FRY

The Parties undertake to respect and implement the principles enshrined in the present framework Convention making, where necessary, only those limitations, restrictions or derogations which are provided for in international legal instruments, in particular the Convention for the Protection of Human Rights and Fundamental Freedoms, in so far as they are relevant to the rights and freedoms flowing from the said principles.

1. The legal order of FR Yugoslavia recognizes two forms of the restriction of human rights, and thus of minority rights as well. The general basis for the restriction of human rights, according to Yugoslav constitutions, are the respect of the freedoms and rights of others (article 9, paragraph 4 of the Constitution of FR Yugoslavia, article 11 of the Constitution of Serbia and article 16, paragraph 2 of the Constitution of the Republic of Montenegro) and the ban on the abuse of rights (article 67, paragraph 3 of the Constitution of FR Yugoslavia, article 12, paragraph 3 of the Constitution of the Republic of Serbia and article 16, paragraph 3 of the Constitution of the Republic of Montenegro). The Constitution of FR Yugoslavia also recognizes certain special restrictions – e.g. article 42, paragraph 1 bans the activities of political, trade union and other organizations whose goal is the forcible undermining of the constitutional order, the violation of the territory integrity of the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia, the violation of the guaranteed freedoms and rights of the man and citizens or the provocation of national, racial, religious and other intolerance or hatred.

2. Apart from the restriction of human rights, Yugoslav constitutions also envisage the possibility of the derogation of certain rights during a state of war, a state of an imminent threat of war and a state of emergency. Certain rights and freedoms guaranteed by the Constitution of FR Yugoslavia cannot be derogated (absolutely protected rights) even in such cases – e.g. the freedom of religion, the freedom of speech, the equality of citizens, the equal protection of rights in a procedure established by the law, the presumption of innocence etc.).

The presented solutions enable the restriction and derogation of certain rights in line with relevant international legal documents.

In the exercise of the rights and freedoms flowing from the principles enshrined in the present framework Convention, any person belonging to a national minority shall respect the national legislation and the rights of others, in particular those of persons belonging to the majority or to other national minorities.

1. The Law on the Protection of the Rights and Freedoms of National Minorities, in article 7, paragraph 1, envisages a ban on the abuse of the rights envisaged by this Law, whose aim is the forcible undermining of the territorial integrity of the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia or its member republics, the violation of the guaranteed freedoms and rights of the man and citizens and the provocation of national, racial and religious intolerance and hatred. Paragraph 2 stipulates that the rights enshrined in this Law must not be used for the realization of goals which are contrary to the principles of international law or are directed against public security, morality or the health of people. Paragraph 3 of article 7 of the Law on the Protection of the Rights and Freedoms of National Minorities specifies that the exercise of the rights guaranteed by this Law cannot affect the duties and responsibilities resulting from citizenship.

2. In FR Yugoslavia, there have been no cases in which the exercise of the rights enjoyed by persons belonging to national minorities on the basis of the Framework Convention, independently or in conjunction with others, violated the rights of persons belonging to the majority nation, persons belonging to other minorities or foreigners living in FR Yugoslavia.

Nothing in the present framework Convention shall be interpreted as implying any right to engage in any activity or perform any act contrary to the fundamental principles of international law and in particular of the sovereign equality, territorial integrity and political independence of States.

The respect of the constitutional order, principles of international law and public morality in the exercise of minority rights is explicitly envisaged by the provision of article 7, paragraph 2 of the Law on the Protection of the Rights and Freedoms of National Minorities.

Nothing in the present framework Convention shall be construed as limiting or derogating from any of the human rights and fundamental freedoms which may be ensured under the laws of any Contracting Party or under any other agreement to which it is a Party.

1. The human rights guaranteed by provisions of the internal legal order of FR Yugoslavia are neither restricted nor derogated by provisions of the Framework Convention and their implementation. The Law on the Rights and Freedoms of National Minorities, which largely implements provisions of the Framework Convention in the internal legal order of FR Yugoslavia, contains a special provision (article 8) guaranteeing the protection of acquired rights. This provision specifies that the Law neither alters nor derogates the rights of persons belonging to national minorities acquired by the regulations applied until the present Law came into force, as well as rights acquired on the basis of international agreements which the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia is a Party to.

The rights and freedoms flowing from the principles enshrined in the present framework Convention, in so far as they are the subject of a corresponding provision in the Convention for the Protection of Human Rights and Fundamental Freedoms or in the Protocols thereto, shall be understood so as to conform to the latter provisions.

Any State may at the time of signature or when depositing its instrument of ratification, acceptance, approval or accession, specify the territory or territories for whose international relations it is responsible to which this framework Convention shall apply.

Any State may at any later date, by a declaration addressed to the Secretary General of the Council of Europe, extend the application of this framework Convention to any other territory specified in the declaration. In respect of such territory the framework Convention shall enter into force on the first day of the month following the expiration of a period of three months after the date of receipt of such declaration by the Secretary General.

Any declaration made under the two preceding paragraphs may, in respect of any territory specified in such declaration, be withdrawn by a notification addressed to the Secretary General. The withdrawal shall become effective on the first day of the month following the expiration of a period of three months after the date of receipt of such notification by the Secretary General.

The Federal Parliament of FR Yugoslavia ratified the Framework Convention on the Protection of National Minorities on December 3, 1998. However, the ratification instruments failed to be deposited with the Council of Europe immediately after the ratification of the Framework Convention. FR Yugoslavia justified such an act by stating that it was not a member of the Council of Europe, and it had not even been invited by the Council of Europe to join the mentioned Convention. The result of this was that, at the international level, FR Yugoslavia was not bound by provisions of the Framework Convention. Following the democratic changes in the country, FR Yugoslavia was invited to join the Framework Convention and the ratification instruments were deposited, after which, on September 1, 2001, the Framework Convention was applied, under international law, to FR Yugoslavia as well.

When the ratification instruments were being deposited, the territory in which the framework Convention is applied was not specified. In this sense, the Framework Convention is applied in the entire territory of FR Yugoslavia. Nevertheless, since the stationing of KFOR forces in Kosovo and Metohija, on the basis of UN SC Resolution 1244, this province of the Republic of Serbia has de facto not been under the control of the authorities of FR Yugoslavia, i.e. the Republic of Serbia. In this sense, bodies of authority in FR Yugoslavia and the Republic of Serbia have not been implementing provisions of the Framework Convention in the territory of the Autonomous Province of Kosovo-Metohija, even though Yugoslavia’s sovereignty over this area has not been disputed in international law, but has, on the contrary, been confirmed in a number of ways.

A l b a n i a n s

There are many unknown aspects and quandaries about the demographic characteristics of the population of Albanian nationality in FR Yugoslavia. The most recent population census that persons belonging to the Albanian community participated in was taken way back in 1981. At that time there were 1,714,768 Albanians living in FR Yugoslavia accounting for 17.2 percent of its population. 1,596,072 (80.9 percent) of persons belonging to the Albanian national minority lived in AP Kosovo and Metohija, 75,725 (4.2 percent) in Central Serbia, 2,556 (0.12 percent) in AP Vojvodina and 40,415 (6.64 percent) in the Republic of Montenegro.

The Albanians form the absolute majority in two Southern Serbian municipalities - Presevo and Bujanovac. In Presevo, whose population totals 38,934 people, there are 34,992 ethnic Albanians. In Bujanovac (population: 49,238), this ratio is lower. There are 29,588 Albanian nationality members in this town. Also bordering on Kosovo, the Medvedja municipality (population: 13,369) has 3,832 Albanians. Albanians do not live in any large number in any other towns and villages in the Republic of Serbia and no more than 4,378 of persons belonging to the Albanian nationality were registered in the capital Belgrade.

In the Republic of Montenegro, the Albanians form the majority in the Ulcinj municipality where 17,469 persons belong to the Albanian nationality out of 24,217 citizens. In the multi-ethnic Plav municipality, where the majority of its 19,305 citizens belong to the Bosniac/Muslim nationality (11,199), 4,032 are Albanians, whereas in the Bar municipality, slightly over 10 percent or 4,619 out of 37,321 inhabitants are Albanians. Finally, Albanians account for 12,777 inhabitants or under 10 percent of the total population of the capital of Montenegro, Podgorica (152,025).

The comparison of the population censuses taken in all three Yugoslav states from 1921 to 1991 indicates that after the borders had been drawn between the Kingdom of Yugoslavia and Albania there were 203,000 Serbs and 140,000 Albanians living in Kosovo and Metohija. Currently, Kosovo and Metohija is mostly populated by persons belonging to the Albanian nationality. Only a quarter of a century later, in 1948, the Albanians were dominant in Kosovo in demographic terms accounting for 68.5 percent of the population. In the following 25 years that percentage gradually went up to the mentioned 80.9. At the same time, the percentage of the population of other ethnic communities living in Kosovo declined with the exception of the Roma that also registered a positive trend in terms of population growth.

The Kosovo crisis, which in the past decade shook not only Yugoslavia but also the whole region of South-Eastern Europe, drew the international community into the settlement of the complex issue of the status of the Albanian national community in our country. Following the NATO intervention in the FRY, the international community adopted UN resolution 1244 under which Kosovo was to be a part of FR Yugoslavia under the provisional administration of the international community.

In the Presevo municipality, the Albanians have absolute majority of Deputies to the local Assembly, and the function of President as well as other functions are discharged by the Albanians representing the Party for Democratic Action-Taking (PDP) or the Party for Democratic Unification of Albanians (PDU). In the Bujanovac and Medvedja municipalities that are among the rare municipalities in Serbia where the former authorities have retained their influence, the Albanians have a token share in the representative bodies of power. Due to the election 'geometry' of the former authorities, only 9 out of 37 Deputies in the Bujanovac municipality are of Albanian nationality and there are no members of this nationality in the local authorities of the Medvedja municipality.

The establishment of the Office of the Federal Ministry of National and Ethnic Communities in Bujanovac and the Multi-Ethnic Cultural Center, in Bujanovac as well, enhanced the consolidation of the situation and restoration of confidence between the Serbs and Albanians in Southern Serbia. This was further promoted through the activities of numerous NGOs. These include, among other, the Human Rights Council, Trace, Center for Multi-ethnic Education, the Roma's associations 'Na rajon' (In the Region) and 'Demiri Saciresor' and the Presevo Youth Center.

In the government agencies of the federal state and of the Republic of Serbia, there are no representatives of the Albanians. In the Parliament of Montenegro, in addition to one representative of the Democratic Union of Albanians and one of the Democratic Alliance, 3 more Albanians were elected. The majority political party, the Democratic Party of Socialists, gave them this term of office.

The most influential political parties of the Albanians in Montenegro are: the Democratic Union of Albanians (DUA); the Democratic Alliance of Albanians in Montenegro; and the Party of Democratic Prosperity (PDP).

The election of Counselors and Deputies of the Albanian nationality to the local authorities and the republican Parliament is the result of affirmative actions. Namely, the Law of the Republic of Montenegro on the Election of Counselors and Deputies stipulates affirmative actions enabling the municipalities with the Albanians in the majority to form a separate constituency within the single republican constituency and setting the threshold for entry into Parliament at 1 percent of the votes polled. At the local level, the Albanians wield absolute power in the Ulcinj municipality where 18 out of 32 Counselors are members of Albanian national parties.

In Southern Serbian municipalities where members of the Albanian national minority live, instruction is organized in the Albanian language at 14 elementary and 5 secondary schools. In Montenegro, the curriculum in the language of the Albanian national minority is followed at elementary and secondary schools in the Ulcinj, Plav and Tuzi municipalities.

In addition to local radio stations in Bujanovac, Medvedja and Presevo, private stations 'Toni' and 'Ema' also broadcast programs in the Albanian language. According to NGO reports, they contribute to inter-ethnic confidence building.

In Presevo, for some time now, the popular magazine 'Zgjimi' (Waking Up) has not been published but the weekly 'Jehona' (Sound from Afar) has a wide readership at present.

Television of Montenegro broadcasts a daily news program in Albanian 'Lajmet' (News) and a one-hour program 'Mozaiku 60' (Mosaic 60) on Saturdays. In its radio programming structure, radio programs in the Albanian language take up 30 minutes every day.

As for the local stations, Radio Ulcinj broadcasts 8 hours every day and Radio Bar - one hour of programs in the Albanian language. Radio MIR - Studio Teuta at Tuzi also has a strong signal.

Although the Parliament of the Republic of Montenegro established the weekly 'Koha Javore' (Sunday Times) and appointed its Management Board, the News and Publishing House 'Pobjeda' (Victory) has done nothing to start up operations at this weekly. The weekly based in Podgorica 'Polis' (City-State) publishes an 8-page supplement in the Albanian language. In Podgorica, the cultural magazine 'Koha' (Time) is published as well. The magazines 'Fati' (Happiness), 'Shpresa' (Hope), 'Lemba' and 'Zana' come out in Ulcinj. In addition, the magazine 'Valet' (Waves) is published by the Elementary School 'Djerdj Kastrioti Skenderbeg' (Gjergj Kastrioti Skenderbeu) and the magazine 'Zeri i Shen Ndout' (Voice of St. Ndoe) - by the Roman Catholic Church at Tuzi.

B o s n i a c s / M u s l i m s

The Bosniac/Muslim national community belongs to the group of the four most numerous minority communities in FR Yugoslavia. According to the 1991 population census, where this population could only declare themselves as belonging under the heading 'Muslims', there were 327,339 persons belonging to this community living, unevenly distributed, throughout the country. 237,785 of Bosniacs/Muslims lived in Serbia accounting for 2.5 percent of its population. Of that number, 174,176 inhabited Central Serbia, 57,758 - Kosovo and 5,851 - Vojvodina. At the same time, 89,614 or 14.6 percent members of this national minority lived in Montenegro. 12,421 and 7,891 inhabitants that declared themselves as Bosniacs/Muslims lived in Belgrade and Podgorica respectively.

The largest part of the Bosniac/Muslim population is concentrated in Sandzak, a multi-cultural region covering parts of Serbia and of Montenegro and bordering on Bosnia. Of the 440,000 inhabitants of Sandzak, 253,000 are Bosniacs/Muslims and 187,000 are Serbs and Montenegrins. The Bosniacs/Muslims formed an absolute majority in the municipalities of Tutin (97 percent), Sjenica (83 percent) and Novi Pazar (80 percent). Serbs predominated in the remaining three municipalities of the Serbian part of Sandzak. In Montenegro, the Bosniacs/Muslims are in the majority in the municipalities of Plav (58 percent) and Rozaje (87 percent) while the Montenegrins form the majority in Bijelo Polje, Pljevlja and Berane. The area of Sandzak is rather poor, its economy and infrastructure are underdeveloped so that there is a great deal of mobility of the population towards urban areas and more developed centers in Yugoslavia, the neighboring and other countries. An exception in terms of economic development is the Novi Pazar municipality that has improved the living standards of its citizens with the help of private enterprise.

At the Congress of Bosniac Intellectuals held in 1993 in Sarajevo, most intellectuals reached agreement on the common name of the people - Bosniacs - which all Sandzak parties and associations accepted in 1996. However, the perception of Bosnia as the Bosniacs' kin state has its opponents both in the states formed in the space of the former Yugoslavia and among a part of the Bosniac population in Yugoslavia. Namely, persons belonging to this people, rallied around the Muslim Homeland Society in Montenegro, insist on the earlier name of the people - Muslims -, whereas a part of mostly urban population of the Islamic faith in Montenegro define themselves as Montenegrins of the Islamic faith.

The Bosniacs/Muslims in Serbia are politically organized through political parties that are active in Sandzak. Here, the Sandzak Democratic Party and the Democratic Action Party can be singled out as the most influential ones while the Party for Sandzak, the Liberal Bosniac Party, the Reform Democratic Party and ten or so smaller political parties are active as well.

In the Republic of Montenegro, beside the Democratic Action Party, also active are the International Democratic Union; the Party of National Equality; and the Bosniac Muslim Community.

A Bosniac was elected from the list of the Democratic Opposition of Serbia to the Chamber of the Republics of the Federal Assembly. Following the recent elections for the Montenegrin Parliament, 3 Bosniacs/Muslims were elected from the list of the Democratic Party of Socialists. Two Bosniacs representing the Sandzak Democratic Party and several from the lists of 'majority' political parties were elected into the Serbian Parliament. As for the executive power at the federal level, the Bosniacs hold one Ministerial Office, a Bosniac is in charge of the Department of Transport in the Government of the Republic of Montenegro. There are also representatives of this national minority among other in the Republican Council for the Protection of National and Ethnic Groups of Montenegro.

At the local level, in the area of Sandzak, the Bosniacs are represented in the municipal authorities in proportion to the number of inhabitants. They are in power in the Novi Pazar, Sjenica and Tutin municipalities.

According to their decision, the Bosniacs' mother tongue is Bosnian. However, as it is similar to the Serbian language, particularly at the local level, it is not in official use in any municipality in the country.

In Sandzak, a Class of the Faculty of Pedagogy from Belgrade and a Business College are in function. However, given the region's economic resources and the entrepreneurial spirit of the population, education for other occupations should also be developed.

The cultural life of the Bosniacs/Muslims is organized by the Cultural Society 'Rebirth', the 'Sandzak Intellectual Club', the Bosniac Homeland Society and, in Montenegro, also by the Muslim Homeland Society.

In addition to the 'Sandzak Magazine' that comes out periodically in Novi Pazar, the Bosniacs' printed media include the magazine 'Has'; the independent review 'Sandzak'; the literary magazine 'Mak'; and the 'Voice of Islam' published by the Meshihat of the Islamic Community of Sandzak as its mouth-piece. The magazine 'Almanac' comes out in Montenegro with the support of the Association for the Protection of Culture and Tradition of the Muslims/Bosniacs.

B u l g a r i a n s

The Bulgarian national minority had, according to the results of the most recent census, 26,922 members in FR Yugoslavia accounting for 0.3 percent of its population. The regional distribution of persons belonging to the Bulgarian nationality indicates that the largest number of them live in Eastern Serbia, in the area bordering on Bulgaria. In Dimitrovgrad, the Bulgarians account for 52 percent of the population. In Bosilegrad that has a population totaling 11,644 inhabitants, 8,807 declared themselves as ethnic Bulgarians. In three more Southern Serbian municipalities - Pirot, Babusnica and Surdulica - there is a significant percentage of Bulgarians. 2,363 Bulgarians live in Vojvodina, mostly in the village of Ivanovo in Banat, and all are Roman Catholics. 178 members of the Bulgarian national minority lived in Kosovo and 46 in Montenegro. Since 1953 when there were 60,167 people of Bulgarian nationality in the FRY, their numbers have persistently declined. This can be accounted for by migrations, a lower birth rate, a high degree of their integration in the social mainstream and by ethnic mimicry.

Until the early 1980s numerous elementary and secondary schools as well as a Teacher Training College had been in operation. Since then, interest in the instruction in the Bulgarian language has fallen so that currently bilingual instruction is received in the Dimitrovgrad and Bosilegrad municipalities. As part of the elementary school in Dimitrovgrad, children in five village classes are taught the 'Bulgarian language and the basics of national culture'. The same subject is also taught to the students in one class at the Grammar School in Dimitrovgrad.

The precursor of the currently published press in the Bulgarian language is the magazine 'Glas na B'lgarite' (Voice of the Bulgarians). It was launched immediately after the Second World War. The publishing house 'Bratstvo' (Brotherhood) publishes the news and politics magazine of the same name; the children magazine 'Drugarce' (Little Friend); and the magazine for science, literature and culture 'Most' (Bridge).

The situation concerning TV and radio broadcasts has somewhat improved with everyday 5-hour programs broadcast in Bulgarian by the local TV station in Dimitrovgrad. The local radio station in Bosilegrad broadcasts radio programs in Bulgarian.

