Tolerance.ro: Serbia accepts a Romanian consulate in Timoc after numerous bilateral negotiations

The Government of Serbia approved the opening of the General Romanian Consulate in Zaicear, Timoc, Eastern Serbia, a region with a significant Vlach (Romanian) community. The Consulate was subject to numerous bilateral negotiations, but until now Serbia refused to agree with the Consulate, Romanian Global News reports.

The gesture of Serbia can be one of sincere opening towards finding solutions for the problems of the Romanians/Vlachs in Timoc Valley or it can be just a singular action designed to convince Romania of the good intentions of Belgrade.

Asked by the Romanian Global News Agency to give a feedback on the decision, the leaders of the Romanians/Vlachs in Timoc welcomed the decision of the Serbian Government but underlined that a true opening should be followed by other measures like:
-ceding the leadership of the The National Council of the Vlach Minority which has been overtaken by the Serbian mainstream parties;
-the introduction of the education in Romanian language in the schools with Romanian/Vlach children;
-the elimination of all obstacles to rebuild the Churches of Romanian Ortodox Church in Romanian villages from Timoc Valley.

According to the daily newspaper Politika, the Government of Serbia approved the opening of the General Romanian Consulate in Zaicear, Timoc, Eastern Serbia and the Consulate would thus be available for citizens for Bor, Zaiecar, Nis, Pirot, Pčinj and Jablanički counties.

Source: http://tolerance.ro/portal/minorities/serbia-accepts-a-romanian-consulate-in-timoc-after-numerous-bilateral-negotiations/

Tolerance.ro: Republic of Moldova calls for replacing the Russia-led peacekeeping force in its breakaway transnistrian region by an international civi

A Russian military man of the „peacekeeping” forces serving in the security zone of Moldova’s separatist transnistrian region shot dead with a kalasnikov a local driving a car in the morning of January 1 for not stoping his car at a checkpoint on the bridge over the Dniester, Tolerance.ro reports.

The Russian ambasador in Chisinau, Valeri Kuzmin, declared that the „peacemaker” had to shoot the 18-year-old boy since his car was stollen, and he did not have a driving licence. The interior minister in Chisinau confirmed that the declarations of the Russian ambasador are NOT true.

Meanwhile, local residents organised a protest against Russian peacekeepers in the region. The protest was organised by the fellow villagers of the killed man. They gathered in front of the checkpoint and said they would protest until “the peacekeepers posts in the conflict security zone are removed”.

“The Russian peacekeeper should not have fired at the young man because he posed no threat to the people around,” Moldovan Deputy Prime Minister for Reintegration Eugen Carpov said.

Moldovan officials consider that the Russian peacekeepers stationed at a checkpoint in a separatist region where an 18-year-old man was fatally shot have no reason to carry guns.
Also, the oficials in Chisinau asks the international community to support in convincing Russia to withdow the military forces and replace them with a civilian international mission.

More details: Tolerance.ro

Tolerance.ro: Russian elections: the members of the European Parliament call for new free and fair elections

After the US Secretary of State, Hillary Clinton voiced "serious concerns" about the parliamentary elections which took place in Russia, this week, the MEPs called for new free and fair elections and an immediate and full investigation of all reports of fraud and intimidation in the Russian elections held on 4 December, while welcoming demonstrations in Russia as an expression of the will of the people in a resolution passed on Wednesday.

"MEPs stress that the running of the election showed that Russia does not meet election standards as defined by the OSCE, and express deep concern about reports of fraud and the preliminary findings of the OSCE/ODIHR report on procedural violations, lack of media impartiality, harassment of independent monitors and lack of separation between party and state".

Details: http://tolerance.ro/news/russian-elections-the-members-of-the-european-parliament-call-for-new-free-and-fair-elections/

Youthvoice.ro/English: The legislative proposal for volutary sterilization (Slovakia) is criticized for being aimed against roma (gipsy) comunity

The Slovak Labour Ministry recently released its draft law on socially-excluded communities that aims to create MAPS of socially-excluded communities living in poverty and suffering from other maladies linked to exclusion from mainstream society which the minister say will be used as a tool to combat marginalisation.

The Labour Ministry stated in releasing its draft law on socially-excluded communities. The draft, generally viewed by many observers as a positive.

The draft attempts, they say, to ameliorate some of the problems faced by marginalised citizens, also includes some specific proposals that several MPs from the coalition government have already objected to, such as cost-free voluntary sterilisations and contraceptives.

Details: http://youthvoice.ro/english/

YouthVoice.ro/English: Summer School | Understanding International Criminal Law, Sibiu, Romania

The experience of the past century bitterly reminds us of the atrocities that took place in different parts of the world in a state of impunity from national authorities and international community. The brutal legacy of the last 100 years called for the need to establish a new field of law that would allow international bodies to exercise jurisdiction over individuals for a series of very grave crimes that “deeply shocked the conscience of humanity”.

We warmly invite you to this summer school in order to study a field about which little is known, but represents an unprecedented milestone in the development of international law. In the course of the event, you will be guided through the essential notions of international criminal law.

The interactive and practice-oriented approach provides the best conditions to acquire knowledge and insight on the subject matter, while the inter-cultural dimension allows you to improve your appreciation of other peoples. Therefore, this summer seminar will greatly contribute to your development, by broadening your horizons and your understanding of the international legal system and also by opening the way to a possible career in the field.

The event is scheduled to take place 23-31 July 2011 in Sibiu, Romania. It will consist of a series of daily lectures and seminars, followed by a simulation of the International Criminal Court.

Details: http://youthvoice.ro/english/

TimocPress.info/en: STATEMENT of the Committee for Human Rights, Negotin, Serbia

Negotin, Serbia/TimocPress - The Week Against Racism on March 14th to 21st in Negotin have started talks and preparations for marking of the International Day for the Elimination of All Forms of Racial Discrimination.

In memory of the 69 people who protested against the racist policy of apartheid and therefore killed March 21st 1960 in the South African city Sharpville, the General Assembly of the Council of Europe (1966) has decided that March 21st each year is designated as International Day for the Elimination of All Forms of Racial Discrimination.

In the small hall of the Municipal Assembly on Monday March 21st 2011 in Negotin, from 11 to 12h, at a press conference will speak the representatives of:
- Municipalities Negotin
- Working body for gender equality of Negotin
- Member of the Municipal Council of Negotin
- Human Rights Negotin

Network Committee for Human Rights in Serbia CHRIS through the existence of local offices (in Novi Sad, Valjevo, Nis, Novi Pazar and Negotin), mark the International Day for the Elimination of All Forms of Racial Discrimination with the slogan RESPECT DIVERSITY ERADICATE DISCRIMINATION!

At Djordje Stanojevic Square on Monday March 21st 2011, from 12 to 14h, in the realisation of the Committee for Human Rights Negotin, will be distributed printed educational and promotional materials (Calendar with 12 winners of the fight against discrimination and the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, the Law on Prohibition …), and in direct contact with citizens to remind us of the fact that we all have to fight for human rights and the principle of equality.

Action is being implemented under the project entitled “Human rights for all”, supported by the Fund for Open Society in Belgrade.

Source: www.TimocPress.info/en

Please see below the FOTO galery of the project “Play it right”

For the FOTO galery of the project “Play it right” click here!