Novi Sad, 11 April - President of the AP Vojvodina Assembly Bálint Juhász talked today with the Mr Johan Häggman, president of the Federal Union of European Nationalities (FUEN) about the importance of representing minority communities by way of institutions and organisations.
It was concluded at the meeting that the FUEN played a very important role in protecting minority rights by closely cooperating with cultural and educational institutions throughout Europe and that the work of that organisation had gained additional strength and visibility in recent years.
“I am very pleased we will cooperate in the field of protection and enhancing of minority rights, and I am particularly excited that the following 9th FUEN Forum, themed around the “Added-Value of Minorities in Cross-Border Regions” will be held at the AP Vojvodina Assembly, from 26 to 28 June”, Juhász emphasised, adding that a special focus of this conference would be placed on presenting Vojvodina, its specificities and potentials.
Juhász and Häggman also discussed the significance of national communities as the bridge connecting their countries of residence and their native countries, which has resulted in a closer economic and any other form of cooperation between those countries.
Juhász stressed the Republic of Serbia and AP Vojvodina as examples of good practice in terms of the legislative framework in the sphere of protection and enhancement of national community rights, particularly referring to the Law on National Councils of National Minorities.
The FUEN is the largest European organisation representing the interests of autochthonous, national minorities and linguistic communities, with over 100 members from 38 countries.