In the Dimitrovgrad and Bosilegrad municipalities, the Bulgarian language is in official use alongside Serbian. In practice, this right was rarely used and the Bulgarians' organizations in Yugoslavia, notably the Democratic Community of Bulgarians in Yugoslavia (DZBJ) and the Municipal Committee for the Protection of the Bulgarians' Human Rights in Dimitrovgrad brought this to public attention.

The DZBJ had not had any major success until the most recent elections because the members of the Bulgarian national minority had taken part in the exercise of power exclusively through majority political parties. A total of six Counselors from the DZBJ list were elected to the current Municipal Assemblies and the executive authorities in Dimitrovgrad and Bosilegrad. Apart from that, also members of the Bulgarian minority, but from the list of the Democratic Opposition of Serbia (DOS), were elected as Mayors.

B u n y e v t s i

The Bunyevtsi, of which there were 21,434 members in 1991, inhabit Vojvodina, namely the northern Backa municipality of Subotica (17,527) and the Sombor municipality (9,755). 95.97 percent of all Bunyevtsi live in these two municipalities. In addition, they also inhabit, but in smaller numbers, Bajmok, Gornji and Donji Tavankut, Djurdjin, Kelebija, Mala Bosna, Novi Zednik, Palic and several other villages in Vojvodina. Since 1981, when no more than 9,755 Bunyetvsi lived in this area, the number of Bunyevtsi in Yugoslavia has almost doubled.

On the origin and the name of Bunyevtsi, there are a number of quandaries; these dilemmas have as their source the different approaches to their ethnic matrix. Namely, a number of experts and members of the Bunyevtsi community believe that they are an indigenous ancient Balkan population that settled in Vojvodina in the 17th century from their ancient homeland in Dalmatia, Herzegovina and Lika. Others, however, point out that the Bunyevtsi are, undoubtedly, a part of the Croatian ethnic corps. As elements of the Croatian national identity, they point to the Roman Catholic faith and the stokavian dialect that the Backa Bunyevtsi speak.

The recognition of the Backa Bunyevtsi started with the activities of Ivan Antunovic. In 1870, this culture promoter and politician launched the 'Bunyevats and Shokats Newspaper'. Somewhat later, other papers and magazines were started up: 'Bunyevats and Shokats Fairy' and, in 1873, the 'Monthly Chronicle' edited by Kalor Milodanovic. These papers and magazines were short-lived just like the attempts to establish Bunyevtsi schools in Backa that was at the time under the territorial and administrative control of Hungary. The tradition of cultural and political association of the Backa Bunyevtsi took root in 1878 when the Pucka Kasina (People's Meeting Place) was established and when its founder, Ivan Antunovic, started his activities. He also assisted in the establishment of the Catholic Savings Bank, the Reading-Club, the Women's Charitable Society and other organizations. Finally, as early as in 1880 the Bunyevats Party was established with Lazar Mamuzic, a longtime Mayor of Subotica, as President. Also in the 20th century, the Bunyevtsi had authentic cultural associations: the Educational Society 'Marigold' that operated from 1920 onwards and the 'Bunyevats Kolo' established in 1921 in Sombor. The charitable co-operative 'Bunyevats Woman' was also active in the same town as well as the Academic Society 'Antunovic'.

The Bunyevats political movement actively participated in the events leading to the integration of Vojvodina with the Kingdom of Serbia in 1918 when a decision to that effect was taken at the Great People's Assembly of the Serbs, Bunyevtsi and other Slavs. Soon thereafter, the Bunyevats-Shokats Party was established as well.

The cultural and political life of the Backa Bunyevtsi came to a standstill after the Second World War when the activities of the Bunyevtsi Homeland Society, established in 1934, the 'Momacko i divojacko drustvo' (Young Men's and Young Women's Society) and those of other organizations ceased. In the late 1970s, the Bunyevtsi traditional gatherings, called 'Duzijanca' (Wheat Harvest Holiday), were reintroduced. In early 1990 the Bunyevats Cultural Center was established in Subotica. It has been active, through its branch offices, at Tavankut and Djurdin. In the mid-1990s the idea to establish the Bunyevtsi Homeland Society was re-activated and put into practice. This Society established the 'Bunyevats Newspaper'. The existing cultural organizations of the Backa Bunyevtsi have placed back on the agenda the traditional debate about their origin.

The Bunyevats-Shokats Party represents the Bunyevtsi's political interests. This party had one Counselor in the former Municipal Assembly of Subotica.

C r o a t s

Until 1991, 111,650 persons belonging to the Croatian nationality had lived in FR Yugoslavia. Of that number, 105,406 lived in the Republic of Serbia and 6,244 in the Republic of Montenegro. 22,536 members of this nationality lived in Central Serbia, 8,062 lived in Kosovo, mainly in the Janjevo municipality and 74,808 in Vojvodina accounting for 3.7 percent of the population of the province. The largest number of Croatian minority members - 66,014 or 88.24 percent lived in the following municipalities: Subotica, Sombor, Sid, Indjija, Apatin, Ruma, Bac, Kula, Sremski Karlovci, Backa Palanka, Beocin, Irig and Novi Sad. In 10 of these municipalities, the Croatian minority accounted for over 5 percent of the population.

The war in Croatia and Bosnia that broke out with the dissolution of the second Yugoslavia caused a part of the Croatian population to move to Croatia.

With the signature of the Inter-Governmental Agreement on the Normalization of Relations between the Republic of Croatia and FR Yugoslavia, Article 8 thereof indirectly recognized the status of a national minority to the Croats in Yugoslavia.

Numerous activities to protect the rights of the Croatian population in Yugoslavia, particularly in Vojvodina, were undertaken by the Democratic Alliance of the Croats in Vojvodina (DSH). Its representatives, on a number of occasions, raised the question of the protection of the rights and promotion of the status of their fellow Croatians. In early 1999 the second political organization of the Croats in Yugoslavia was established - the Croatian People's Alliance (HNS).

It was only in the first multi-party Serbian Parliament that the Croatian minority had a (1) representative. Croatian national parties are not represented in the current Federal and Republican Parliaments. However, at the most recent elections two representatives of the Croatian minority were elected to the Assembly of AP Vojvodina, one from the DSH and HNS each. The Croatian Parties in Subotica have 13 Counselors and one of their members holds the office of Deputy President of the Municipal Assembly. Since 1993, the Croatian language has been in official use in Subotica on an equal footing with Serbian and Hungarian.

In the earlier convocation of the local authorities, the DSH had 3 representatives in the Subotica municipality and one in Sombor. Through their participation in majority political parties, they also had Counselors representing them in other towns and villages of Vojvodina and Montenegro. Prior to moving out from Kosovo, they also had 3 Counselors in the Janjevo municipality.

In Vojvodina, the Croatian Cultural Center, with its seat in Subotica, has been reactivated. The same also goes for the Croatian Cultural-Educational Society 'Matija Gubec' at Tavankut. The Cultural Society 'Jovanka Gabosac' at Martinci, the Croatian Cultural-Educational Society 'Matija Gubec' with its seat in Ruma, the Culture and Arts Society 'Vladimir Nazor' in Sombor, 'Silvije Strahimir Kranjcevic' at Backi Breg and the Cultural Association at Backi Monostor re-started their activities. The Cultural Association 'Progress' is active in the Republic of Montenegro.

In addition to these organizations, the Croatian Homeland Society has been established as well as the Croatian Academic Society and the Roman Catholic Institute 'Ivan Antunovic'.

In the educational system of the republics, there are no institutions where schooling is received in the Croatian language.

Since July 2001 the Croatian Desk has been active at TV Novi Sad. It broadcasts 20 programs lasting 1,000 minutes every year. Radio Subotica has a daily two-hour program in the Croatian language.

H u n g a r i a n s

344,147 inhabitants of Hungarian nationality live in FR Yugoslavia. The Hungarians mostly inhabit Vojvodina (339,491 or 16.9 percent of its total population). In other parts of the country they constitute a negligible minority.[2]

The Hungarians live in largest numbers in the following municipalities: Ada (77.3 percent), Backa Topola (64.7 percent), Becej (54.4 percent), Kanjiza (87.6 percent), Mali Idjos (58.7 percent), Senta (80.9 percent), Coka (56.5 percent). In Subotica they form a relative majority (42.7 percent). The share of the Hungarian population in the municipalities of Nova Crnja, Becej, Zitiste and Srbobran does not exceed 30 percent. In 16 other municipalities, including the largest Vojvodinian town of Novi Sad, they constitute between 5 and 20 percent of the population. The Hungarians share with less than 5 percent in the population in only 15 municipalities. A survey of the regional distribution of Vojvodina's population indicates that 75.63 percent of the population of the Hungarian nationality inhabit Backa, 21.56 percent - Banat and 2.81 percent - Srem.

The main demographic characteristic of the Hungarian population in Yugoslavia is depopulation. From the first population census in 1921 to the most recent one taken in 1991, the percentage of the Hungarian population in Yugoslavia decreased from 3.9 to 1.9 percent. This negative population trend also known as 'white plague' is typical both for the Hungarian population and for the population of Vojvodina at large.

Persons belonging to the Hungarian national minority play an important role in the social, political and cultural life of the country.

Since the multi-party system was established, the members of the Hungarian minority have been taking an active part in political life. All political organizations that represent the Hungarians' interests are active in Vojvodina. The oldest of them is the Democratic Union of Vojvodinian Hungarians (DZVM). According to the percentage of the Deputies' seats won at the most recent local, republican and federal elections, the Alliance of Vojvodina Hungarians (SVM) is the most influential. Apart from them, also active are the Democratic Party of Vojvodina Hungarians; the Democratic Movement of Vojvodina Hungarians (DPVM); the Christian Democratic Movement of Vojvodina Hungarians (HPVM); the Christian Democratic Union (HDU); and the Civil Movement of the Vojvodina Hungarians (GPVM).

The Hungarian minority has two Counselors in the current Federal Assembly. Six persons of Hungarian nationality have been elected Deputies to the Assembly of the Republic of Serbia and 17 to the Provincial Assembly. At the level of local self-government, in the representative authorities, the representatives of Vojvodina Hungarians are represented in proportion to their share in the total population of the Province. A member of the Hungarian minority performs the duty, in the executive branch, of Deputy Prime Minister of the Republic of Serbia. At the level of the Province, members of the Hungarian nationality have been appointed to the leading offices in several departments.

Quite a number of members of the Hungarian population are highly educated people. They include many eminent businessmen, University Professors, physicians, authors, artists, etc. The Serbian Academy of Sciences and Arts has several Hungarians as its Members.

The Hungarian language is in official use in 29 Vojvodinian municipalities where the concentration of the Hungarian population varies from 2.8 percent in Bela Crkva (Banat) to close to 88 percent at Kanjiza (Backa).

In particular local communities, the exercise of the right to the official use of the Hungarian language and script has been difficult. A particular problem is the (lack of) bilingual inscription of names of towns and villages, streets, squares and institutions in the municipalities where the Hungarian population does not form a majority. These problems stem from the different approach to the problem by the local authorities within whose competence the implementation of this right falls.

A large number of authors write and their works are published in the Hungarian language that belongs to the Ugrofinnic group of languages. In the period from 1993 to 1996 over 20 new titles were published in this language annually but the volume of the publishing activity in the Hungarian language has been decreasing relative to the period prior to 1990. In the early 1990s, 48 titles of books and brochures were published in Hungarian every year.[3] Already in 1991 no more than 23 titles came out and in 2000 - 27.[4]

The authors writing in Hungarian in Yugoslavia promote annual happenings the following of which enjoy a reputation transcending local borders: the 'Szenteleky's Days' that are traditionally held at Sivac; the 'Ferenc Feher Memorial'; and the 'Karoly Szirmai Memorial'.

The libraries in 27 Vojvodinian municipalities, as well as in Novi Sad, hold over half a million books in the Hungarian language. In addition to the Novi Sad libraries, the libraries in Subotica and Backa Topola have the largest holdings in this language.

Although in the 1990s there were cuts in the information sector in the national minority languages in FR Yugoslavia, including Hungarian, the following continue to be published in Hungarian: the daily ‘Magyar Szo’[5] (Hungarian Word); the weekly 'Het' (Seven); the youth bi-weekly 'Kepes Ifjusag' (Youth in Pictures); and the children magazines: 'Jo Pajtas' (Good Friend) and 'Mezes Kalacs' (Honey Cookies).

In addition to local and regional papers and magazines in Hungarian established by the local administration or private individuals, some more come out in Novi Sad. These are: the magazine for culture, literature and the arts 'Hid' (Bridge); the magazine for scientific and social issues 'Letunk' (Our Existence); the magazine on the arts containing critical reviews 'Symposion' (Symposium); the magazine for literature and culture 'Zenit' (Zenith); the bilingual (Hungarian/Serbian) magazine for literature, the arts and culture 'Orbis'(Lat. World); and the journal 'Hungarologiai kozlemenyek' (Hungarological News).[6]

Television Novi Sad and its regional center in Subotica broadcast annually 865 programs or 30,125 minutes in Hungarian. Despite numerous personnel, financial and program-related problems, the situation at this desk improved. In 2001 broadcasts in Hungarian have included the following: TV news bulletin - twice a day, total duration 45 minutes; the weekly news programs 'Our Days' and 'Jelenlet' (Presence) taking up 60 minutes each; the program for farmers 'Furrow' twice a month lasting 45 minutes; and the weekly 90-minute call-in show 'Hello, TV'.

According to the data of the Provincial Secretariat for the Exercise of the Rights of National Minorities, Radio Television Serbia (RTS) Novi Sad broadcasts a whole-day program in the Hungarian language. In addition to entertainment (35.5 percent of the total programming time) and other similar programs (19.2 percent), it also includes news programs (15.4 percent) and news and politics programs (14.3 percent). Educational programs account for no more than 4.3 percent. Twenty-two other local radio stations also broadcast radio programs in the Hungarian language.

Hungarian minority members take part in the cultural life of Vojvodina and Serbia by working actively both at the institutions implementing various programs in Serbian and at the institutions preparing programs in Hungarian.

Since 1973 the 'Ujvideki Szinhaz' (Novi Sad Theater) has been active in Novi Sad. The 'Nepszinhaz' (National Theater) in Subotica, established immediately after the Second World War, promotes drama in Hungarian. For a long time this theater played a prominent role in the cultural life of the country.

Numerous members of the Hungarian nationality act at the amateur theaters in 16 municipalities in Vojvodina. In 1997 they established the Amateur Theater of Vojvodinian Hungarians. This theater puts on stage one play in Hungarian every year and gives performances in all towns and villages where Hungarian minority members live. The amateur actors who perform in the Hungarian language get together at annual amateur theater festivals of the Hungarian national minority.

Persons belonging to the Hungarian national minority foster and develop their culture and customs by meeting within over 80 culture and art societies. At these societies, folklore groups are particularly successful and present their achievements at the following annual festivals: 'Durindo'; 'Gyongyosbokreta' (Pearly Bouquet); 'Vive' and at the municipal festival of amateurs the 'Tisa River Valley Games'.

In addition, also traditional have become the visual arts colonies that are organized at Becej, Senta, in Backa Topola, Subotica, Ecka, Pancevo and at Mali Idjos.

The development of the culture, language and identity of the Hungarians in Yugoslavia would not be possible without an appropriate system of education in the Hungarian language.

The development of education in this language, as well as in other national minority languages, had been taking place at an accelerated pace until the mid-1980s when first restrictions were imposed. Particularly difficult moments were experienced in the past decade. That decade was marked by numerous problems related to the exercise of the rights of national minorities and, thus, also of the right to education in their mother tongues.

At the end of 2000, pre-school institutions looked after 5,237 children who attended classes in Hungarian in 221 groups in 26 Vojvodinian municipalities. 15 retarded children also attended pre-school classes in Hungarian at two specialized pre-school institutions. 3,261 children followed in Hungarian the preparatory curriculum required for entry into elementary school. 307 children of Hungarian nationality received pre-school bilingual instruction.

During the school year 1999/2000, 24,827 pupils of Hungarian nationality received instruction at 246 elementary schools in 42 Vojvodinian municipalities and in Novi Sad.

Instruction in the Hungarian language is organized at 83 elementary schools and in 34 separate classes in 29 Vojvodinian municipalities. 20,161 or 81.21 percent of pupils of Hungarian nationality in 1,002 classes received this form of instruction.

The instruction in the optional subject 'Hungarian language with elements of national culture' is organized twice a week for elementary school pupils of Hungarian nationality. In the mentioned period there were 4,666 such pupils or 18.79 percent. However, only 2,285 pupils of Hungarian nationality and 430 pupils of other nationalities attend lessons of this subject at a total of 49 elementary schools in 17 municipalities in Vojvodina.

In the same period, instruction in the Hungarian language was organized for 454 retarded children at 4 specialized schools and in 13 classes within regular elementary schools in nine municipalities.

Elementary education for adults in the Hungarian language is provided at two adult education centers - in Sombor and in Subotica.

At the same time, 9,631 students of Hungarian nationality received instruction at secondary schools, of which 6,580 students or 68.32 percent received instruction in their mother tongue. Instruction in the Hungarian language was provided to 279 classes at 29 secondary schools: at 8 grammar schools; 20 vocational schools; and at 1 school of the arts in a total of 12 municipalities.

Only 22 students being educated at the secondary schools providing instruction in the Serbian language attended classes in the subject 'Hungarian language with elements of national culture'.

Applicants wishing to enroll in secondary schools take entrance exams in their mother tongue. As of the school year 2001/2002, the entrance exam at the University of Novi Sad is also taken in Hungarian.

In the school year 1999/2000, 816 students of Hungarian nationality attended vocational classes at two-year post-secondary schools and 2,032 or 6.29 percent at universities. 315 two-year post-secondary school students received instruction in the Hungarian language at the Teacher Training Colleges in Subotica and in Novi Sad and at the Two-Year Post-Secondary School of Engineering in Subotica. At the faculties of Novi Sad University the following faculties organize instruction in Hungarian: the Faculty of Philosophy; the Faculty of Economics; the Faculty of Civil Engineering; the Teacher Training Faculty; and the Academy of the Arts. The Faculty of Philology of Belgrade University also includes the quite successful Hungarology Department.

G e r m a n s

According to the 1991 census, 5,387 citizens of German nationality lived in FR Yugoslavia. 3,873 persons belonging to the German minority lived in AP Vojvodina accounting for 0.19 percent of the province's total population. At the same time, 779 Germans lived in Belgrade. Persons belonging to this minority account for 0,02 percent of the population of the Republic of Montenegro. According to the data of the German People's Alliance, the association of Germans based in Subotica, around 12,000 persons belonging to this people live in Vojvodina alone (in the municipalities of Apatin, Zrenjanin, Pancevo Vrbas, Subotica, Kula, Sombor, Sremska Mitrovica, Odzaci, Novi Sad, Backa Palanka and Bela Crkva.

The present-day citizens of Vojvodina of German origin are the descendants of the people who settled here in the 18th century. This was done under the planned settlement programs designed by Austria to protect its strategic interests. According to the census taken in 1910, 324,779 Germans lived in Vojvodina accounting for 21.4 percent of its then total population.

The life of the affluent German minority that earlier on found expression in a range of educational, cultural and political activities came to a standstill after the Second World War and there were no major German minority associations until recently. In the past decade, the representatives of the Germans in Vojvodina re-activated their political and cultural organization by working in the 'Deutscher Volksverband' (German People's Alliance). This Alliance seeks to promote the German minority's status and develop educational, scientific, publishing and other activities.

With the establishment of the German People's Alliance, certain cultural activities became a reality. The major ones include the women's choir and the drama hobby group. The Alliance also called a German language literary competition in Yugoslavia. It also established its library with over 2,000 titles.

