Posted on 01/11/2005 6:52:55 PM PST by mark502inf
NOVI SAD, BELGRADE, BUDAPEST -- Tuesday (B92, Beta, Dnevnik) – Hungarian Democratic party of Vojvodina leader Andras Agoston is interested in discussing a similar kind of autonomy for Hungarians in Vojvodina that Serbs in Kosovo are asking for.
“I believe that it could be an interesting solution for us.” Agoston said, adding that such a solution needs to be discussed for inclusion into the new Serbian constitution which is currently being prepared.
“I am convinced of this process and an understanding for the creation of personal autonomy for Serbs in Kosovo is being shown by many members of the international community.” he said.
Vojvodina Secretary for the Administration of National Minorities, Tamas Korhec, told daily Dnevnik that the Hungarian minority’s demand for autonomy is nothing new in the sphere of the Hungarian parties’ already expressed political goals. According to him, the process for creating cultural autonomies for ethnic and national minorities in Serbia-Montenegro has already begun with the adoption of the Law for National Minorities, but that the laws need to be further developed and implemented in the federal legislature.
Korhec said that this cultural autonomy, which the legal system already recognizes, consists of the creation of laws in cultural, educational and informational branches and that this kind of autonomy is often synonymous with the idea of personal autonomy, so as to separate such forms of autonomy from the idea of territorial autonomy.
Representatives from 15 international Hungarian organizations met in Subotica last week and signed a declaration that demanded from the Hungarian government the right of dual citizenship and asked for a law that would guarantee autonomy for Hungarians who live outside of the country.
Kosovo's influence
Vojvodina political analysts have predicted that the rise of tension in South Serbia most recently, and in Kosovo, will have a strong effect on the inter-ethnic situation in Vojvodina.
According to the Director of the Novi Sad Center for Regionalism, Aleksandar Popov, and Director of the Zrenjanin Center for the Development of Civil Society, Vladimir Ilic, the demands for ethnic separatism and autonomy in Kosovo will encourage similar movements in Vojvodina.
Popov said that the situation in Kosovo has encouraged similar opinions in Vojvodina for territorial separation by the principle of ethnicity.
“We now see that the Hungarian parties have also turned to the concept of autonomy for minorities, and as a citizen of Vojvodina this saddens me, because that gives of less of a chance for civil autonomy, which would make all of us feel better about our situations. This will no longer be the Vojvodina we once knew, where we were all friends and no one asked what faith or nationality you were, and everyone had his or her own rights.” Popov said.
Ilic also warned of the ever-growing possibility of inter-ethnic violence in the region.
“Territorial autonomy for a minority community in Vojvodina can only exist if a territorial division of Kosovo also exists,” he said, adding that the possibility of inter-ethnic violence in the region will continue to grow until all citizens are considered equal under law in Vojvodina.
“If the international community shows a strong stance for not allowing a division of citizens in Serbia by ethnicity, then we may be able to achieve constitutional solutions. This is an important role for the international community because Belgrade listens to the international community, even if it rarely has ears for South Morava, Kosovo or Vojvodina.” Ilic said.
A delegation of observers from the European Parliament is expected to arrive in Vojvodina this month in order to investigation last year’s incidents of inter-ethnic violence, which mostly targeted Hungarian minorities in the region.
Gyurcsany backs idea
Hungarian Prime Minister Ferenc Gyurcsany said that autonomy for Hungarian communities abroad is a better solution than granting them dual citizenship.
Gyurcsany reminded of the fact that the proposal for dual citizenship did not even receive the support of a majority of citizens or the government at last month’s referendum, and that this is a another reason for turning the nation’s focus in the direction of trying to help its citizens receive autonomy abroad.
“In different regions there are different demands for autonomy and that is why this question needs to be carefully analyzed, but it should definitely be looked at as something positive.” Gyurcsany said.
He continued, adding that Hungary can help in this process by creating relationships with its neighboring countries in which a united future is stressed, instead of the problems of the past.
Gyurcsany also wishes to pass laws for national visas and Shengen passports similar to the ones that Great Britain passed for citizens of its former colonies, which ensure free travel, but do not include any extra rights.
Hmm. I'm a citizen of a former colony of Great Britain. If I can get one of those Shengen passports, does that mean that I can travel for free?
Tell me something new.
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