
"GOVERNANCE AND PARTICIPATION: INTEGRATING DIVERSITY"
18-20 October 1998
Locarno, Switzerland
 
INFORMATION FOR THE PRESS #2
 
Further to the Information for the Press # 1 from 1 October 1998, the
Office of the High Commissioner on National Minorities and the Office
for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights would like to communicate
the following information to interested media representatives:
 
1. The International Conference on "Governance and Participation:
Integrating Diversity will take place in Sala "Sopracenerina" at
Piazza Grande in Locarno.  Media representatives wishing to attend the
opening session are kindly requested to take their seats before 15.45
h. Due to the presence of VIPs, a security check will be introduced,
including a badge pass-system. In order to expedite issuance of the
badges to the press prior notification will be highly appreciated. 
However, same-day accreditation will also be possible at the press
desk, which will be situated near the entrance of Sala
"Sopracenerina".  Upon collection of badges, the accredited media
representatives will receive an additional information package
regarding the Conference.
 
2. A Press Conference will take place at 14.30 h on 20 October 1998 in
Sala Sopracenerina.
 
3. Simultaneous Russian and English interpretation will be available
at the Conference opening and at the Press Conference.

4. Attached, for information, is a short rationale of the Conference.
 
For further information please contact Mr. Stefan Vassilev at tel.:
+31-70-312.55.00, fax: +31-70-363.59.10 or email: [email protected]
 
CONFERENCE RATIONALE
 
The initiative to organise the conference originated from the
experience of the High Commissioner and ODIHR.  This experience
indicates that there is a need to explore ways and means to fulfil the
common objective of good governance, including integration of
diversity through effective participation in public decision-making
processes, including through decentralisation and subsidiarity.  While
this is of general interest in all democratic societies, it has
special significance for persons belonging to national minorities
whose special needs may be largely addressed through various forms of
governance and participation.  Of course, the experience among the
OSCE Participating States is rich.  As such, it is hoped that the
conference will draw on the collective experience, sharing
perspectives and noting alternatives with a view to broadening the
common understanding and hopefully opening the door to new
approaches.  To this end, the conference will initially address some
over-arching subjects of general significance, and then, in order to
focus the discussions, the conference will turn to the concrete field
of education as one common domain of governance in which complex
issues are raised in all OSCE Participating States.

-- 
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