In addition to this association, the German Club - the 'Donau Germans' Association' was established in Novi Sad as well as the German Language and Culture Society that launched the magazine 'Bridges of Culture'. The 'Donau Association' organized the first German 'Brezel Ball' (Pretzel Ball) in 1993 as well as a number of cultural happenings. It started up a German kindergarten, provided the payment of German language course tuition fees for secondary school students and re-activated the information in German by launching the newspaper 'Nachrichten' (News) and the Association's Bulletin with a circulation of 400 copies each.

There are no educational institutions providing instruction in the language of the German national minority in Yugoslavia, except for one pre-school institution. In addition to the mentioned magazine, the only other form of information of the Germans in Yugoslavia is a half-hour program broadcast by Radio Subotica once a week.

There are no German political parties taking part in the country's political life.

R o m a n i a n s

There are 42,364 persons belonging to the Romanian national minority in FR Yugoslavia, 38,809 of which are inhabitants of Vojvodina, primarily its area of Banat (91 percent). 3,507 Romanians live in Central Serbia, 33 - in Montenegro and no more than 15 members of this people in Kosovo. Over 90 percent of the Romanians in Yugoslavia live in 10 Vojvodinian municipalities and they are most numerous in Alibunar - 8,402 (21.78 percent), Vrsac - 8,051 (20.75 percent), Pancevo - 5,502 (12.88 percent) and Zrenjanin - 3,140 (8.2 percent). However, the Romanian population is in the majority in 17 settlements. In 12 municipalities where there is a significant number of Romanians, the Romanian language, too, is in official use.

The Romanians settled in the area of the Yugoslav part of Banat from different parts of what is now Romania. Even today, local geography is full of ethnonyms indicating that certain population groups came from Banat, Erdelj, Krisana, Oltenia (Carani) or Wallachia. The largest number of Romanians settled in these parts in the course of the 18th century during which time the Habsburg dynasty pursued a policy of colonization of the Balkans and of consolidation of the Monarchy's borders with Turkey.

The Romanians promote the wealth of the multi-cultural society by contributing their cultural works and achievements that have a long-standing tradition associated, among other, with the names of such academicians as Vasko Popa, Aleksandar Fira and Radu Flora.

Education in the Romanian language, similarly as with the Hungarian and Slovak minorities, has a tradition dating back to the days of the Monarchy, a tradition that is alive even today. In the school year 2000/2001, there were 2,411 pupils of Romanian nationality at elementary schools in Vojvodina of which 1,524 or 63.21 percent received instruction in Romanian and 887 or 36.79 percent - in Serbian. Instruction in Romanian is organized in 9 Vojvodinian municipalities, notably at 18 elementary schools and at 13 village classes that form an extended part of these schools. Compared to the school year 1999/2000, the number of classes was reduced by 14 and of pupils by 39 or by 2.55 percent. For pupils receiving instruction in Serbian, 7 municipalities organized instruction through an optional subject called 'Romanian language with elements of national culture'.

190 secondary school students belonging to the Romanian nationality receive instruction in their mother tongue at the Grammar School in Vrsac and at the Commercial School 'Dositej Obradovic' in Alibunar. 31.14 percent of the total number of Romanian pupils in their final elementary school year opted for this form of instruction in the school year 2000/2001. A majority of young Romanians - 348 (64.69 percent) receive schooling in the Serbian language. The Kovacica and Vrsac municipalities organize lessons of 'Romanian language and national culture'.

In the school year 2000/2001, 83 Romanian nationality students were enrolled in two-year post secondary schools and 104 in university faculties in Vojvodina. 21 students of two-year post-secondary schools and 24 students at the Department for Romanian Language, Novi Sad Faculty of Philosophy received instruction in their mother tongue.

At the Faculty of Philology in Belgrade, the Romanian Language Instruction Unit is active at the Department of Romance Languages.

The Teacher Training Faculty, Belgrade - Teacher Training Unit, Vrsac educates students wishing to work as teachers teaching grades 1 through 4 and as homeroom teachers in the Romanian language and trains them in the conduct of instruction in the Romanian language.

The publishing of literary works in the Romanian language in Yugoslavia takes place at the publishing houses 'Tibiscus' at Uzdin and 'Libertatea' (Freedom) of Pancevo. In addition to the political weekly of the same name, the latter also publishes children and youth magazines 'Bucuria copiilor' (Children's Joy) and 'Tineretea' (Youth) as well as the culture and the arts bi-monthly in the Romanian language 'Lumina' (Light). In addition to the magazine 'Traditia' (Tradition) in Romanian, a bilingual Serbian/Romanian magazine 'Ogledalo'/'Oglinda' (Mirror) is also published in Vojvodina.

The library holdings in the Romanian language include a total of over 26,000 books that are available at the libraries in Alibunar, Vrsac, Zitiste and Kovin.

The Vojvodinian Romanians, through their annual cultural events and happenings, preserve their tradition and promote their works of art and culture in their mother tongue. The event in memory of the life and work of Romanian linguist Radu Flora, held every year in Zrenjanin, provides an opportunity for Yugoslav Romanians to present a wealth of their cultural accomplishments. Of late, authors' meetings have been organized alternately at Secanj and Temisoara.

The theater life of the Vojvodinian Romanians has a long-standing tradition. The first amateur theaters that operated also in the period between the two World Wars were established in the days of the Austro-Hungarian Monarchy. The Vrsac 'People's Theater of the Romanians' continued this tradition during the period of its operation from 1949 - 1956. In this period over 500 theater performances were given. Since 1971, the theater activities of the Romanians in Yugoslavia have been reintroduced through the movement lasting to this day 'The Theater Days of the Romanians in Vojvodina'. The amateur theaters of the Romanians in Yugoslavia run a repertoire featuring the works of Romanian, Yugoslav and other playwrights. Occasionally, the Theater Days of Romanian Children are held as well. Just like the get-togethers of amateur theaters, they have a competitive nature and are held in all towns and villages where Romanians live.

Finally, the electronic media founded by the state broadcast a half-hour TV program and a 4-hour radio program in Romanian every day. Five more local radio stations in Vojvodina broadcast, alongside Serbian, also programs in Romanian.

R u t h e n i a n s

There are 18,099 Ruthenians in FR Yugoslavia 17,652 of which live in Vojvodina. Of that number, as many as 93.36 percent live in the municipalities of Kula, Vrbas, Zabalj, Sid, Sremska Mitrovica and Novi Sad. 400 persons belonging to the Ruthenian national minority live in Central Serbia and 26 in Montenegro. According to their regional distribution, the Ruthenians are most numerous in the areas of Backa (86.28 percent) and Srem (13.37 percent) but they do not form the majority in any municipality. It is only in the settlements of Ruski Krstur, Kucura and Bikic that they form the simple majority (over 50 percent) of the population. The Ruthenian language is in official use in Novi Sad and in five other Vojvodinian municipalities.

The Ruthenians in Yugoslavia managed, despite major differences but also similarities typical of the Eastern Slavic migration flows, to preserve their ethnic identity. The first wave of this population made up mostly of stockbreeders and, later on, farmers reached Vojvodina and the Sava River basin way back in the 18th century. From then onwards, the Yugoslav Ruthenians developed a specific identity that was shaped through the gradual rapprochement between (the local population and) the different migration waves of this ethnic group in terms of religion, language and habits.

One of the ways of preserving ethnic identity against the backdrop of marked depopulation attributable to low fertility rates, a large number of mixed marriages and migration of rural population to the cities is, quite certainly, education in the mother tongue. Instruction in the mother tongue of the persons belonging to the Ruthenian national minority is in FR Yugoslavia organized exclusively in Vojvodina.

Over 150 children of Ruthenian nationality are covered by pre-school education in the municipalities of Vrbas, Zabalj and Kula. In the school year 2000/2001, 1,238 Ruthenian children attended elementary schools - 630 (50.88 percent) thereof receiving instruction in their mother tongue - at 65 elementary schools in 20 Vojvodinian municipalities. 99 more pupils, not of Ruthenian nationality, received instruction in the Ruthenian language. The total number of pupils of Ruthenian nationality, relative to the previous school year, went down by 228 or 17.73 percent.

For pupils who receive instruction in Serbian, 2 double periods a week of the 'Ruthenian language with elements of national culture' are provided as an optional subject. In the school year 2000/2001 this subject was taught to 292 pupils or 48.03 percent at 21 elementary schools in 6 municipalities in Vojvodina.

Instruction for two retarded pupils is provided at an elementary school in the Kula municipality.

527 pupils of Ruthenian nationality, or 0.63 percent of the total population of secondary-school students in the province, are educated at regular secondary schools. 62 students (11.77 percent) at the Grammar School 'Petro Kuzmiak' at Ruski Krstur receive instruction in the Ruthenian language. It has been noted that secondary-school students of Ruthenian nationality have lower motivation for receiving instruction in their mother tongue. Namely, no more than 16.3 percent of the students that have finished elementary school opt for this form of instruction and there are almost no secondary-school students interested in the 'Ruthenian language and national culture'.

243 students of Ruthenian nationality are acquiring professional qualifications at the University of Novi Sad, mostly at the Faculty of Technical Engineering (47); the Faculty of National Sciences and Mathematics (23); and the Faculty of Philosophy (23). 21 students, 2 of which are not of Ruthenian nationality, receive instruction in the Ruthenian language at the Department of Ruthenian Language and Literature.

Get-togethers of persons belonging to the Ruthenian people at cultural and social associations are important for the preservation and promotion of national identity of the Ruthenians in Yugoslavia. The major cultural institutions of the Ruthenians in Yugoslavia are the following: the Amateur Theater 'Petar Riznic-Djadja' (has stages in Novi Sad and at Ruski Krstur); the Ruthenian Homeland Society, established in 1945 and re-activated in 1990; the Ruthenian Language and Literature Society; as well as a ramified network of amateur culture and arts societies. At these societies, these people foster their customs and folklore. Amateur artists present their works and achievements at the two traditional events - the 'Chervena Ruzha' (Red Rose) at Ruski Krstur and the 'Ruzhova Zagradka' (Rose Garden) in Novi Sad.

The best known of several publishing houses is the 'Ruske Slovo' (Ruthenian Word) that publishes 20 odd titles in the Ruthenian language every year. Libraries in Vojvodina have total holdings of 8,236 books in this language.

The news and politics weekly 'Ruske Slovo' (Ruthenian Word) comes out in the Ruthenian language as well as the youth magazine 'MAK'; the children magazine 'Zagradka' (Small Garden); and the magazine for literature and culture 'Svetloc' (Light).

Radio Novi Sad broadcasts 4 hours of programs in the Ruthenian language daily. Local stations in Vrbas, Kula and Sid also broadcast regular programs in this language. Television Novi Sad broadcasts 11 hours of programs in the Ruthenian language per month.

R o m a

According to the population censuses taken in 1981 and 1991, the number of persons belonging to the Roma nationality decreased from 168,099 to 143,519. In Montenegro, 3,282 Roma were registered and in Serbia 140,273 persons stated that they belonged to this population. Of that number 24,366 lived in Vojvodina, 45,754 - in Kosovo and 70,126 - in Central Serbia.

Regional distribution of the Roma in Serbia is an important indicator that helps understand particular issues concerning the status and the life of the Roma both due to historical circumstances and their lifestyle or the degree of their integration in society and the promotion of their social and economic status. The largest number the Roma and their highest concentration is to be found in the Southern-Morava River basin (4.2 percent) and in the Nis area (1.4 percent). In particular municipalities in these areas, notably Surdulica, Bujanovac, Bojnik, Vladicin Han that, at macro-level, have been labeled as economically underdeveloped, the share of the Roma in the total population goes as high as up to one third.

In Montenegro, the Roma account for over 5 percent only in the Cetinje municipality. In 4 mountainous municipalities - Andrijevica, Pluzine, Pljevlja and Savnik - no member of this people was registered. The Roma in Montenegro live in urban centers. In Podgorica, over 6,000 Roma have permanent residence in the settlements Vrela Ribnicka and Konik. A somewhat lower number of them live in the Niksic settlement of Pod Trebjesom and in the Cetinje settlement of Zabrdje.

Total number and relative share of the Roma in the population of Yugoslavia according to the censuses of 1948, 1953, 1961, 1971 and 1981

However, the data of the official statistics should be taken with a grain of salt when it comes to the Roma population in FR Yugoslavia. The estimates of some indirect sources are that between 450,000 and 500,000 citizens of the Roma nationality live in Yugoslavia.

According to the most recent population census that covered the entire country, the main demographic characteristic of the Roma population is a high birth rate of 25.2 per 1,000. The birth rate for the entire FRY population is 16.5 per 1,000.

According to the data from 1991, the mortality rate dropped to a fairly low level of 6.2 per 1,000 and the birth rate was maintained at the high level of 25 per 1,000 while the natural increment rate was on the order of 20 per 1,000.

The Roma ethnic group is characterized by a fairly low age and, as a result, the mortality rate (6.1 per 1,000) in 1981 was below the Yugoslav mortality rate (9.0 per 1,000). However, if we take a look at that year's infant mortality rate (one of the most telling indicators of the attained living standards and the achieved enlightenment level), we shall come to a data indicative of the Roma's low social and economic status. Namely, in 1981 infant mortality rate in Yugoslavia was 30.8 and among the Roma it was 51.5 per 1,000. Although this rate was almost cut in half relative to its 1971 level (95.3 per 1,000), it still remained rather high. Given the overall social and economic conditions that deteriorated in the FRY over the past decade, it is estimated that infant mortality rate has gone up.

The Roma population's mortality data for the period 1971-1986, broken down by age groups, indicate that the Roma die at a very early age. The average life expectancy of persons belonging to the Roma nationality is illustrated by a rare mortality balance between those that die in their first year (26.1 per 1,000) and those that die at the end of their active life (30.4 percent).

The Roma are characterized by above-average mortality in all age groups. The exception is the 64+ age group whose mortality rate is twice lower than the average.

The main characteristics of the Yugoslav Roma's social and economic status are low economic activity levels and high unemployment. The 1991 population census established that 37,646 Roma or 27.2 percent had some kind of employment. The Roma's low economic activity level is the consequence of lack of social and economic development; of prejudices among employers making them reluctant to take on the Roma; and of the demographic factors (the Roma population is extremely young and the labor active population aged 15+ accounts for 58.3 percent). In 1991, 38.3 percent of the Roma population were unemployed. The high unemployment rate among the Roma is attributable to the undifferentiated socio-professional structure of their labor force; low educational levels; rather tough competition in the labor market for filling unskilled jobs; and the demands arising from advances in science and technology to which the Roma cannot adequately respond.

In Yugoslavia, the Roma are the ethnic group that has the highest rate of illiteracy (34.8 percent) and the highest number of elementary school dropouts (78.7 percent) while no more than 0.4 percent of the Roma acquire university qualifications.

In the school year 1999/2000, 3,983 Roma in Vojvodina were receiving regular education at 231 elementary schools. Roma pupils and students lived in all 45 Vojvodinian municipalities but the largest numbers of them were in Novi Sad, Ruma and Zrenjanin. 3,527 Roma children received instruction in the Serbian language; 349 - in Hungarian; 92 - in Romanian; 8 - in Slovak; and 2- in Ruthenian. Preparatory instruction for Roma children of pre-school age was organized at 5 elementary schools in the municipalities of Subotica, Apatin, Vajska and Kustilj and 114 Roma children received it.

Elementary school education in the Romany language, i.e. studies of the Romany language and national culture, has been provided since the school year 1997/1998. The relevant institutions include 2 elementary schools in the Backa Palanka municipality; the elementary school 'Dr. Milan Petrovic'; and the elementary school at Obrenovac near Belgrade. These schools are facing difficulties in these classes in the Romany language. This is due to their staffing, methodology, etc. As a result, they do not meet the Roma's needs. It is only after the school year 1999/2000 was over that the Primer was published in the Romany language. Other relevant textbooks and teaching aids were under preparation and expected to be available for the school year 2000/2001.

Given their population potential, the Roma are under-represented in the social and political life of the country. At the Federal Ministry of National and Ethnic Communities, there is one Roma employed as Adviser. There are no Roma in the Federal and Republican Parliaments. One Roma serves as the Vice-Chairman of the Executive Committee of the Nis Municipal Assembly and another two serve as Counselors in Mladenovac and Aleksinac.

The first attempt at organizing the Roma in Yugoslavia was registered in 1927 when the 'First Serbian-Roma Cooperative for Mutual Aid in Sickness and in Death' was established in Belgrade. Soon thereafter, in 1935, the 'Association of the Belgrade Gypsies Celebrating the Day of Little Aunt Bibija as their Patron Saint'. In the late 1930s, the 'Yugoslav Gipsy Youth Educational Club' was in operation in Belgrade. Also active was the Editorial Board of the magazine 'Romano Lil' (Roma Reader) started up by the then well-known Belgrade attorney-at-law Svetozar Simic. After the Second World War, the Roma re-activated their organizations by establishing the 'Cultural-Educational Community of the Gypsies of Serbia'. Since 1969 over 100 Roma social, political and trade associations have been established. Among the first to be established were the Society 'Rom' (Roma) in Belgrade and a few more in Nis and other centers in Serbia.

The most important Roma associations in present-day Yugoslavia include: the Union of the Yugoslav Roma Societies; the Union of the Serbian Roma Societies; the Roma Homeland Society, established in 1996 in Novi Sad; the Roma Language and Literature Society active since 1987; and the Association of the Roma of Montenegro. The numerous Roma-established NGOs concerned with the promotion of this people's status include, among other, the Roma Cultural Center; the Center '8th April'; and the Women's Autonomous Center 'Bibija', Belgrade; the YU Roma Center, Nis; the Roma Information Center; and the Committee on the Protection of the Roma's Human Rights in the FRY in Kragujevac; and the Roma Students' Union active in Belgrade, Novi Sad and Nis.

The first authentic Roma political party - the Social-Democratic Party of the Roma - was founded in 1990 but was short-lived. In the early 1990s, the Democratic Political Party of the Roma was active for a while in Kragujevac. At present, the Democratic Community of the Roma of Yugoslavia is active as well as the Roma Congress Party and the Democratic Union of the Roma.

Since 1989, the Roma Dr. Rajko Djuric, Dragoljub Ackovic, Trifun Dimic and Djura Simic have played an active part in the activities of the Serbian Academy of Sciences and Arts within the Commission on the Study of the Life and the Customs of the Roma.

The Roma's cultural achievements are numerous and influence, in many segments, the cultures of other peoples as well. In the past decade, the New Testament and the 'Pentateuch' (first five books of the Old Testament) were translated into Romany; several collections of poems by Roma poets were published; and an alternative Roma theater was founded. Renowned artists including actors, composers, film directors and theater producers, painters, etc. have promoted the Romany language. The traditional meetings of Roma amateurs were known as the 'Festival of the Roma's Cultural Achievements'. In the past this Festival used to be the central meeting place for the Roma in their cultural pursuits but this is no longer the case.

Information in Romany in FR Yugoslavia is provided by TV and radio stations in Novi Sad, Nis and in smaller regional centers. The editorial policy of these media focuses for the most part on cultural achievements of and regular updates on the Roma. There is a Roma Desk in Radio Belgrade that is about reintroduce its programs in the Romany language. Of late, a radio program, prepared by enthusiasts rallied around the Center '8th April', has been regularly broadcast through Serbia's independent media network.

In the past few years, the largest number of titles in Romany were published by the publishing house 'Rromainter-press' that publishes a quarterly 'Romano Lil' (Roma Reader) and sporadically the children periodical 'Chavrikano Lil' (Children's Reader) and the scientific journal 'Romological Studies'. The Roma Language and Literature Society publishes the journal 'Romology' and the monthly 'Alav e Romengo' (Voice of the Roma).

