Newsroom
OSCE Mission to seek improvement of minorities situation in Kosovo
PRISTINA 13 May 2003
PRISTINA, 13 May 2003 - Ambassador Pascal Fieschi, Head of the OSCE Mission in Kosovo, is next week starting a series of meetings with Kosovo's Provisional Institutions of Self-Government to seek action on improving the situation of minorities in the province.
Ambasasdor Fieschi will address the issue based on the recommendations of the Tenth OSCE/UNCHR "Assessment on the Situation of Ethnic Minorities in Kosovo."
To tackle the condition of ethnic minorities, the latest Assessment called for an approach that combined the strong and committed leadership of the Provisional Institutions of Self-Government as well as the continued active engagement of UNMIK and other international actors.
"I hope that these meetings will assist the responsible authorities to implement and realize the recommendations of the report. We will continue to monitor the situation of minorities and will look at the successes and challenges in implementation," said Ambassador Fieschi.
Consultations will be held with Prime Minister Bajram Rexhepi, the Minister of Labour and Social Welfare, the Minister of Education, Science and Technology, the Minister of Public Services, and the Minister of Health.
Topics to be discussed include the passage of the OSCE-drafted Omnibus Anti-discrimination Law, greater minority representation in the civil service, access to essential social services, property rights, access to justice, security and freedom of movement, and confidence building initiatives in all minority communities.
The aim of these meetings is to enable Kosovo's governmental institutions to evaluate what steps are required to improve the conditions for minorities living in Kosovo and provide stronger protection from discrimination.
Ambasasdor Fieschi will address the issue based on the recommendations of the Tenth OSCE/UNCHR "Assessment on the Situation of Ethnic Minorities in Kosovo."
To tackle the condition of ethnic minorities, the latest Assessment called for an approach that combined the strong and committed leadership of the Provisional Institutions of Self-Government as well as the continued active engagement of UNMIK and other international actors.
"I hope that these meetings will assist the responsible authorities to implement and realize the recommendations of the report. We will continue to monitor the situation of minorities and will look at the successes and challenges in implementation," said Ambassador Fieschi.
Consultations will be held with Prime Minister Bajram Rexhepi, the Minister of Labour and Social Welfare, the Minister of Education, Science and Technology, the Minister of Public Services, and the Minister of Health.
Topics to be discussed include the passage of the OSCE-drafted Omnibus Anti-discrimination Law, greater minority representation in the civil service, access to essential social services, property rights, access to justice, security and freedom of movement, and confidence building initiatives in all minority communities.
The aim of these meetings is to enable Kosovo's governmental institutions to evaluate what steps are required to improve the conditions for minorities living in Kosovo and provide stronger protection from discrimination.