AFP: Conference on Balkan minorities planned (Stability Pact)

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Date: Sun, 31 Oct 1999 09:51:33 +0200 (EET)
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Subject: AFP: Conference on Balkan minorities planned (Stability Pact)

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Original sender: Greek Helsinki Monitor <[email protected]>

AFP: Conference on Balkan minorities planned (Stability Pact)


Conference on Balkan minorities planned
 
GENEVA, Oct 19 (AFP) - A conference to discuss the plight of ethnic
minorities in the Balkans, especially gypsies, should be held in March
in Slovenia, delegates at a meeting here on human rights in
southeastern Europe decided Tuesday.

Nearly 60 delegations attended the two-day meeting held within the
framework of the Balkans Stability Pact, an international effort to
rebuild the Balkans.

Max van der Stoel, High Commissioner of the Organisation for Security
and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE), told a press conference that four
task forces were being set up. They will examine ethnic minorities,
good governance, the role of women in society, and press freedom.

Van der Stoel said the groups would work "as speedily as possible" to
produce action plans.

The problems of the Sinti and Roma were raised in particular. And
delegates wanted a special conference on the minorities issue held,
probably in March, in Ljubljana, he said.

To prepare for the meeting the council of Europe will send a special
mission to the Balkan region "to enquire about projects that could be
helpful in overcoming specific inter-ethnic problems," Van der Stoel
said.

On the issue of press freedom, he said that Britain had proposed
setting up a "media charter" to help news organisations within Serbia
which are closely controlled by Belgrade.

Van der Stoel said Balkans Stability Pact task forces would be working
in close cooperation with non-governmental organisations already in
the field, to avoid any "duplication of efforts."

He said all delegates wanted to see Serbia re-establish democracy and
rejoin the OSCE fold from which it was suspended in July 1992.

On efforts to rebuild stability in the Balkans, Van der Stoel said all
participants wanted to see Yugoslavia join the process, once democracy
was reestablished."

"To have it now would only serve to enhance the prestige of the
present regime in Belgrade," he said.

At a Brussels meeting in September, representatives of 56 Stability
pact member countries and organizations decided to hold round-table
discussions on three specific themes: democratization and human
rights; economic reconstruction, development and cooperation; and
security, justice and internal affairs.
 
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