Programs in Romany are broadcast through the entire network of RTV Serbia as well as through the satellite network (90 minutes per month). Television Novi Sad broadcasts a half-hour weekly program 'Kulturako aresipe' (Cultural Achievements); a 90-minute program 'Drom Rromano' (Roma Road); a one-hour program 'Them Rromano' (Roma Country); and 60 minutes of entertainment and music. The Second RTS Channel broadcasts the program 'Amen Adjef' (We Today) every week. A daily three-hour program in Romany is broadcast in Novi Sad, and the network of independent stations of Serbia broadcasts a daily program in Romany. At Radio Belgrade there is a Romany Desk but for quite some time it has not had any broadcasts although it used to produce a daily 30-minute program until several years ago.

S l o v a k s

According to the latest population census, 66,863 Slovaks lived in FR Yugoslavia. The largest number of persons belonging to this people - 63,545 live in Vojvodina where they account for 3.2 percent of its population. In the Backi Petrovac municipality, the Slovaks form the absolute majority of the population (70.8 percent). They live in considerable numbers also in the following municipalities: Kovacica (40.8 percent); Bac (21.4 percent); Stara Pazova (12 percent) and Backa Palanka (11.3 percent). 92.83 percent of the Slovak population in Vojvodina live in these municipalities and in Novi Sad and the Slovak language is used on an equal footing with Serbian there.

As academician Jan Kmec wrote, thanks to their own understanding of freedom, the Vojvodinian Slovaks preserved their national singularity. At the same time, their 'creative and cultural contribution to overall-Slovak developments, starting with the days of the 'Narodni preporod' (People's Rebirth), played a major role in shaping both Slovak and broader Slavic cosmopolitan and humanist values. In the past, the Slovaks influenced the development of civil society in Vojvodina. They did it through their religious and cultural activist Jan Scehl, philologist and historian Pavel Josef Safarik and others. As early as in 1849, the Slovaks requested from the Imperial authorities the permission to establish a grammar school in Backi Petrovac. In 1864 a children and youth magazines were published in the Slovak language in Novi Sad and a Slovak theater was founded in 1866 in Backi Petrovac.

In present-day Yugoslavia, the Slovaks maintain the tradition of a people that has managed to integrate in the broader community without compromising its cultural, linguistic, religious and national identity. During the 1960s and 1970s, the naïve painters from Kovacica - Martin Jonas, Jan Knjazovac, Zuzana Halupova, etc. -made a particular contribution to the culture of the Vojvodinian Slovaks. The Ethno-center 'Babka' from Kovacica takes care of the works of these painters and their followers.

Members of the Slovak national minority play a conspicuous role in the political, cultural and scientific life of the country. This is mostly so thanks to the large number of professionals who won a good name for themselves in their profession and in the broader community. There are also Slovak minority members who are conspicuous thanks to having rallied around authentic Slovak institutions such as the Slovak Homeland Society, reactivated after six decades in 1990 with its seat in Backi Petrovac, and the Society of Slovakists of Vojvodina established in 1969 in Novi Sad.

The Slovaks always took care that their children received instruction in their mother tongue so that in the school year 2000/2001, 3,568 children received this instruction at 17 elementary schools in 12 Vojvodinian municipalities. However, the total number of Slovak elementary school children is 4,542. This means that as many as 76.35 percent of children receive schooling in their mother tongue. Compared to the previous school year, the number of pupils receiving instruction in Slovak has decreased by 163 or 4.37 percent and the total number of Slovak elementary school children - by as many as 233 or 4.77 percent.

Of the 23.65 percent of children attending classes in Serbian, 90 receive bilingual instruction. These children are taught the 'Slovak language with elements of national culture' as an optional subject, twice a week. This form of instruction is provided in 12 municipalities and at 38 elementary schools with 677 pupils including 67 children that are not of Slovak nationality.

Instruction for retarded children is organized in Novi Sad and Backi Petrovac and there are 42 pupils receiving it.

Secondary school instruction in the Slovak language is provided at the grammar schools 'Jan Kolar' in Backi Petrovac and 'Mihajlo Pupin' in Kovacica. 392 students receive schooling there in 14 classes. Of the total number of elementary school children that received instruction in Slovak, 19.63 percent continue their education in their mother tongue.

However, the total number of secondary school students of Slovak nationality in the school year 2000/2001 was 1,633 or 1.94 percent. Compared to the school year 1999/2000, the number decreased by 134 students. Most received their schooling in the following municipalities: Novi Sad (478); Backi Petrovac (251); Stara Pazova (169); Kovacica (140); and Zrenjanin (105). In the remaining 18 municipalities the number of students of this nationality ranges from 67 to 1.

Consequently, 1,265 Slovak students or 77.47 percent received instruction in the Serbian language. 177 of them, enrolled in 5 secondary schools in 2 municipalities, opted for the subject 'Slovak language with the elements of national culture'. Compared to the previous situation, the number of those interested in this instruction form fell by 15 students.

In the current school year, at the Novi Sad University, there were 137 Slovak students studying at two-year post-secondary and 388 at universities and equivalent institutions. 37 students receive their schooling at the Faculty of Philosophy in Novi Sad, at the Department of Slovak Language and Literature. 82 students or 19.85 percent of the total number of Slovak students receive instruction completely or in part in the Slovak language.

There are 26 teachers and associates of Slovak nationality providing instruction at 6 faculties and 3 two-year post-secondary schools in Vojvodina.

Since 1953 the Publishing House 'Kultura' (Culture) has on average published 13 titles in Slovak a year with a circulation of up to 600 copies each. Increasingly active has also been the Publishing House 'Hlas Ludi' (Voice of the People) that publishes the news and political weekly of the same name; a supplement for farmers 'Pol'nohospodarske Rozhl'ady' (Agricultural Review); the youth magazine 'Vzlet' (Soaring Up); the children magazine 'Zornicka' (Dawn) and the family magazine 'Rovina' (Lowlands). This House has made a particular contribution to the development of culture of the Vojvodinian Slovaks by publishing the Bulletin of the Society of Slovakists of Vojvodina.

The libraries in Vojvodina in the Slovak language hold 37,270 books in the Slovak language. In the field of literature in the Slovak language, The libraries in Backi Petrovac, Stara Pazova and Novi Sad have the largest number of titles. In 9 other municipalities it is possible to find particular titles in this language.

Information of members of the Slovak national minority in their mother tongue is also provided through electronic media. Namely, RTS Novi Sad broadcasts various programs on topics ranging from news and education to entertainment. In Backi Petrovac, all broadcasts by the local TV Station 'Petrovec' are in Slovak.

State-owned radio broadcasts 6 hours of programs in the Slovak language per week and 8 other local radio stations also put on air programs in this language.

Amateur actors who are active at the Theater 'Vladimir Hurban-Vladimirov' uphold the tradition of theater life of the Slovaks in Vojvodina. This theater has its stages in Backi Petrovac, Stara Pazova and Kovacica. Apart from this, there are 15 amateur culture and arts societies in the towns and villages where the Slovaks live in significant numbers.

The Slovaks present their achievements in the field of culture and folklore at their traditional events: the Slovak People's Festival and 'Sing and Dance' (in Backi Petrovac), 'Pivnica Field' (at Pivnica), 'Tancuj, tancuj' (Dance, dance), (in Glozan); 'Golden Dam' (at Kisac); the Festivals of Amateur Slovak Theaters of Vojvodina; the Festival of Children Theaters; and the Festival of Modern Slovak Drama.

U k r a i n i a n s

In FR Yugoslavia, 4,565 citizens of Ukrainian nationality live in AP Vojvodina accounting for 0.22 percent of the total population of the province. The majority of persons belonging to the Ukrainian nationality inhabit the municipalities of Vrbas, Kula, Sremska Mitrovica, Indjija, Bac and Novi Sad.

Children of Ukrainian nationality are taught their mother tongue at 5 elementary schools in the municipalities of Vrbas and Kula. The Ukrainian nationality members foster the Ukrainian cultural heritage through their culture and arts societies 'Ivan Senjuk' in Kula and 'Carpathians' in Vrbas. The magazine 'Ukrainian Word' is published in Ukrainian. The Society for Ukrainian Language, Literature and Culture has been established in order to foster this language.

Radio Novi Sad broadcasts a one-hour weekly program in Ukrainian just like the local radio stations in Kula and in Vrbas.

V l a c h s

The Vlach ethnic community lives in North-Eastern Serbia that has 17,672 members in this part of the country. In Montenegro and Kosovo there were 3 members of this minority each and in Vojvodina - 132. There is no municipality, not even the Homolje area or the Timok River Krajina (Military March), where the Vlachs mostly live, where they form a majority in the population of the local community.

The comparison of the results of the census is confusing and difficult to explain in demographic parlance. Namely, in 1948, 93,444 citizens of the second Yugoslavia declared that they belonged to the Vlach ethnic group; soon thereafter, in 1954, this number dwindled to a third, i.e. to 28,047. After the 1961 census, this number plummeted to the negligible level of 1,369 persons. The following three censuses monitoring the changes in the makeup of the population on a ten-year basis indicated the influence of non-demographic factors on the Vlachs' ethnical commitment. In 1971, 14,730 persons belonging to this community were registered, in 1981 - 25,597 and in the most recent census this figure once again fell to 17,810 citizens.

Anthropologists, ethnologists and particularly historians have their dilemmas about the origin of the Vlachs and wonder whether they are an indigenous ancient Balkan people whose members gradually embraced the values of the majority Slav and Romanian neighbors or an indigenous population of Romanian extraction. Members of this people, undoubtedly, have borderland characteristics and the language, folklore and, partly, customs point to their Romanian origin while a part of their customs, personal names and toponyms support the claims that Vlachs are of an ancient Balkan or Slav origin.

All the existing differences notwithstanding, the representatives of the Vlach minority in present-day Yugoslavia stress their Romanian origin and prove it by fostering the identical rites and customs as those existing in the Romanian population and by speaking the language that is one of the archaic dialects of Romanian. The Vlachs in FR Yugoslavia have their political organizations (the 'Movements of the Romanians and Vlachs of Yugoslavia' in Zajecar and the 'People's Independent Party of the Vlachs' in Kladovo) and social organizations ('Forum for the Culture of the Vlachs' in Bor). They highlight the need to secure forms of protection and promote the rights of the Vlachs in Yugoslavia such as information, education, participation in political and social life, official use of their language, etc.

The Vlach minority members pursue their cultural activities at their folklore societies that guard and hand over their traditions. Their best-known annual events include the 'Slatina Gathering'; the 'Motifs from Homolje'; and the Culture and Arts Societies Fair 'From May to May'.

Smaller minority communities contributing to FR Yugoslavia's multiculturalism

The population of FR Yugoslavia also includes members of other national and ethnic communities. Although their percentage in the population makeup is low, they nevertheless contribute to the country's multi-cultural treasure. Some of these minorities, like the Turks and the Tsintsars, that are most often included under the heading 'Others' in statistical forms, left an indelible imprint in the past on the culture of the peoples living in FR Yugoslavia. Other so-called 'new' minority communities, like the Slovenes and Macedonians, form part of the corps of the constituent peoples from the previous two Yugoslav states. The Czechs, Poles and Jews, albeit present in small numbers only, have helped to a significant extent shape institutions of civil society in Serbia. Lastly, the small number of members of the Russian minority, who came to Vojvodina in several migration streams following the First World War, have also managed to preserve their community.

In is noteworthy that in certain cases members of small minority communities in our country inhabit compact areas. The Gorantsi and the Turks live in parts of Kosovo and Metohija; the Macedonians - in Kacarevo and Jabuka; the Czechs - in the area around Kovin; and the Jews, Poles, Tsintsars and the Slovenes live mostly in urban areas. When they are highly concentrated, minority populations in ethnically homogeneous areas in FR Yugoslavia have better social and political organizations. The interests of Turk minority members are represented by the Democratic Party of the Turks in Prizren; the Gorantsi are represented by their National Association; and the Czechs - by the 'Ceska Beseda' (Czech Society) in Kovin. With the exception of the Jewish municipalities that are active in a number of towns in the FRY, the organizations of the dispersed and small minorities active in Yugoslavia also include the Tsintsar association 'Lunjina'.

In the past decade, a new ethnic community emerged in Kosovo and Metohija - the Hashkalis/Egyptians. Experts in ethnology, anthropology, history and others, have many dilemmas regarding the identity of this ethnic group. This population, that mostly inhabits Kosovo in Yugoslavia, and parts of Macedonia and Albania, was for a long time identified with the Roma or with the Albanians due to their unfavorable social status and language. However, with the onset of crisis in Yugoslavia, the representatives of the Hashkalis/Egyptians demanded the recognition of their national identity. The arguments in favor of the promotion of their national rights made them adopt different opinions. Professor Marsel Kortiade believes that the Hashkalis were a population that, in a migration stream, left Egypt and settled in the Balkans in the 3rd century A.D. and that they differ by the organization of their life, customs and national awareness from the population with which they were usually identified. According to this researcher, their ethnic 'mimicry' was institutionalized by the Empires and the states that had jurisdiction over parts of South-East Europe that the Hashkalis inhabited. Although they called each other the Hashkalis, the loss of their language led to their 'disappearance' for those around them.

The name 'Egyptians', as Kortiade explains, was only given in this century when the younger generations became aware of their country of origin and sought to institutionalize their status recalling the facts that speak in favor of their linguistic, socio-anthropological and other diversity.

There are no reliable data indicating how many Hashkalis/Egyptians live in Yugoslavia and the estimates made by their representatives are that there are as many as 80,000 persons belonging to this minority that used to live mostly in Kosovo and nowadays inhabit different parts of the country. Several associations of the Egyptians have been registered in Belgrade. In Novi Sad there is the Hashkali Homeland Society and the Political Party that represents this people's interests. Of late, the Hashkali Homeland Society has started up a magazine and a radio program in their language is about to be launched in Novi Sad.

The representatives of the Egyptians and the Hashkalis in Yugoslavia do not have identical views on the past and the future of this ethnic community but point out that these are two different ethnic 'masses'.

Given these characteristics, the historical circumstances of the migrations, the overlapping of cultures and ethnos, the multicultural and multi-confessional nature of the Yugoslav society, there is no doubt that no national community in FR Yugoslavia is an island. Instead, it is part and parcel of society in which it has its distinctive place based on its ethnic origin, tradition, language and other specific features.

APPENDIX II

The Federal Republic of Yugoslavia shall be a sovereign federal state, founded on the equality of citizens and the equality of its member republics.

The Federal Republic of Yugoslavia shall recognize and guarantee the rights and freedoms of man and the citizen recognized under international law.

The Federal Republic of Yugoslavia shall recognize and guarantee the rights of national minorities to preserve, foster and express their ethnic, cultural, linguistic and other peculiarities, as well as to use their national symbols, in accordance with international law.

In the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia, the Serbian language in its ekavian and ijekavian dialects and the Cyrillic script shall be official, while the Latin script shall be in official use as provided for by the Constitution and law.

In regions of the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia inhabited by national minorities, the languages and scripts of these minorities shall also be in official use in the manner prescribed by law.

The Federal Republic of Yugoslavia shall fulfill in good faith the obligations contained in international treaties to which it is a contracting party.

International treaties which have been ratified and promulgated in conformity with the present Constitution and generally accepted rules of international law shall be a constituent part of the internal legal order.

Churches shall be free and equal in conducting religious affairs and in the performance of religious rites.

Citizens shall be equal irrespective of their nationality, race, sex, language, faith, political or other beliefs, education, social origin, property, or other personal status.

Each person shall be duty bound to respect the rights and freedoms of others and shall be held responsible for it.

No one may be deprived of his liberty except in cases and according to the procedure laid down by federal law.

Every person taken into custody must be informed immediately in his mother tongue or in a language which he understands of the reasons for his arrest, and he shall be entitled to demand that the authorities inform his next of kin of his detention.

The detained person shall be entitled to choose his own defense counsel. Illegal arrests shall be a punishable offense.

Every person shall be entitled to equal protection of his rights in a legally prescribed procedure.

Everyone shall be guaranteed the right of appeal or resort to other legal remedies against a decision which infringes a right or legally founded interest.

A wrongfully convicted or wrongfully detained person shall be entitled to rehabilitation and to compensation for damages from the state, and to other rights as envisaged by federal law.

Citizens shall have the right to express and publish their opinions in the mass media.

The publication of newspapers and public dissemination of information by other media shall be accessible to all, without prior approval, after registration with the competent authorities.

The right to have published false information which violates someone's rights or interests corrected shall be guaranteed. Entitlement to compensation for damages arising therefrom, shall be guaranteed.

Censorship of the press and of other forms of public information shall be prohibited.

No one may prevent the distribution of the press or dissemination of other publications, unless it has been determined by a court decision that they call for the violent overthrow of the constitutional order or violation of the territorial integrity of the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia, violate the guaranteed rights and liberties of man and the citizen, or foment national, racial or religious intolerance and hatred.

Citizens shall be guaranteed the freedom of assembly and other peaceful gathering, without the requirement of a permit, subject to prior notification of the authorities. Freedom of assembly and other peaceful gathering of citizen may be provisionally restricted by a decision of the competent authorities, in order to obviate a threat to public health or morals or for the protection of the safety of human lives and property.

The freedom of political, trade-union and other association and activities shall be guaranteed, without the requirement of a permit, subject to registration with the competent authorities.

Trade unions shall be set up to protect the rights and promote the professional and economic interests of their members.

Activities of political, trade-union, and other organizations aimed at the violent overthrow of the constitutional order, violation of the territorial integrity of the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia, violation of the guaranteed rights and liberties of man and the citizen, or the incitement of national, racial, religious or other intolerance and hatred shall be prohibited.

The founding of secret societies and paramilitary groups shall be prohibited. Professional members of the armed forces and police force of the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia may not organize in trade unions.

Justices of the Federal Constitutional Court and the Federal Court, the Federal Public Prosecutor, professional members of the armed forces and police force of the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia may not belong to political parties.

Freedom of religion, public or private profession of religion, and performance of religious rites shall be guaranteed. No one shall be obliged to reveal his religious beliefs.

Freedom of the expression of national sentiments and culture and the use of one's mother tongue and script shall be guaranteed.

Members of national minorities shall have the right to education in their own language, in conformity with the law.

Members of national minorities shall have the right to information media in their own language.

Member of national minorities shall have the right to establish educational and cultural organizations or associations, in conformity with the law, which are financed on the principle of voluntary contributions, and may also receive assistance from the state.

Members of national minorities shall be guaranteed the right to establish and foster unhindered relations with co-nationals within the Republic of Yugoslavia and outside its borders with co-nationals in other states, and to take part in international non-governmental organizations, provided these relations are not detrimental to the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia or to a member republic.

Everyone shall be guaranteed the right to use his own language in proceedings before a tribunal or other authority or organization which in the performance of their public powers decide on his rights and duties and in the course of these proceedings to be informed of the facts in hi own language.

Any incitement or encouragement of national, racial, religious or other inequality as well as the incitement and fomenting of national, racial, religious or other hatred and intolerance shall be unconstitutional and punishable.

The rights and freedoms of man and the citizen shall be exercised and duties fulfilled in conformity with the Constitution.

The manner in which various rights and freedoms of man and the citizen are to be exercised may be prescribed by law when so provided for by the Constitution or when necessary for their implementation.

Abuse of the rights and freedoms of man and the citizen shall be unconstitutional and punishable.

The rights and freedoms recognized and guaranteed by the present Constitution shall enjoy the protection of the courts.

2.conformity of statutes, other laws and general enactments with the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia and with ratified and promulgated international treaties;

6.complaints about a ruling or action violating the rights and freedoms of man and the citizen enshrined in the present Constitution;

The Federal Constitutional Court shall decide on a complaint when other legal remedies are not available.

In the Republic of Serbia everything shall be permitted unless it has been prohibited by the Constitution and law.

Guaranteed and recognized by the Constitution are the individual, political, national, economic, social, cultural, and other rights of man and citizen.

In the Republic of Serbia the Serbo-Croatian language and the Cyrillic alphabet shall be officially used, while the Latinic alphabet shall be officially used in the manner established by law.

In the regions of the Republic of Serbia inhabited by national minorities, their own languages and alphabets shall be officially used as well, in the manner established by law.

The freedoms and rights of man and citizen are restricted only by equal freedoms and rights enjoyed by others, and when so provided by the Constitution.

Freedoms and rights shall be exercised and duties fulfilled on the ground of the Constitution, unless the Constitution provides that the conditions of exercising specific freedoms and rights shall be spelled out by law.

The manner of exercising specific freedoms and rights may be determined by law if this is necessary for their exercise.

Abuse of the freedoms and rights of man and citizen is unconstitutional and shall be punished in the manner prescribed by law.

Judicial protection of the freedoms and rights guaranteed and recognized by the Constitution is ensured.

Citizens are equal in their rights and duties and have equal protection before the State and other authorities, irrespective of their race, sex, birth, language, nationality, religion, political or other belief, level of education, social origin, property status, or any other personal attribute.

Everyone is entitled to equal protection of his rights in the proceedings before a court of law, a State agency of any other agency or organization.

Every individual is guaranteed the right to appeal or to apply other legal remedy against a decision concerning his right or interest founded on law.

Members of other nations and national minorities have the right to education in their own language in accordance with law.

Freedom of religion, which includes the freedom of belief, confession of faith and performance of religious rites, shall be guaranteed.

Religious communities shall be separated from the State and shall be free in the conduct of religious affairs and performance of religious rites.

A religious community may establish religious schools and charitable organizations.

Citizens are guaranteed the freedom of assembly and other kinds of gathering without seeking permission, subject to a previous notification of the competent agency.

The freedom of assembly and other gathering of citizens may be restricted by a decision of the competent agency, for the purpose of preventing the obstruction of traffic, threat to public health, public morals or safety of persons and property.

The freedom of political, trade-union and other forms of organization and action without seeking permission, subject to registration with the competent agency, shall be guaranteed.

Any activity aiming at a forcible changing of the order established by the Constitution, violation of the territorial integrity and independence of the Republic of Serbia, violation of freedoms and rights of man and citizen guaranteed by the Constitution, and the provocation and fomenting of national, racial, and religious intolerance and hatred, shall be prohibited.

The freedom of conscience, thought and public expression of opinion shall be guaranteed.

Citizens shall have the right to express and make public their opinions in the public information media.

Publication of newspapers and dissemination of information by other means shall be accessible to everyone without seeking permission, subject to registration with the competent agency.

Radio and television broadcasting organizations shall be established in accordance with law.

The right to correction of published incorrect information which violates someone's right or interest, as well as the right to compensation for any moral and property damage arising therefrom, shall be guaranteed.

The censorship of press and other public information media shall be prohibited. No one may obstruct the distribution of the press and dissemination of other information, except when the competent court of law finds by its decision that they call for the forcible overthrow of the order established by the Constitution, violation of the territorial integrity and independence of the Republic of Serbia, violation of guaranteed freedoms and rights of man and citizen, or incite and foment national, racial or religious intolerance and hatred.

The public information media which are financed from public funds shall be bound to provide the general public with timely and impartial information.

A citizen shall be guaranteed the freedom to express his national affiliation and culture, and freedom to use his language and alphabet.

CONSTITUTION OF THE REPUBLIC OF MONTENEGRO

LANGUAGE AND ALPHABET

In Montenegro Serbian language of the iekavian dialect will be the official language.

In the municipalities in which the majority or a substantial number of population consists of the national minorities and ethnic groups, their respective languages and alphabets shall be in the official use.

RELIGION

The Orthodox Church, Islamic religious community, the Roman Catholic Church and other faiths shall be separate from the state. All the faiths shall be deemed to be equal and free in the performance of their religious rites and affairs.

All the religious denominations will independently arrange their interior organisation and religious affairs within the legal set-up.

FREEDOM AND EQUALITY

All citizens and free and equal regardless of any particularities and/or other personal attributes.

PROTECTION

Everyone is entitled to an equal protection of his freedoms and rights in the procedure prescribed by law.

RIGHT OF APPEAL

Everyone is guaranteed the right to an appeal or some other legal remedy against the decisions deciding on his rights or interests based on the law.

DETENTION

The seizure or detention must be understood by the arrested person to be an arrest, promptly and in his own language or in the language which he understands, and the reasons for the arrests must be communicated.

At the request of the person detained, the arresting authority must promptly inform close relations of the detained about his arrest.

Person detained shall have the right to have the defence council of his choice present at the hearing.

FREEDOM OF MAN

Freedom of thought and public expression of opinion, freedom of confession, public or private profession of religion and freedom to express national affiliation, culture and the freedom to use one's own language and alphabet shall be guaranteed.

No person shall be obliged to declare his opinion, confession and national affiliation.

FREEDOM OF PRESS

Citizens shall have the right to express and publish their opinion in the public information media.

Publication of newspapers and public dissemination of information by other media shall be accessible to everyone without prior permission, subject to registration with the competent authority. Radio and television broadcasting organisations shall be established in accordance with law.

RESPONSE, RECTIFICATION, COMPENSATION OF DAMAGES

The right to a response and the right to rectification of incorrect published information or data as well as the right to compensation of damages caused by publishing of incorrect information or data shall be guaranteed.

CENSORSHIP OF PRESS

Censorship of press and of other forms of public information media shall be prohibited.

DISTRIBUTION OF PRESS

No person shall have the right to prevent distribution of press and dissemination of other information except when the competent court of law shall find that they call for a forcible overthrow of the order established by the Constitution, violation of the territorial integrity of Montenegro and the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia, violation of guaranteed freedoms and rights or incite and foment national, racial or religious hatred and intolerance.

FREEDOM OF ASSEMBLY

Citizens shall be guaranteed the right to peacefully assemble without prior approval, subject to prior notification of the competent authorities.

Freedom of association and other peaceful assembly may be provisionally restricted by a decision of the competent authority in order to prevent a threat to public health and morals or for the protection of human lives and property.

FREEDOM OF ASSOCIATION

Citizens shall be guaranteed the freedom of political, trade union and other association and activities, without the requirement of a permit, subject to registration with the competent authorities.

The state shall offer assistance to political, trade union and other associations whenever there is a public interest thereof.

SECRET AND PARA-MILITARY ORGANISATIONS

Activities of political, trade union and other organisations aimed at the violent overthrow of the constitutional order, violation of the territorial integrity of Montenegro and of the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia, violation of guaranteed freedoms and rights of man and citizen or inciting and fomenting of national, racial, religious and other hatred or intolerance shall be prohibited.

Establishment of secret (clandestine) organisations and paramilitary groups shall be prohibited.

INEQUALITY AND INTOLERANCE

Any incitement or encouragement of national, racial, religious and other inequality and incitement and fomenting of national, racial, religious and other hatred or intolerance shall be unconstitutional and punishable.

Citizens shall have the right to participate in regional and international non-governmental organisations.

Citizens shall have the right to address international institutions for purpose of protection of their freedoms and rights guaranteed under the Constitution

EDUCATION

PROTECTION OF IDENTITY

The protection of the national, ethnic, cultural, linguistic and religious identity of the members of national and ethnic groups shall be guaranteed.

Protection of rights of members of national and ethnic groups shall be exercised in accordance with the international protection of human and civic right.

LANGUAGE, ALPHABET, EDUCATION AND INFORMATION

Members of national and ethnic groups shall have the right to free use of their mother tongue and alphabet, the right to education and the right to information in their mother tongue.

SYMBOLS

Members of national and ethnic groups shall have the right to the use and display of their national symbols.

ASSOCIATION

Members of national and ethnic groups shall have the right to establish educational, cultural and religious associations, with the material assistance of the state.

Curriculum of educational institutions shall cover both history and culture of the national and ethnic groups.

LANGUAGE

Members of the national and ethnic groups shall be guaranteed the right to the use of their mother tongue in the proceedings before the state authorities.

REPRESENTATION

Members of the national and ethnic groups shall be guaranteed the right to a proportional representation in the public services, state authorities and in local self-government.

CONTACTS

Members of the national and ethnic groups shall have the right to establish and maintain free contacts with citizens outside of Montenegro with whom they are having a common national and ethnic origin, cultural and historical heritage and religious beliefs, but without any detriment for Montenegro.

RIGHT OF APPEAL

Members of the national and ethnic groups shall have the right to participate in the regional and international non-governmental organisations, and the right to address international institutions for purpose of protection of their freedoms and rights guaranteed by the Constitution.

EXERCISE OF RIGHTS

Special rights granted to members of the national and ethnic groups may not be exercised if they are in contradiction with the Constitution, principles of international law and principle of territorial integrity of Montenegro.

PROTECTION COUNCIL

Republican Council for Protection of Rights of National and Ethnic Groups shall be established in Montenegro, for purpose of preservation and protection of the national, ethnic, cultural, linguistic and religious identity of national and ethnic groups and for the exercise of their rights prescribed by the Constitution.

Republican Council for Protection of Rights of National and Ethnic Groups shall be headed by the President of the Republic.

Composition and competencies of the Republican Council shall be prescribed by the Assembly.

COMPETENCIES

4) decide on constitutional complaints for violation, by individual enactments or deeds, of the freedoms and rights of man and citizen as prescribed by the Constitution, whenever this protection is not within the competencies of the Federal Constitutional Court and whenever some other legal remedy is not prescribed;

This Law regulates the respect for the individual and collective rights guaranteed to the persons belonging to national minorities by the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia or by international agreements.

This Law also regulates the protection of national minorities from all forms of discrimination in exercising their civil rights and freedoms, creates instruments that guarantee and protect special rights of minorities to minority self-governance in the fields of education, use of language, media and culture, and establishes institutions for fostering the participation of national minorities in government and in the management of public affairs.

Issues regulated by this Law can further be regulated by republican or provincial legal rules, in accordance with the Constitution and the Law.

DEFINING A NATIONAL MINORITY

Under the terms of this Law, a national minority is a group of citizens of the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia sufficiently representative, although in a minority position on the territory of the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia, belonging to an autochthonous group of the population with a lasting and firm connection with the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia and possessing some distinctive features, such as language, national or ethnic belonging, origin or religion, upon which it differs from the majority of the population, and its members should show their concern over preservation of their common identity, including culture, tradition, language or religion.

Under the terms of this Law, all groups of citizens who consider or define themselves as peoples, national or ethnic communities, national or ethnic groups, nations or nationalities, and who fulfill the conditions from paragraph 1 of this Article, will be treated as national minorities.

PROHIBITION OF DISCRIMINATION

All forms of discrimination toward persons belonging to national minorities based on national, ethnic, linguistic or racial grounds are prohibited.

Authorities of the federation, republic, autonomous province, town and municipality have no right to pass a law or some other legal normative act, or take measures which are not in accordance with the first paragraph of this Article.

MEASURES FOR SECURING EQUALITY

Authorities of the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia can, in accordance with the Constitution and the Law, pass legal rules, individual legal acts and take measures with the aim of securing full and effective equality for the persons belonging to national minorities and to the majority nation.

Authorities will pass legal acts and take measures from the first paragraph of this Article with the aim of improving the position of persons belonging to Roma national minority.

Legal rules, individual legal acts and measures from the first paragraph of this Article will not be regarded as acts of discrimination.

FREEDOM OF NATIONAL AFFILIATION AND EXPRESSION

In accordance with the freedom of national affiliation and expression of national belonging proclaimed in the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia, no one will suffer any damage as a result of his/her affiliation or expression of national belonging, or of his/her not doing so.

Any registration of persons belonging to national minorities that obliges them to express their national belonging against their will is prohibited.

Any act or measure towards forced assimilation of persons belonging to national minorities is prohibited.

Persons belonging to national minorities have the right to establish and maintain free and peaceful contacts within the FRY and abroad with persons lawfully residing in other states, especially with persons with whom they share common ethnic, cultural, linguistic and religious identity or common cultural heritage.

The State may establish preferential conditions in order to implement the rights from paragraph 1 of this Article.

The rights and freedoms guaranteed by this Law must not be abused for the purposes of violent disturbing of the constitutional order, violations of the territorial integrity of the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia or its member republics, violations of guaranteed rights and freedoms of man and citizen, or for propagating national, ethnic, religious or racial hatred and intolerance.

The rights guaranteed by this Law must not be abused for the fulfillment of aims contrary to the principles of international law or for the purposes aimed against public safety, public morals or public health.

The realization of rights and freedoms envisaged in this Law cannot limit the obligations and responsibilities linked with being a citizen of the state.

PROTECTION OF THE ACQUIRED RIGHTS

This Law does not change or derogate the rights of persons belonging to national minorities, acquired upon legal norms that were in force until the adoption of this Law, or rights acquired according to international conventions to which FRY is a party.

Persons belonging to national minorities have the right to the free choice and use of their personal names and names of their children, and to enter these personal names in all public documents, official registers and registers of personal data in accordance with the rules of the language and orthography of the national minority.

The right from paragraph 1 of this Article does not exclude the parallel entry of names in Serbian orthography and script as well.

FREEDOM TO USE ONE'S MOTHER TONGUE

Persons belonging to national minorities can freely use their language and script in private and in public.

OFFICIAL USE OF LANGUAGE AND ALPHABET

On the territory of the unit of local self-government, where persons belonging to national minorities have lived traditionally, their language and alphabet can be in equal official use.

The unit of local self-government is obliged to enter the language and alphabet of a national minority in official use always if the percentage of that national minority in the total population on their territory reaches 15% according to the latest census.

In the unit of local self-government where the language of a national minority is in official use at the moment of the enactment of this Law, it shall remain in official use.

The official use of the languages of national minorities from paragraph 1 of this Article covers particularly: the use of the minority language in administrative and court procedure; conducting administrative and court procedure in the language of the national minority; the use of the language of national minority in the communication of the authorities with citizens; issuance of public documents, and keeping official registers and registers of personal data also in the language of national minorities, and the acceptance of those public documents as legally valid; the use of the language of national minorities on ballot papers and electoral materials; the use of the language of the national minority in the work of representative bodies.

On the territories from paragraph 2, names of public authorities, names of units of local self-government, of settlements, squares and streets and other toponyms shall also be displayed in the language of the respective national minority according to respective orthography and grammar rules and tradition.

Federal laws and other legal rules are also published in the languages of national minorities in accordance with special legal rules.

Persons belonging to national minorities whose percentage in the total population of FRY reaches 2% according to the latest census, may address federal authorities in their native language with the right to receive a reply in that language.

The Deputy in the Federal Assembly who belongs to a national minority whose percentage in the total population of FRY reaches 2% according to the latest census has the right to address the Assembly in his/her native language, which will be regulated in more detail in the Regulations of the Federal Assembly.

RIGHT TO PRESERVE CULTURE AND TRADITIONS

The expression, preservation, cultivation, promotion, inheritance and public demonstration of the national, ethnic, cultural, religious and linguistic specificity as the part of the tradition of citizens, national minorities and their members, is their inalienable individual and collective right.

For the purpose of protection and promotion of cultural specificity, persons belonging to national minorities have the right to establish specific cultural, artistic and scientific institutions, societies and associations in all areas of cultural and artistic life.

Institutions, societies and associations from the preceding paragraph are independent in their activities. The State will participate in financial support of those societies and associations according to its financial capabilities.

Separate foundations can be established for the purpose of promoting and supporting the institutions, societies and associations from paragraph 5 of this Article.

Museums, archives and institutions for the preservation of cultural monuments will secure the presentation and protection of the cultural and historical heritage of national minorities on their territory. Representatives of National Councils will participate in decision-making regarding the way of presenting the cultural and historical heritage of their community.

EDUCATION IN MOTHER TONGUE

Persons belonging to national minorities have the right to instruction in their own language in pre-school, elementary school and secondary school education.

If at the moment of the enactment of this Law there is no instruction in the language of a national minority within the unified system of public education for the persons belonging to the respective national minority from paragraph 1 of this Article, the state is obliged to create conditions for the organization of instruction in the native language of the national minority, and until then to guarantee the bilingual instruction or the instruction of the minority language with the elements of national history and culture for the persons belonging to the respective national minority.

In the implementation of the rights from paragraph 1 and 2 of this Article, the law may prescribe a specific minimum number of pupils necessary for the realization of these rights. This number can be smaller for persons belonging to national minorities than the determined general minimum that is required for organizing classes and education.

Instruction in the language of national minorities does not exclude the obligatory learning of the Serbian language.

The curricula for the educational needs from paragraph 1 of this Article regarding the national content will comprise topics relating to the history, art and culture of the respective national minority.

The national councils of national minorities shall participate in the preparation of the curricula for the subjects expressing the specificity of national minorities in the language of national minorities, bilingual education and teaching of national minority languages with elements of national minority culture from paragraph 1 of this Article.

The curricula in educational institutions and schools in the Serbian language, in order to foster tolerance with regard to national minorities, have to include a subject containing knowledge of the history, culture and position of national minorities, and other contents fostering mutual tolerance and co-habitation. In territories where the language of the national minority is in official use, the curricula in educational institutions and schools with instruction in Serbian language should also contain the possibility of learning the language of the national minorities.

To satisfy the requirements of the instruction in the language of national minorities in accordance with Article 13 paragraph 1, within university and other tertiary education, the State shall provide departments and faculties where kindergarten nurses, as well as teachers and language teachers in elementary and secondary schools will receive education in the language of national minorities or bilingual education.

Apart from university and other tertiary education from paragraph 1 of this Article, universities shall organize language departments in the languages of national minorities, where the students belonging to national minorities can also learn the technical terms in the language of national minorities.

Apart from the obligations from paragraph 1 and 2 of this Article, the State shall support vocational training and terminological specialization of teachers for the needs arising from paragraph 1 of this Article.

The State shall favor international cooperation with the purpose of enabling the persons belonging to national minorities to study abroad in the language of the respective minority, and validate diplomas acquired in this way in accordance with the Law.

Persons belonging to national minorities have the right to establish private educational institutions, schools and universities, with instruction in the language of the national minorities or bilingual instruction, according to the Law.

In the financing of the instruction in the languages of the national minorities, domestic and foreign organizations, foundations and private persons can also take part, in accordance with the Law.

In the case of financial and other donations from the preceding paragraph, the state will ensure some concessions or discharge from duties.

USE OF NATIONAL SYMBOLS

Persons belonging to national minorities have the right to choose and to use their national symbols.

National symbols and holidays of national minorities are proposed by national councils. National symbols and holidays of national minorities are acknowledged by the Federal Council for National Minorities.

National symbols of the respective national minority can be officially used during the state holidays and the holidays of the respective national minority on buildings and on the premises of local authorities and institutions on the territory where the language of the national minority is in official use.

In the official use described in the paragraph 2 of this Article, the symbols of the FRY and the member republic shall be displayed together with the symbols of the national minorities.

MEDIA IN NATIONAL MINORITY LANGUAGES

Persons belonging to national minorities have the right to be fully and impartially informed in their own language, and the right to express, receive, send and exchange information and ideas through printed media and other means of public information.

In TV and radio programs the state will ensure informative, cultural and educational contents in the language of national minorities, and it can also establish separate radio and TV stations broadcasting programs in languages of national minorities.

Persons belonging to national minorities have the right to establish and maintain media in their own language.

EFFECTIVE PARTICIPATION IN DECISION-MAKING ON ISSUES RELATED TO MINORITY SPECIFICITIES, IN GOVERNMENT AND IN ADMINISTRATION

FEDERAL COUNCIL FOR NATIONAL MINORITIES

For the sake of preserving, promoting and protecting the national, ethnic, religious, linguistic and cultural specificity of persons belonging to national minorities, and for the sake of implementing their rights, the Government of the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia will establish the Federal Council for National Minorities (hereafter the "Council").

The composition and the jurisdiction of the Council will be determined by the Federal Government.

Representatives of national councils of national minorities will be the members of the Council.

NATIONAL COUNCILS OF NATIONAL MINORITIES

Persons belonging to national minorities can elect national councils (hereafter the “council”) for the purpose of exercising their right to self-governance in the fields of the use of language and alphabet, education, media and culture.

Depending on the total number of persons belonging to national minorities, the council will have at least 15 members, or 35 members at most, who will be elected for a 4-year term.

The council enacts its statute and budget in accordance with the Constitution and the Law.

The Register of elected national councils is managed by the competent federal authority.

The council represents a national minority in the fields of use of language, education, informing in the language of the national minority and culture, participates in decision-making or decides on questions belonging to those fields and establishes institutions working in those fields.

Authorities of the state, territorial autonomy or unit of local self-government are obliged to consult the council when deciding on issues mentioned in paragraph 7 of this Article.

The council may address the authorities from paragraph 8 of this Article in connection with all the issues affecting the rights and position of national minorities.

Some competencies from fields mentioned in paragraph 7 of this Article may be directly delegated to these councils, and the State shall set aside finances for the realization of those competencies.

The scope and nature of competencies from paragraph 10 of this Article will, among other things, depend on the claim of the respective national council.

The councils will be formed according to the principles of free will, election, proportionality and democracy.

FEDERAL FUND FOR NATIONAL MINORITIES

The Federal Fund for the promotion of the social, economic, cultural and overall development of national minorities (hereafter the "Fund") will be established.

The Fund shall take part in the financing, from budgetary resources, of activities and projects related to the improvement of the position and development of the cultural creativity of national minorities.

The Federal Government shall enact closer legal regulations to regulate the composition and activities of the Fund.

In the course of employment in public services, including the police, it is obligatory to take care of the national composition of the population, adequate representation and the knowledge of the languages spoken in the territory of the authority or service.

All measures are prohibited which change the proportion of the population in areas inhabited by national minorities and which hamper the exercising of the rights of national minorities.

PROTECTION OF RIGHTS BY COURTS

For the purpose of the protection of their rights, persons belonging to national minorities and national councils can launch a lawsuit to the competent court, demanding compensation.

In accordance with the provisions of the Law on the Federal Constitutional Court, the Federal Ministry of National and Ethnic Communities and the councils of national minorities are empowered to file a complaint to the Federal Constitutional Court in case they judge that the constitutional rights and freedoms of persons belonging to national minorities were violated, or in case they are addressed by a person belonging to a national minority who claims that his constitutional rights and liberties were violated.

TRANSITIONAL AND CONCLUDING PROVISIONS

Until Article 19 paragraph 13 of this Law is passed, the councils will be elected by assemblies of electors of national minorities.

Every deputy in the Assembly of the FRY, member republic or autonomous province elected due to his belonging to a national minority, or a deputy who declared his/her belonging to the national minority an who speaks the language of the minority, has the right to be the elector from paragraph 1 of this Article.

The elector of a national minority from paragraph 1 of this Article can also be any deputy belonging to a national minority elected in the unit of local self-government in which the minority language is in official use.

Every citizen who declared his belonging to a respective national minority and whose candidacy is supported by at least 100 persons belonging to a national minority with electoral right, or who is the candidate of a national organization or an association of respective national minority, also has the right to be the elector.

Other matters related to the competences and the way of work of the assemblies of electors of national minorities will be regulated by the federal authority in charge of the rights of minorities in the course of 30 days after this Law enters into force.

This Law will enter into force on the eighth day after its publication in the Official Gazette of FRY.

(1) The administrative body carries out proceedings in the Serbian language of »ekavski” or “jekavski” dialect and uses the Cyrillic script in such proceedings, and also uses the Latin script as prescribed by the law. In regions in which, according to the law, a language of a national minority is also in official use, the proceedings are held also in the language of the relevant national minority, with the use of the script used by such national minority.

(2) If the proceedings are not held in the mother tongue of the party, or other participants in the proceedings, who are Yugoslav citizens, interpreting will be provided through interpreters into their language, and all written communications and suppinas will be handed over in their language and script.

(3) Parties and other participants in the proceedings who are not Yugoslav citizens are entitled to follow the proceedings through an interpreter and have the right to use their language during the proceedings.

POPULATION, HOUSEHOLDS AND APARTMENTS CENSUS LAW

The person included in the census is not obliged to express his national identity, and the census form must contain information stating this.

Data bases containing personal data, parts of such data bases or individual data contained therein may be used for scientific, educational or similar ends in forms that do not enable identification of the citizen.

Personal data on race origin, ethnicity, religious and other affiliations, political and trade union affiliations, sexual life, may be collected, processed and given for use only with a written consent of the citizen concerned.

CRIMINAL CODE

1. Who, by propaganda, or in another manner provokes or disseminates national, racial, or religious animosity or discord among the nations or nationalities that live in SFRY, shall be punished by imprisonment from 1 to 10 years.

2. Who, by insulting citizens or in another manner provokes national, racial, or religious intolerance, shall be punished by imprisonment from 3 months to 3 years.

A person shall be punished by imprisonment from 6 months to 5 years, who, on grounds on race, color of skin, nationality or ethnic origin violates fundamental human rights and freedoms recognized by the international community.

A person shall be punished by the punishment prescribed in paragraph 1. that exercises prosecution of organizations or individuals because of their advocating of equality of people (...), a person that disseminates ideas of the superiority of one race over another or advocates racial hatred or instigates racial discrimination.

An official shall be punished by imprisonment from 3 months to 5 years who, on grounds of difference of nationality, race, confession, ethnicity, gender, language, education or social position denies or limits the rights of citizens set down by the constitution, law or other regulation or general act, or that on grounds of these differences give citizens privileges or other advantages.

LITIGATION LAW

Litigation proceedings are carried out in the Serbian language of »ekavski” or “jekavski” dialect and with the use of the Cyrillic script, while the Latin script is used as prescribed by the Constitution and the law. In regions in which, according to the law, a language of a national minority is also in official use, the proceedings are held also in the language of the relevant national minority, with the use of the script used by such national minority.

Parties and other participants in the proceedings are entitled to use their own language and script, according tpo stipulations of this law.

If a language of a nationality of Yugoslavia is also in official use in court, the court shall deliver court documents in this language to the parties and participants in the procedure that are members of that nationality that use this language in the procedure.

The parties and other participants in the procedure submit to the court their petitions, appeals and other submissions in the language of the nation or nationality that is in official use in court.

The parties and other participants in the procedure may submit to the court their submissions also in the language of a nationality of Yugoslavia that is not in the official use in court, if it is in accordance with the constitution, law or other regulation that apply to the territory of that court.

Translation expenses into the language of a nation or nationality of Yugoslavia that derive from the application of the provisions of the constitution and this law regarding the right of members of nations and nationalities of Yugoslavia to use their language are credited to the funds of the court.

A gross breach of the provisions of civil procedure exists if the court, contrary to the provisions of this law, rejects the request of a party to use its language and script and to follow the proceedings in its language.

LAW ON THE ELECTION OF FEDERAL DEPUTIES TO THE CHAMBER OF CITIZENS OF THE FEDERAL ASSEMBLY

The federal election commission prescribes in detail the form and appearance of the ballot paper, the manner and supervision overtheir printing and handling.

Only election lists which have won at least 5% of the total number of voters who have voted in a electoral unit participate in the distribution of mandates.

LAW ON THE ELECTION OF FEDERAL DEPUTIES TO THE CHAMBER OF REPUBLICS OF THE FEDERAL ASSEMBLY

For the purposes of this Law, the election right includes the right of a citizen: to elect and to be elected,; to propose candidates and to be proposed; to decide on proposed candidates and election lists; to publicly ask questions of candidates; to be promptly, truly, fully and objectively informed on programs and activities of those submitting election lists and on candidates included on such lists, and to other rights as envisaged this Law.

The federal election commission prescribes in detail the form and appearance of the ballot paper, the manner and supervision overtheir printing and handling.

Only election lists which have won at least 5% of the total number of voters who have voted in a electoral unit participate in the distribution of mandates.

On the date when his mandate is confirmed, the federal elections commission issues a certificate to the delegate that he has been elected a delegate in the Council of Republics.

Every voter, candidate and person submitting an election list has the right to submit a claim to the relevant election commission regarding irregularities in the proces of proposing candidates and implementing elections.

The claims from para 1. of this Article shall be submitted within 24 hours of the time when the decision is made, or when the action or irregularity has occurred.

Should the relevant election commission fail to issue a decree within specified time limits as set out in this Law, it shall be deemed that the claim was granted.

Within 24 hours of receipt of claims, the federal election commission is obliged to forward to the Federal Constitutional Court a claim, disputed decree and all relevant files for decision-making.

LAW ON ASSOCIATION OF CITIZENS INTO ASSOCIATIONS, SOCIAL ORGANIZATIONS AND POLITICAL ORGANIZATIONS ESTABLISHED IN THE TERRITORY OF THE SOCIALIST FEDERAL REPUBLIC OF YUGOSLAVIA

A political organoization may be established by at least 100 persons, and associations of citizens or social organizations by at least 10 persons, with a voting right.

(2) In Courts in regions with members of national minorities, their language ans script are also used as the official language in criminal proceedings, in accordance with this Law.

(2) The parties, witnesses and other participants in the proceedings have the right to use their language. If the proceedings are not held in the language of such a person, oral interpretation will be provided of what he o another person is presenting, as well as written translation of documents and other written evidence.

(2) If the court also uses a language of a national minority as an official language, the court will also issue documents in that language to persons of the relevant national minority, if they have used that language during the court proceedings. Such persons may request that all written documents be given them in the language in which the proceedings had been held.

State administrative bodies, bodies of local self-management, public enterprises, other non-for-profit organizations and communities as well as local and international humanitarian organizations (hereinafter: grant and aid beneficiaries) may receive grants and humanitarian aid.

The import of goods and services based on donations and humanitarian aid, and goods and services purchased from proceeds of donations and humanitarian aid or ourchased from proceeds resulting from operations with valuable papers or transfer of rights, is free.

For the purposes of this Law, the beneficiaries of donations (grant-aids) or humanitarian aid is exempt from payment of customs duties and other import duties and taxes levied on the import of goods for goods subject to donations and humanitarian aid humanitarian aid.

RULES OF PROCEDURE FOR THE ELECTORS’ ASSEMBLIES IN THE ELECTION OF NATIONAL COUNCILS

These Rules of Procedure determine the manner of work of electors’ assemblies of national minorities for the election of national councils (hereinafter: the electors’ assembly).

I. CONVOKING OF ELECTORS’ ASSEMBLY

The initiative for the convoking of an electors’ assembly may be submitted in writing by:

1) 20 members of the national minority with the right to be electors in case of a national minority whose number according to the result of the most recent census is not registered separately or whose number is less than 20,000 persons;

2) 30 members of the national minority with the right to be electors in case of a national minority whose number according to the result of the most recent census is between 20,000 and 50,000 persons;

3) 40 members of the national minority with the right to be electors in case of a national minority whose number according to the result of the most recent census is between 50,000 and 150,000 persons;

4) 50 members of the national minority with the right to be electors in case of a national minority whose number according to the result of the most recent census is not registered separately or whose number is less over 150,000 persons.

Along with the initiative mentioned in paragraph 1, each elector must submit data and documents as specified by this Book of regulations.

The Federal Ministry of National and Ethnic Communities (hereinafter: the Ministry) receives the initiatives from Article 2 of this Book of Regulations and, within 30 days, determines the date and place where the electors’ assembly will be convened.

The Electors’ Assembly will be held within a period of time which may not be shorter than 30 nor longer than 120 days of the date when the decision mentioned in para 1 of this Article is made.

The date and place of convening the Electors’ Assembly shall be publicly announced in public media and shall will invite all electors to promptly submit written applications for participation in the electors’ assembly.

The person entitled to be an elector submits a written statement of his national identity.

The person who, according to Article 24, para 2. or 3. of the Law on Protection of Rights and Freedoms of National Minorities (hereinafter: the Law) has the right to be an elector, shall submit together with the statement mentioned in Article 4. of this Books of Regulations also an evidence that he has been elected as federal, republic or provincial delegate, or representative.

The representative is elected due to his belonging to a national minority if he was elected as a candidate of a political organization or an association of citizens of a national minority to which he belongs and which participated in elections independently or in coallition with other political organizations or associations of citizens.

The person who, according to Article 24, para 2. of the Law has the right to be an elector, and has not been elected as a candidate of a political organization or an association of citizens of a national minority to which he belongs and which participated in elections independently or in coallition with other political organizations or associations of citizens, shall submit documents and date as prescribed by this Law as well as a statement that he speaks the minority language.

The person who, according to Article 24, para 2. of the Law has the right to be an elector shall submit a written statement of his belonging to a national minority and filled forms enclosed in this Book of regulations, to be filled and signed by members of national minorities who support him, or he submits a written document of the decision made by the assembly of a minority organization or association that he has been nominated for elector of the national minority.

One member of a national minority may by filling and signing the said form give his support to only one elector.

Such association of citizens that has an adequate designation in its name shall be considered as national organizations or associations, or such associations whose statute designates it as an association that gathres or acts in the interests of members of a national minority, and has been registered before this Book of Regulations has come into effect.

The assembly of each national organization or association mentioned in para 3 of this Article may nominate only one elector.

After the announcement in public media of the date and place of convening the electors’ assmebly, members of the national minorities to whom the invitation from Article 3. para 3. of this Book of Regulations has been sent, shall submit to the Ministry their written application for participation in the electors’ assembly at the lates 7 days before the electors’ assembly is convened.

The Ministry shall send written invitataions to attend the electors’ assembly to all electors who have submitted full applications.

The Electors’ AssemblyElektorska elects members of the national council proportionally to the size of the national minority.

In case of national minorities whose size according to results of the most recent census is less than 20,000 persons, or whose numbers is not expressed separately, the national council may have not more than 18 members.

In case of national minorities whose size according to results of the most recent census is between 20,000 and 50,000 persons, the national council may have not more than 21 members.

In case of national minorities whose size according to results of the most recent census is between 50,000 and 100,000 persons, the national council may have not more than 29 members.

In case of national minorities whose size according to results of the most recent census is over 100,000 persons, the national council may have not more than 35 members.

The electors assembly may be convened if attended by more than a half of the electors invited by the Ministry.

Except as stated in para 1. of this Article, the electors’ assembly may also take place if attended by:

1) at least 30 electors in case of national minorities whose number according to the most recent census is less than 10,000 persons or is not separately registered;

2) at least 45 electors in case of national minorities whose number according to the most recent census is between 10,000 and 50,000 persons;

3) at least 60 electors in case of national minorities whose number according to the most recent census is between 50,000 and 100,000 persons;

4) at least 100 electors in case of national minorities whose number according to the most recent census is over 100,000 persons.

Until the Chairman of the electors assembly is elected, the work of the assembly shall be chaired by the oldest elector present.

The electors assembly begins its work by determining the list of attendance through a list of electors provided by the Ministry.

Aftre determining the number of attending electors, the electors’ assembly continues its work by electing the chairman, vice-chairman, note-taker and members of the election commission.

The electors’ assembly makes its decisions publicly by the majority vote of present electors.

The decision on members of the national council is made by secret vote of the electors assembly.

The electors assembly may make other decisions also by secret vote if it so decides.

Lists of candidates (hereinafter: the lists) for members of national councils may be proposed by one quarter of elčectors present.

The lis may include at least five candidates, and not more than the total number of members of the council. The sequence of candidates is determined by the person submitting the list.

The lists are pronounced by the chairman of the electors’ assembly by determining their serial number and carrier.

The electors take a secret vote at ballot papers prepared in advance on which they record the name of carrier, i.e. the number of the list.

The number of mandates that a list received is determined by dividing the total number of votes tha a list has won by the number of members of a national council. Figures resulting from this are then arranged by size, taking into account as many greatest results as the national council has members.

Mandates belonging to a certain lis are distributed according to the sequence of candidates on the list.

If the elected member of the national council resigns from membership, or if his mandate is otherwise terminated in accordance with the statute of the national council, the next candidate from the same election list becomes members of the national council.

IV. EXTRAORDINARY ELECTORS’ ASSEMBLY

If persons who have the right to be electors, and whose number exceeds the number of half of electors who participated in the work of the electors’ assembly, provide a written request to convene an extraordinary session of the electors’ assembly, the Ministry, in accordance to stipulations of this Book of regulations, shall determine the date and place of convening the extraodrinary electors’ assembly.

By electing a new national council at the extraordinary electors’ assembly, the mandate of the previous national council shall be terminated.

The extraordinary electors’ assembly may not be convoked before the expiration of one year of the election of the national council.

V. COMING INTO EFFECT

This Book of regulations comes into effect on the eighth day of its publication in the "Official gazette of FRY".

3) REGULATIONS OF THE REPUBLIC OF SERBIA

LAW ON ELEMENTARY SCHOOLS

For members of nationalities, the teaching plan and program is conducted in the language of the nationality or bi-lingually, if at least 15 pupils enroll into first grade.

The school may also conduct the teaching plan and program in the language of the nationality or bi-lingually, if at least 15 pupils enroll in first grade and in it is verified by the minister of education.

The minister of education prescribes the methods of conducting bi-lingual teaching plans and programs. When the teaching plan and program is also conducted in the language of a nationality, the pupil ascertains the teaching plan and program of the Serbian language.

When the teaching plan and program is conducted in Serbian, the pupils that are members of nationalities are guaranteed the conduction of the plan and program of their mother language with elements of their national culture.

In schools it is prohibited to perform acts that jeopardize or disdain groups of individuals on the basis of racial, national, language, religious or sex membership or affiliation, or the promotion of such acts.

The educational plans and programs of religious education are adopted jointly by the Minister of Education and Minister of Religions, based on joint proposal of traditional churches and religious communities (The Serbian Orthodox Church, the Islamic Community, the Catholic Church, the Slovak Evangelistic Church a.v., The Jewish Community, the Reforming Christian Church and the Evangelistic Christian Church a.v.) in accordance with the law.

The Government of the Republic of Serbia nominates a commission in charge of preparing the educational program of religious education of traditional churches and religious communities, the drafts of textbooks and other educational aids, opinions provided to the Minister of Education in the process of appointing educational advisors for religious education and monitoring of how religious education is organized and implemented.

The education in chosen subjects is carried out in accordance with educational plan and program from I to VIII grade, as follows:

1) religious education and other subjects of ethical-humanistic content as determined by the Minister of Education from I to VIII grade.

On the occasion of enrollment in school, the parent, or custodian of the pupil enrolled in the first grade and in each subsequent grade, has the right to decide for the pupil to attend religious education or education in another subject as determined by the Minister of Education.

The subject from para 1 item 1) of this Article chosen by the parent or custodian, shall be obligatory for the pupil in that school year.

The textbooks and other educational aids used for religious education are approved by the Minister of Education at the joint proposal of traditional churches and religious communities as stipulated by this Law.

The marks received by pupils in the subjects prescribed in Article 22, para 1. item 1) of this Law are of descriptive nature, based on criteria determined by the Minister of Education.

The Minister of Education determines, at the joint proposal of the Ministry of Religions and the traditional churches and religious communities, the criteria and the manner of determining marks of success of pupils attending religious education.

The marks received in the subject of religious education or another subject determined by the Minister of Education shall have no influence of the general success of the pupil.

The necessary qualification of teachers of religious education is determined by the Minister of Education at the joint proposal of the traditional churches and religious communities.

The list of teachers of religious education is determined by the Minister of Education at the joint proposal of the traditional churches and religious communities.

The teachers of religious education are sent to the schools by the traditional churches and religious communities from the adopted list for each academic year.

The teacher, associate or educator who through his educational work does not implement the educational plan and program; or who through his behavior jeopardizes or disdains groups or individuals on the basis of racial, national, language, religious or sex membership or affiliation or political affiliation, or who promotes such acts, who undertakes physical punishment or hurts the personality of the pupil, shall be removed from teaching by the decision of the school principal until the relevant decision is made in disciplinary proceedings.

The School Board shall terminate the mandate of the school principal before its expiration if he has (...); if the school or the principal is responsible for violation of Article 140 of this Law, (...); if the school issues public documents contrary to this Law; (...).

The principal of the school of music and school of ballet established by another legal or physical person, shall be released of duty by the founder.

When education is also provided in the language of a national minority, the school also keeps records also in that language.

A fine of 10,000 to 50,000 dinars shall be imposed on schools for violations in the following cases, if the school:

1. jeopardizes or disdains groups or individuals on the basis of racial, national, language, religious or sex membership or affiliation, or political affiliation, promotes such acts, or fails to take measures to prevent such acts (Article 7. para 1).

1a. Does not remove from the educational process a teacher, associate or educator as stipulated in Article 73. para 1. of this Law.

A school may also conduct the teaching plan and program in the language of nationalities or bi-lingually, in accordance with this law.

A school may conduct the teaching plan and program in the language of nationalities or bi-lingually, if at least 15 pupils enroll in first grade.

A school may conduct the teaching plan and program in the language of nationalities or bi-lingually, for a number of pupils that is less than the number prescribed in paragraph 2 of this Article, but needs to be verified by the Ministry of education

Pupils defined in paragraphs 2. and 3. of this Article ascertain the teaching plan and program of the Serbian language.

When a pupil - member of a nationality is educated in Serbian, he/she has the right to learn their mother language with elements of their national culture.

The textbooks and other educational aids used for religious education are approved by the as stipulated by this Law.

Article 27

Optional forms of educational activities are: the teaching of the language of the Minister of Education at the joint proposal of traditional churches and religious communities minority language with elements of national culture, other foreign languages or subjects of interest for further education, professional qualification or development of pupils and out-of-school activities – choirs, excursions, cultural-artistic, technical, inventive, humanitarian, sports-recreational and other activities.

The marks received by pupils in the chosen subjects are of descriptive nature, based on criteria determined by the Minister of Education.

The marks received in the chosen subject shall have no influence of the general success of the pupil.

Expression of national or religious intolerance shall be considered as serious violation of pupils obligations.

The necessary qualification of teachers of religious education is determined by the Minister of Education at the joint proposal of the traditional churches and religious communities.

The list of teachers of religious education is determined by the Minister of Education at the joint proposal of the traditional churches and religious communities.

The teachers of religious education are sent to the schools by the traditional churches and religious communities from the adopted list for each academic year

Should the principal fail to act according to para 1. of this Article, the teacher or the associate shall be removed from education process by the Ministry of Education within 15 days of receiving notice.

The School Board shall release the school principal of his duty before expiration of his mandate if it is determined that the prescribed educational plan and program is not implemented or if it is implemented without remedying defects and irregularities; if it is determined that the school or its principal is in violation of Article 109 of this Law (...); if the school does not keep adequate records and if the school issued public documents contrary to this Law; (...).

The principal of a school established by a different legal or physical person is released of duty by the founder.

The school administers documents in Serbian Cyrillic script, and in Latin script in accordance with the law; when teaching is conducted in the language of nationalities, documents are administered in the language of that nationality, except for the class-register that is administered in the language in which the educational activity is conducted.

School official certificates are issued in Serbian Cyrillic script, and in Latin script in accordance with the law; when teaching is conducted in the language of nationalities, official certificates are issued in that language.

10. jeopardizes or disdains groups or individuals on the basis of racial, national, language, religious or sex membership or affiliation, or political affiliation, promotes such acts, or fails to take measures to prevent such acts (Article 8. para 1).

11. does not remove from the educational process a teacher, associate or educator as stipulated in Article 80. para 1. of this Law

LAW ON TWO-YEAR POST-SECONDARY SCHOOLS

At schools of higher education, education may be provided also in the language of national minorities, or in a foreign language, a decision on which is made by the founder.

If the founder is not the Republic of Serbia, the permit to decision stipulated in para 2 of this Article is given by the Government of the Republic of Serbia.

All citizens enroll in schools and acquire higher education under equal conditions.

Legal and physical persons may establish shools under conditions stipulated by this Law.

When education is provided in the language of a national minority, the registry books and records of issued diplomas is also maintained in that language and script of the national minority.

LAW ON UNIVERSITY

Education at the university and at faculties is carried out in the Serbian language.

Education at the university and at faculties may be provided also in the language of national minorities, or in a foreign language, a decision on which is made by the founder.

If the founder is not the Republic of Serbia, the permit to decision stipulated in para 2 of this Article is given by the Government of the Republic of Serbia (hereinafter: the Government).

The University or a faculty may be established by the Republic, by a legal or a physical entity.

Foreign legal or physical entity may establish a faculty, in accordance with this Law.

A special requirement for enrollment in the first year of studies performed in a foreign language or in the language of a national minority is the knowledge of the language in which education is provided.

The student enrolled in studies from para 1. of this Article may transfer during his studies to the educational plan and program of studies provided in the Serbian language, after taking the exam of proficiency in that language.

The test in language proficiency as mentioned in item 1. and 2. of this Article is carried out by a special board, in a manner and under a procedure determined by the statute of the faculty or university.

The faculty shall maintain: a registry book of students, a record on diplomas issued and minutes recorded at examinations taken.

The University maintains records of promoted doctors of science, honorary doctors of science, and records from para 1. of this Article in cases when it directly organizes certain educational programs.

Records mentioned in paras 1 and 2. of this Article are maintained in the Serbian language, in the Cyrillic script. In the territory of municipalities in which the Latin script is also in official use, the records shall in addition be kept also in the Latin script. The text in Latin script is written under the text in the Cyrillic script.

When education is provided in a language of a national minority the registry book of students and the records of issued diplomas shall in parallel also be kept in the Serbian language and Cyrillic script as well as in the language of the national minority.

Based on data contained in the records kept by the faculty or university, the faculty or university issues public documents.

Public documents, for the purposes of this Law, are: the student’s index book, diploma of received university degree, the professional title of specialist, the academic title of master of science, the academic title of doctor of science; and the certificate of completed program of permanent professional training and improvement.

The University, or the Faculty, issues public documents in the Serbian language, in the Cyrillic script. In territories of municipalities in which also Latin script is in official use, the university or the faculty shall issue public documents also in the Latin script. The text in the Latin script is written under the text in the Cyrillic script.

When education in the university or the faculty is provided in the language of a national minority or in a foreign language, public documents are issued bilingually: in the Serbian language in the Cyrillic script and in the language and script in which education is provided.

A fine of 21.000 to 70,000 Dinars shall be imposed on faculties or universities for violations, if they:

5) do not maintain records in the prescribed manner or irregularly (Article 122).

A fine of 3.500 to 20,000 Dinars shall be imposed on the responsible person at the faculty or university for violations from para 1. of this Article.

4) full promotion of civil rights and freedoms, and especially freedom of expression and pluralism of opinion;

5) application of internationally recognized norms and principles relevant to the field of radio broadcasting, and especially the respect of human rights in this field;

6) objectivity, prohibition of discrimination and transparency in the process of issuing permits for broadcasting.

3) issue permits for program broadcasting and prescribing forms for such permits.

Apart from authorities in para 1. of this Article, the Agency shall carry out operations relevant to undertaking measures in the field of radio broadcasting for the purpose of:

3) preventing broadcasting of programs containing information stimulating discrimination, hatred or violence against individuals or groups due to their belonging or non-belonging to a certain racial, religious, national, ethnic group or gender.

To broadcast programs for earth, cable or satellite transmittion, digital or analogue, the Agency shall issue permits according to the procedure and criteria determined by this law.

Transmission of program through Internet webcasting is not subject to the obligation of acquiring a permit, but the stipulations of this law refer to the contents of such programs.

The Agency shall take care that the programs of broadcasters do not contain information stimulating discrimination, hatred or violence against individuals or groups due to their different political affiliation or their belonging or non-belonging to a cetain race, religion, nation, ethnic group or gender or sexual affiliation.

The acts of broadcasters contrary to prohibitions stated in para 1 of this Article constitute the basis for pronouncement of measures by the Agency, independently of other legal remedies at the disposal of the damaged party.

Members of the Council are elected by the National Assembly of the Republic of Serbia (hereinafter: the Assembly) at the proposal of the authorized persons who submitted the proposal.

A member of the Council shall be considered elected if his electionreceived the majority of votes of the total number of representatives in the assembly.

The authoization and the responsibility to elect members of the Council is vested in:

7) local non government organizations and associations of citizens who deal primarily in the protection of freedon of expression, protection of rghts of national and ethnic minorities and protection of the rights of children, jointly;

A physical or legal person may not broadcast radio or television programs if the Agency has not previously issued the relevant permit, unless otherwise specified in this Law.

The permit to broadcast radio or television programs may be granted to any legal or hysical person fulfilling the conditions prescribed by this Law and by-laws resulting from it.

Permits for program broadcasting are issued by the Agency, subject to procedure prescribed by this Law.

The obligation of having a licence is not imposed on broadcasting programs by owners of systems broadcasting programs intended for cable distribution, as follows:

2) programs that may be received through free (non-coded) satellite distribution in the territory of the Republic of Serbia.

Holder of a broadcasting license may be only a domestic legal or natural person registered for production and broadcasting of radio and television programs, with the seat, i.e. residence, in the teritory of the Republic of Serbia.

A legal or physical person registered for the activity of producting or broadcasting radio and television programs receives the status of broadcaster, for the purposes of this Law, by receiving the permit to broadcast programs or the permit for radio broadcasting for broadcasters who, according to stipulations of this Law, are not pbliged to receive a permit for program bradcasting.

In broadcasting, all broadcasters witthin their program concept are obliged to respect the following standards in relation to program content:

7) foreign programs intended for children shall be broadcast with synchronization in the Serbian language or the languiage of a national or ethnic minorities.

Programs produced or broadcast within public broadcasting service must be versatile and balanced in content supporting demoicratic values of modern society, especially the respect of human rights and cultural, ethnic and political pluralism of ideas and thinking.

For the purpose of implementing general interest in the field of public broadcasting service, as determined by this Law, apart from general obligations of broadcasters in respect to program contents as specified in Article 68. of this Law, the public broadcasters are also obliged to:

2) produce and broadcast programs intended for all segments of society, without discrimination, keeping in mind especially specific social groups susch as children and youth, minority and ethnic groups, the handicapped, socially or medically needy, blidn and deaf (with an obligation to broadcast in parallel the written text and the discription of the audio part of the action and dialogue) and so on.;

3) to respect language ans speech standards, relevant both to majority population, but also, in adequate proportion, to national minorities or ethnic groups in the territory in which the program is broadcast;

4) to provide the needs of citizens for program contents expressing the cultural identity of peoples as well as national minorities or ethnic groups, through the possibility to determine certain programs or program units in territories where they live and work that may be received in their mother tongue and script;

5) to provide adequate time for broadcasting contents relevant to the activities of associations of citizens and non govergnemnt organazations as well as religious communities in the territories in which the program is broadcast.

Those in charge of public broadcasting service are obliged to produce and broadcast informative programs that respect the principles of unbiased and objective treatment of different political interests and different participants, to promote freedom of speech and pluralism of expressing public opinion, and to prevent any form of racial, religious,

national, ethnic or other form of intollerance or hatred, or intollerance in respect to sexual

Civil sector radio and/or television stations are such stations which satisfy specific interests of certain social groups or associations of citizens.

The content of programs broadcast by civil sector radio and/or television stations must be related to the field of activity of a non government organization or an association of citizens who are the founders of the station.

Civil sector radio and/or television stations may be founded only for local regions.

For the purposes of this Law, general interests in the field of cultue are as follows:

20) programs in the field of culture of other peoples and nationalities and the care of the protection of their cultural heritage.

For the purposes of this Law, general interests in the field of library activites are as follows:

2) preparationof current, retrospective and other bibliography of the Serbian people and national minorities living in the Republic of Serbia.

In the municipality with mixed national composition, Councils for inter-ethnic relations are established made up of representatives of national and ethnic communities.

For the purposes of this Law, municipalities with mixed ethnic composition are such municipalities in which one national community represents more than 5% of the total number of population, or in which all communities represent more than 10% according to the most recent population census in the Rpublic of Serbia.

Communities with over 1% participation in the total number of population may have representatives in the Council for Inter-Ethnic Relations.

The Council discusses the issues of enforcing, protection and promotion of national equality, in acordance with this Law and statute.

The Council notifies the Municipal Assembly of its opinions and proposals, which is obliged to take a stand on them at its first coming session, but not later than within 30 days.

The Municipal Assembly is obliged to request the opinion of the Council for Inter-Ethnic Relations on all draft decisions relevant to the rights of national and ethnic communities, prior to making a decision.

The Council for Inter-Ethnic Relations may initiateproceedings before the Constitutional Court for the determination of constitutional and legal grounds of a decision or other general document adopted by a Municipal Assembly if it believes that such a decision or document diretly violates the rights of national or ethnic communities represented in the councilfor inter-ethnic relations or the request of the Constitutional Court under equal conditions to determine whether a decision or another general act of the municipal assembly is in accordance with the statute of the municipal assembly.

The scope of work, composition and the mmanner of work of the the Council for Inter-Ethnic Relations is determined by a decision of the municipal assembly in accordance with its statute.

The symbols of a unit of local self-government may be exhibited only along with symbols of the state.

In the official premises of bodies of local self-government only symbols of the state and symbls of the unit of local self-government may be exhibited.

The assembly of the unit of local self-government determines the names of streets, squares, quarters, villages and other parts of settlements in its territory.

The assembly of the unit of local self-government submits its statute and other acts relevant to determining symbols, holidays and names of streets, squares, quarters, villages and other parts of settlements in its territory to the Ministry in charge of local self-government, for approval.

If the content of the statute of the unit of local self-government or another act on symbols, holidays and symbols, holidays and names of parts of settlements is contrary to historical or actual facts, if they violate general or state interest, national or religious feelings, disdain public morale or are not in line with provisions of Article 119. of this Law, the Ministry in charge of local self-government shall refusem within 60 days of the date of receipt of the statute of another act as mentioned in para 1. of this Article, to grant an approval of that provision of the statute or another act.

Should the Ministry in charge of local self-government fail to pronounce its opinion regarding para 2. of this Article, it shall be deemed tat the approval has been granted.

Who, on grounds of difference in nationality, race, confession, political or other conviction, ethnicity, gender, language, education or social position denies or limits the rights of citizens set down by the constitution, the law, or other regulations or general acts or by ratified international agreements, or who, on grounds of these differences gives privileges or advantages, shall be punished by imprisonment from 3 months to 5 years.

Who, contrary to provisions regarding the equal use of language or script of nations and nationalities of Yugoslavia denies or limits a citizen the use of language or script that he/she uses in fulfilling their rights, shall be punished by imprisonment of up to one year.

2) Catholics and members of other Christian religious communities – on the first day of Christmas and on Easter holidays starting from Great Friday closinf with second day of Easter, according to their relevant calender;

3) members of the Islamic Community – on the first day of Ramazan bajram and the first say of Kurban bajram;

I. PRINCIPAL PROVISIONS

In areas of the Republic of Serbia where members of nationalities live, simultaneously with Serbian, the languages and scripts of nationalities are in official use, as prescribed by this law.

Official use of language and script, as set down by this law, means the use of language and script in the activity of: government agencies, the agencies of the autonomous provinces, cities and municipalities (henceforth: agencies), institutions, enterprises and other organizations that exercise public authority (henceforth: organizations that exercise public authority).

Official use of language and script, as set down by this law, means the use of language and script in the activity of public enterprises and public services, as well as in the activity of other organizations when they exercise activity prescribed by this law.

The official use of language and script refers especially to the use of language ans script in:

1) oral and written communication between bodies and organizations, as well as their communication with clients, or citizens;

2) proceedings for the enforcement and protection of rights, obligations and responsibilities of citizens;

3) maintenance of prescribed records by municipal bodies and organizations execrising public authorities in the territory of a municipality (hereinafter: the records);

4) issuance of public documents and other documents of interest in exercising equally prescribed rights of citizens;

5) exercisinf the rights, duties and responsibilities of employees resulting from labour and labour relations.

The official use of language and script also refers to the use of language and script relevant to: inscription of names of settlements and other geographical names, names of streets and squares, administrative bodies, organizations and enterprises, publishing public invitations, advertisments and warnings as well as inscribing other public inscriptions.

An adinistrative body, an organization or another entity may inscribe its name, title or other public inscription also in the Latin script, in addition to the Cyrillic script.

In the mane of the enterprise, institutions or another legal person or a trade or another form of independent activity, the part which is used as the sign may be written in only the Latin script.

Traffic signs and road directions on international and national highways, the names of settlements and other geographic names are written in Cyrillic and Latin script. Traffic signs and road directions on other roads, the names of streets and squares and other names may, beside in Cyrillic, also be written in Latin script.

Everybody has the right in proceedings before administrative bodies of organizations which deals with his rights and obligations, to use his language and have access to facts in such proceedings in his language.

In official use, the text in the language and the script of minorities (hereinafter: the language of minorities) is inscribed after the text in the Serbian language, below or to the right, in letters of the same format and size.

If several minority languages are in use, the text in these languages will be inscribed in the sequance of alphabetic order according to the Cyrillic script.

Geographic names and personal names contained in public inscriptions may not be substitutes by other names, and they are inscribed in the language of the nationality according to spelling rules relevant to that language.

II. OFFICIAL USE OF THE LATIN SCRIPT

In municipalities in which members of a nation live in larger numbers and whose primary script, in accordance with the tradition of this nation is Latin, the Latin script is also in official use.

The official use of the Latin script is, in accordance with paragraph 1 of this Article, is determined by the statute of the municipality.

Administrative bodies and organizations exercising public authority in municipalities with official use of Latin script too, are obliged to provide to citizens, at their request, decrees and other documents also written in the Latin script when such decrees and decisions are relevant to their rights and obligations, as well as certificates, diplomas and other public documents.

Forms of public documents for the needs of municipalities in which the Latin script is in official use too, are printed in the Cyrillic and latin script.

When, in accordance with this Law, the text is weritten also in the Latin script, the text in the Latin script is ritten after the text in the Cyrillic script, below or to the right.

III. OFFICIAL USE OF LANGUAGE AND SCRIPT OF MINORITIES

Municipalities in which members of nationalities live, determine when the languages of nationalities are also in official use on their territory.

The language and languages of nationalities that are in official use in the municipality are determined by the statute of the municipality.

The languages of nationalities that are in official use in the activity of the agencies of the autonomous provinces, are determined by their statutes.

Administrative, penal, civil and other procedure in the first instance, in which matters of rights and duties of citizens are decided, is conducted in Serbian.

A procedure, as prescribed in paragraph 1. of this Article, may also be conducted in the language of a nationality that is in official use in the agency or organization that is conducting procedure.

If the agency or organization that is conducting procedure is established for several municipalities, the procedure may be conducted in the languages of nationalities that are in official use in the municipalities that are covered by the domain of that agency or organization, and for parties in the procedure - members of nationalities that have residence in the municipality, in the language of the nationality that is in official use.

When a participant in the procedure is only one party - member of a nationality, the procedure shall, upon request, be conducted in the language of the nationality that is in official use in the agency or organization that is conducting procedure.

When there is more than one party in the procedure whose languages are not the same, procedure is conducted in one of the languages that is in official use in the agency or organization conducting procedure, if the parties agree.

If the parties do not agree on the matter in which language the procedure is to be conducted, the language in which the procedure is to be conducted is determined by the agency or organization that is conducting procedure, except if one of the parties requests

that the procedure be conducted in Serbian, in which case the procedure is conducted in this language.

Citizens are equal in their rights and duties and have equal protection before government and other agencies regardless of race, gender, birth, language, ethnicity, confession, political or other conviction (...) .

Records and decisions in procedures of the first instance are issued, as authentic texts, in Serbian and the language of a nationality, if the procedure was conducted in the language of the nationality.

Second-degree proceedings are held in the Serbian language, and parties in the proceedings have the rights determined in Articles 16. and 17. of this Law.

Decrees from second-degree proceedings, decisions, inutes, submittals, documents and other written papers in the second-degree proceedings are translated by the first-degree body or organization into the language or languages in which the first-degree proceedings were held.

In areas in which languages of nationalities are not in official use, agencies or organizations that conduct procedure, towards members of nationalities that before them fulfill their rights and duties, have the obligation to insure:

1) that in the procedure before these agencies and organizations they may use their language and script;

2) that in their language they may submit requests, appeals, grievances, proposals, petitions and other submissions;

3) that, upon their request, in their language they be delivered notices and decisions, sentences and other documents that decide on their rights and duties, as well as diplomas, certificates, endorsements, and other documents.

It shall be presumed that a request prescribed in paragraph 3.1. of this Article exists, if

It shall be presumed that a request prescribed in paragraph 3.1. of this Article exists, if the procedure is initiated in the language of the nationality.

Testimony of a party, witness, expert-witness and other persons that participate in the procedure in areas in which the languages of nationalities are not in official use, given in the language of a nationality, shall be entered into the records in Serbian. Upon request of a member of a nationality that participates in the procedure, the records, or parts thereof, shall be translated into the language of the nationality.

Testimony of persons prescribed in paragraph 1. of this Article given in Serbian, shall be translated into the language of the nationality, if this is requested by a member of the nationality that participates in the procedure.

The procedure is conducted with the assistance of an interpreter, if the official conducting the procedure does not, in a sufficient degree, know the language of the nationality.

Interpretation costs are credited to the agency or organization before which procedure is conducted.

Provisions of Article 16, paragraphs 1-4 by analogy, also apply in procedure conducted before the Constitution court.

In areas in which languages of nationalities are in official use, diplomas regarding academic degrees, when the teaching is conducted in the language of nationalities, other public documents and other documents that are of importance for the fulfillment of statutory prescribed rights of citizens, upon request of the member of that nationality, shall also be issued in his/her language.

In areas in which languages of nationalities are in official use, records prescribed in Article 3. paragraph 1 of this law, shall also be kept in these languages.

Forms of public documents, as well as forms for records for the needs of the area in which the languages of nationalities are in official use, are printed bi-lingually, in Serbian or in the language of each nationality whose language is in official use.

In areas in which languages of nationalities are in official use, the names of settlements and other geographical names, the names of streets and squares, the annotations of agencies and organizations, traffic signs, information and public warnings and other public signs are also written in the languages of nationalities.

The annotation of an enterprise, institution and other legal person is written in Serbian and also in the language of the nationality that is official use in the municipality in which this entity has seat.

The annotation may also be written in the language of a nationality that is in official use in the location the entity prescribed in paragraph 1. of this Article does business.

A legal person prescribed in paragraph 1. of this Article is not obliged to write in Serbian or in languages of nationalities its annotation, or part thereof, that it uses as a trade-mark, regardless of linguistic origin.

Provisions prescribed in paragraph 1. and 3. of this Article also apply to shops and other forms of business activity.

IV. MEANS OF ENFORCEMENT OF THIS LAW

The means for enforcement of official use of language and script are provided by administrative bodies or organizations in which the rights and obligations provided by this law are enforced.

V. SUPERVISION OVER IMPLEMENTATION OF THIS LAW

Supervision over implementation of this law is performed, within their competences, by ministries in charge of public administration, traffic, urban planning and housing, education, culture and health.

VI. PENAL PROVISIONS

A fine amounting to 2,000 to 80,000 dinars shall be imposed for violation upon authorized organizations for placing traffic signs and names of settlements contrary to provisions of Article 19. of this Law.

For violatons of para 1 of this Article a fine of 400 to 4,000 dinars will be imposed upon responsible person in the organization from para 1. of this Article.

A fine amounting to 2,000 to 80,000 dinars shall be imposed for violation upon enterprises, institutions or another legal entity who exhibits its name contrary to provisions of Article 20. of this Law.

For violatons of para 1 of this Article a fine of 400 to 4,000 dinars will be imposed upon responsible person in the organization from para 1. of this Article.

A fine amounting to 800 to 5,000 dinars shall be imposed for violation upon owners of shops who arenot a legal entity who exhibits its name contrary to provisions of Article 20. of this Law.

A fine amounting to 160 to 1,000 dinars shall be imposed for violation upon authorised persons in bodies or organizations exercising public authority if the name of the body or organization is written contrary to provisions of Article 19. of this Law.

VII. FINAL PROVISIONS

Names of settlements, streets, squares, administrative bodies and organizations, entrprises amd other public inscriptions shall be harmonized with this Law at the latest by the end of the year 1992.

The provisions of the Law on maintaining records, printing forms and issuing public documents shall apply as of 1 January 1992.

Until the coming into force of provisions of para 1 of this Article, the regulations relevant to this field at the time when this law is proclaimed, shall apply.

Procedures from Article 12. of this Law shall commence before the coming into force of this Law when it comes to the language in which proceedings are being held, and shall be finalized according to provisions in force at the time of coming into force of this Law.

On the day when this Law comes into effect, the Law on the manner of enforcing the rights of members of national minorities to the use of language and script before republic administrative bodies ("The Official Gazette of SRS", No 14/71) shall cease to apply, as well as the Law on putting up names of firms and organizations of associated labour in the languages of nations and national minorities ("The Official Gazette of SRS", No 5/78), the Law on providing equality of language ans script of nations and national minorities in certain administrative bodies, organizations and communities ("The Official Gazette of SRS", No 29/77) and the Law on providing equality of language ans script in the Socialist Autonomous Province of Kosovo ("The Official Gazette of SRS", No 48/77).

This Law shall come into effect on the eighth day of its publication in “The Official Gazette of the Republic of Serbia”.

The text of the form for identity cards is printed in Serbian (...) and in other languages of nations and nationalities that are, by the constitution, guaranteed the equality of the use of their language. The data in the form for the identity card is entered in the languages of nations and nationalities, in accordance with the law.

LAW ON THE PUBLICATION OF LAWS AND OTHER REGULATIONS AND THE ISSUANCE OF “THE OFFICIAL GAZETTE OF THE REPUBLIC OF SERBIA ”

Regulations and other acts are published in the “The Official Gazette of the Republic of Serbia”, in the text adopted by the body adopting the regulation.

The text of the seal is written in the Serbo-Croat language in the Cyrillic script.

The text of the seal in the autonomous province and bodies od certain units of local self-government seal is written in the Serbo-Croat language in the Cyrillic script , and t may also be written in the Latin alphabet and n the language and script of the national minority, in accordance with the Law.

Textbooks of foreign languages are printed in the language of the relevant foreign language.

Textbooks are also printed in the language of national minorities for pupils for whom education is provided also in the language of the national minority.

The document issued by the Ministry of education authorizing the printing of a textbook includes:

Social organizations or associations of citizens may be established by at least 10 working people and citizens.

Social organizations, or associations of citizens, are not allowed to be established, or their work will be prohibited, if this freedom of association is used to:

- violate constitutionally guaranteed human rights and freedoms and rights of man and citizens,

Person seeking employment, as well as employee, may not be put into a less favourable position in cmparison to others irrespective of his sex, birth, language, race, national identity, religion, marital status, family obligations, political or other affiliations, social background, property, membership in political organizations, trade unions or other personal characteristic.

LAW ON THE ELECTION OF REPRESENTATIVES

In those municipalities in which the language of the national minorities are in official use, the ballots shall be printed in those language as well.

In the municipalities in which languages of the national minorities are in official use, the official form for the minutes shall be printed in those languages as well.

Only election lists which have won more than 5 % of the votes shall take part in the distribution of mandates.

All physical and legal entities have equal rights to participate in public information.

Public media may be established freely, without permits, only with registry with the republic administrative body in charge of public information (hereinafter: the republic administrative body in charge).

Radio or televizion station is established based on a permit issued by the republic administrative body mentioned in para 1 of this Article ferering to special conditions in using frequences and fulfilling minimum technical requirements for broadcast of radio and television programs.

The program orientation, the manner of operation, the rights, duties and obligations within the public media is determined by the founder of the public media.

The program orientation of a public media may not be aimed at the violent disintegraion of the constitutional order, endangering the territorial integrity of the Republic and of the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia, violation of guaranteed freedoms and rights of man and citizen or to provoking national, racial or religious intollerance or hatred.

The program orientation of public media through which the Republic or a unit of local self-government provided the public interest in the field of providing information is determined by the Republic Assembly or of the unit of local self-government, at the proposal of program council, for a period of four years, within 60 days of the date of apointement of the program board.

The program orientation from para 1 of this Article must provide, in repsect to the scope, quality and contents, the rights of national and ethnic groups living in the Republic to have full information in their own language.

The program orientation from para 1 of this Article must provide, in repsect to the scope, quality and contents, the rights to public information in the Albanian language.

Election of representatives takes place in a municipality as a unique electoral unit.

Election of representatives takes place in the Republic as a unique electoral unit.

In the Republic, as a unique elevtoral unit, of the total number of representatives, five representatives are elected at polling stations determined by a special decision of the Republic Assembly.

The election list for the election of drepresentatives shall be deemed determined if it is supported by signatures of at least 1 % ov voters within the electoral unit, based on the results of he number of voters determined prior to announcing elections, irrespective if it is a mettar of presidential elections or municipal elections.

Exceptionally from para 1 of this Article, for political parties or groups of citizens representing Albanians in Montenegro, the election list shall be deemed determined if supported by signatures of at least 200 voters in case of elections for municipal delegates or at least 1000 voters in case of elections for representatives.

(1) Whoever, based on national or ethnic identity, race, religion, political or other affiliation, gender, language, education or social status, denies or limits the rights of mana and citizen guaranteed by the constitution, the laws and regulations and other general acts or acts ratified by international agreements, or on the same basis gives them advantages or benefits, shall be punished by imprisonment of three months to five years.

(2) Whoever acts contrary to regulations regarding the equal use of languages and scripts of peoples and national or ethnic communicities in Yugoslavia and denies citizen their right in addressing administrative bodies and organizatons to use their language and script, shall be punished by imprisonment of up to one year.

Disdain against peoples or members of national or ethnic groups in FR Yufoslavia

(1) Whoever exposes to public disdain peoples or members of national or ethnic groups of the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia, shall be punished by imprisonment of three months to three years.

(2) perpertarors of acts stated in para 1 of this Article shall be subject to Article 82. para 3 of this Code.

The right to paid absence from work, for the purpose of celebrating religious holidays, is granted as follws:

- for the Orthodox: the day before Christmas, Christmas (two days), the Great Friday, and family feast (slava);

- for the Roman-Catholocs: the day before Christmas, Christmas (two days), the Great Friday, Easter (second day) and All Saints Day;

The responsible person in an enterprise, institution, or another legal entity, administrative body or an entrepreneur, who denies employees the rights to paid absence from work to celebrate religious holidays, shall be punished by a fine amounting to one half of twenty-fold the minimum salary in the Republic.

The establishment and termination of work of a religious community or its bodies and organizations must be reported by the founder within 15 days to the municipal administrative body in charge of internal affairs (hereinafter: the relevant municipal body for internal affairs) on whose territory the newly established or terminated religious community or its body or organization has its seat.

The text on the seal is inscribed in concentric circles around the seal of the Republic of Montenegro, in the Serbian language of “ijekavski” dialect.

Members of national and ethnic groups may write their personal name in their script.

Non-governmental associations

Non-governmental associations (hereinafter: asociations) are non-profit organizations with membership, established by local and international legal or ohysical persons, for the purpose of enforcing individual or group interests or for the purpose of providing and promoting public interest.

Application of the Law

Provisions of this Law do not refer to: political organizations, religious communities, trade unions, sports organizations, business associations and organizations or foundations established by the state, as well as non governmental organizations established by a special law.

Founders

Associations may be established by at least five persons with residence or seat in the Republic.

Foundations may be established by at least one person irrespective of whether it has residence or seat in the Republic.

If a foundation is established by mpre than one person, they enrofce their rights jointly, unless otherwise stipulated in the document of establishment.

I. GENERAL PROVISIONS

Members of netaional and ethnic groups in the Republic of Montenegro (hereinafter: the Republic) have the right to use and place national symbols in a manner and under conditions determined by this Law.

For the purpose of this Law, national symbols shall mean symbols that members of national and ethnic groups use for the expression of their national identity.

II. USE OF NATIONAL SYMBOLS

In all cases provided for in Article 4 of this Law, the use of national symbols is free.

1) in front of and within the premises of the Assembly of the Republic of Montenegro, the President of the Republic of Montenegro, the Government of the Republic of Montenegro, The Supreme Court of the Republic of Montenegro, the State Attorney of the Republic of Montenegro, other state bodies and organizations authorized to cary out public service or bodies of local self-government;

2) during international gatherings, political, scientific, cultural, sports and other gatherings representing the Republic;

3) during celebrations, ceremonies, sports, cultural and other manisfestations organized by the Republic or bodies of local self-government.;

In units and direct forms of local self-management in which members of national and ethnic groups represent the majority population, during the days of state holidays of the Republic fo Montenegro, along with state symbols, national symbols are exibited as well in front of buildings of local self-management.

In case when national symbols are used or exhibited along with state symbols, the state symbol takes the honorary position.

National symbols may be used in original or modified form as a sign of political party, enterprise, institution or other legal person or organization.

National symbols may not be used as trade marks, models or samples, nor as signs used for marking goods and services.

III. PENAL PROVISIONS

A fine equal to three times the minimum salary in the Republic shall be imposed against legal persons who have used the national symbols contrary to provisions of Articles 4, 5 and 6 of this Law.

For violations from para 1 of this Article, a fine shall be imposed against a responsible person in the legal entity amounting to twenty times the minimum salary in the Republic or a punishemnt of imprisonment lasting for 15 to 60 days.

A fine equal to twenty times the minimum salary in the Republic shall be imposed against physical persons who have used the national symbols contrary to provisions of Articles 4, 5 and 6 of this Law.

Against perpetrators of acts stated in Article 7 of this Law, along with the said punishment, a protective measure of taking away the object with which the violation was carried out may also be enforced.

IV. FINAL PROVISIONS

This Law shall come into effect on the eighth day of its publishing in the "Official Gazette of the Republic of Montenegro".

DECISION ON THE COMPETENCES AND COMPOSITION OF THE REPUBLIC COUNCIL FOR THE PROTECTION OF RIGHTS OF MEMBERS OF NATIONAL AND ETHNIC GROUPS

The Republic Council for the protection of rights of members of national and ethnic groups (hereinafter: the Council) as an independent body of the Republic of Montenegro, undertakes measures, actions, and exercises other rights and obligations determined by the Constitution and this Decision, for the purpose of preserving and protecting the national, ethnic, cultural, language and religious identity or national and ethnic groups in the exercise of their rights stipulated in the Constitution.

The Council monitors the relations and events of significance for the enforcement and respect of constitutionally stipulated rights of members of national and ethnic groups, and through its observations, opinions and proposals familiarizes the competent bodies so that they may undertake necessary measures.

The procedure for the preservation and protection of rights of national and ethnic groups may be initiated by every citizen, a political party, association or another body, when he determines that it is necessary to provide for, preserve and protect the rights of national and ethnic groups.

The Council is entitled to to request from bodies and organizations to provide it with the necessary information and data, or to place at its disposal general acts, if such information, data and documents are of significance for the provision and protection of rights of national and ethnic groups.

Bodies and organizations mentioned in para 1 of this Article are obliged to act upon the request of the Council.

The Council initiates proceedings for termination or cancellation of general acts of bodies or organizations violating the rights of members of national and ethnic groups.

The Council may propose to the competent body or organization to terminate or abstain from enforcement of such general or specific act (document), adopted outside the administrative or judicial proceedings, if the implementation of such acts could result in violations of rights of members of national and ethnic groups.

The Council initiated the procedure requesting the determination by the Constitutional Court whether general acts of bodies and organizations are in accordance with the constitution and the law, when it determines that such acts violate the rights of members of national and ethnic groups.

The Council gives recommendations, declarations and determines proposals which are submitted to competent bodies and organizations.

The body or organization is obliged to promptly initiate actions upon the request of the Council, and not later than 3 days of the receipt of such request, make an appropriate decision or take a stand upon it.

Should the body or the organization directly refuse to deal woth the request of the Council, the Council shall propose the initiation of proceedings to determine the responsibility of the responsible person within the body or organization.

The Council informs the public of the state and events in the field of preservation and protection of rights of members of national and ethnic groups, of interest for the Republic.

The public work of the Council is provided also through publishing certain opinions of the Council in the public media or in the "Official Gazette of the Republic of Montenegrop".

Members of the Council are appointed by the Republic Assembly, at the proposal of the President of the Republic, for a period of two years.

The proposal contains the number of members and the composition of the Council, taking care that the composition reflects the representation of all religions, national and ethnic groups, and that it also includes a certain number of established public and political figures in Montenegro, enjoying a high degree of reputation and confidence among the citizens.

The President of the Republic, based on the Decision made by the Council, may propose to the Assembly, to release of mandate certain members of the Council before the expiration of his term in office.

Members of the Council, with respect to performing their function, have the rights as prescribed for republic officials.

Members of the Council have the rights to be regularly and promptly informed on issues of relevance for their performance of their duties.

Informative, documentary and other materials needed by the Council shall be provided by the General Secreteriate of the President of the Republic.

Organizational, professional and other operations for the Council shall be provided by the General Secreteriate of the President of the Republic.

The Book of Regulation determines in detail the rights and obligations of members of the Council, their accountability, organization and operation of the Council.

Thisdecision shall come into effect as of the day of its publiching in the "Official Gazette of the Republic of Montenegro".

In territories with a greater number of members of national and ethnic groups, schools or classes shall be established for education in the language of such national or ethnic groups.

Depending on the prevailing conditions and possibilities, education in the language of members of national and ethnic groups may be provided in their language also in other schools or classes of such schools.

In territories where members of the peoples of Yugoslavia live together with members of national and ethnic groups, bilingual schools or classes in such schools may be established.

Primary schools as public institutions owned by the state may be established by the state or social-political community or a legal entity.

Depending on prevailing conditions and possibilities, for members of national and ethnic groups education may be provided in the language of such national and ethnic groups.

In territories where members of the peoples of Yugoslavia live together with members of the Albanian nationality, schools or classes in such schools providing bilingual education may be established.

Schools for members of the Albanian nationality are established and education is provided in the Albanian language within the unique educational program as determined by the Law.

When education in a school is provided in the Albanian language, the pupils are obliged also to learn the Serbian language.

[1] If there is disagreement between the data and the comments on specific Articles, the data from the comments on specific Articles of the Convention will prevail.

[2] 4, 309 of Hungarians lived in Central Serbia, 142 in Kosovo and 205 in Montenegro.

[3] The circulation was 13, 412 copies.

[4] The publishing activity in the national minority languages in Vojvodina took place at the News and Publishing Company ‘Forum’, Novi Sad. In this period, this company also considerably reduced its human resources and financial and other assets.

[5] The circulation of the ‘Magyar Szo’ (Hungarian Word), the traditionally most widely read paper of the Vojvodina Hungarians, dropped from 36, 700 week-day and 67, 000 Sunday copies to 5, 000 copies on weekdays and 28, 000 on Sundays. The reasons behind this declining circulations of the press in the Hungarian language are not only of a financial nature but also had to do with the Editorial policy that was under the control of the then most influential majority parties in Serbia.

[6] The Journal is published by the Department of Hungarian Language of the Novi Sad Faculty of Philosophy.