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U.S. Statement on National Minoriti (r)



Subject: U.S. Statement on National Minorities to the 1999 OSCE Conference

22 September 1999 
U.S. DEPARTMENT OF STATE
Text: U.S. Statement on National Minorities to the 1999 OSCE Conference
(Minorities fare best where individual human rights are respected)
(940)

Ronald McNamara, deputy chief of staff of the U.S. Commission on
Security and Cooperation in Europe, presented a statement on national
minorities to the OSCE Review Conference in Vienna September 22.

"National minorities tend to fare best where individual human rights
are respected and where the focus is on practical problem-solving
rather than attempts to score rhetorical points," McNamara said.

He called on nations attending the Conference to "redouble our efforts
to uphold the rights of every individual, including those belonging to
national minorities."


Following is the text of the statement as delivered:

(begin text)


U.S. MISSION TO THE OSCE September 22, 1999

U.S. Statement on National Minorities for the 1999 OSCE Review
Conference in Vienna by Ronald McNamara, Deputy Chief of Staff United
States Commission on Security and Cooperation in Europe

National minorities issues traverse the gamut of human dimension
commitments -- religion, media, education, citizenship - and are
closely linked to the question of tolerance. Minorities often
constitute the most vulnerable group in any society, if not because of
official discrimination or short-sighted governmental policies then
because of societal intolerance.

Problems affecting national minorities are not always simple to
resolve, and they can be rooted in deep-seated rivalries. At times,
hatreds are stoked by misperceptions or differing versions of history.
The Serb attack on Kosovo, of course, represents the most odious
instance of what can happen when political leaders manipulate a
population through outright lies or by appealing to the baser
instincts of a portion of their constituencies.

At times, governments seek solutions to protect collective rights
rather than emphasizing the rights of individuals. Political leaders
sometimes make irresponsible or provocative statements with respect to
their ethnic kin in neighboring countries. Political forces in
countries not favorably disposed to a particular national minority may
exploit these statements to incite fear or animosity towards that
minority, which might otherwise live in peace. Thus, a vicious circle
can emerge in which suspicion trumps trust. In the end, the minority
in question is often not helped by those purporting to act on its
behalf.

An example last month were the counterproductive statements by
Hungarian Justice and Life Party Chairman Istvan Csurka expressing
support for northern Vojvodina's re-annexation to Hungary. Hungarians
in Vojvodina have made no such demand. Csurka's statements are
dangerous -- they could fuel resentment in Serbia and in other
countries where Hungarians reside and where there remain those who are
antagonistic to the Hungarian minority. Condemnations of such
statements by responsible Hungarian leaders are welcome. The best
guarantee for any minority in Serbia - whether Hungarians in Vojvodina
or Muslims in Sandzak - is the departure of Milosevic and his regime
and the establishment of genuine democracy in Serbia and its further
development in Montenegro. Indeed, genuine democracy is the sine qua
non for resolving the problem of national minorities in any country.

Even in established democracies, there exist governmental policies
that discriminate against national minorities. Greece formally
recognizes only the Muslim minority specified in the 1923 Treaty of
Lausanne. Individuals who self-identify as members of minorities --
principally Slavophones -- have in the past encountered difficulties
in self-expression. The United States welcomes recent statements by
leading Greek Government officials on minorities in the Hellenic
Republic and remains hopeful that this development will strengthen
dialogue to ensure the rights of all Greek citizens.

Croatia continues to pursue policies that discriminate against ethnic
Serbs, and the rate of return of those who fled the country in 1995
continues to be slow. While we commend Croatia for its stated policy
of return and reconciliation, the implementation of this policy will
be important. The Government of Croatia must put an end to official
obstructionism on the municipal level, which frustrates the ability of
those who do return to reclaim their pre-war property, and to gain
better access to social benefits. As long as local leaders continue to
sow distrust and fear of returning Serbs, the Serb minority will not
be able to resume their lives in Croatia in a safe and secure
environment.

In Turkey, Kurds who publicly or politically assert their ethnic
identity face severe harassment and imprisonment. We are often
informed that a sizeable portion of the Turkish parliament is Kurdish.
But the case of Mehmet Fuat Firat, an elected member of the Turkish
Grand National Assembly, demonstrates the limits imposed on even a
reference to the Kurdish language. When Mr. Firat listed his native
Kurdish as a second language on his official biography, the ruling
coalition moved to expunge that reference. The United States remains
concerned over the continued denial of basic political, cultural and
linguistic rights to Turkey's Kurdish population.

As a practical matter, national minorities tend to fare best where
individual human rights are respected and where the focus is on
practical problem-solving rather than attempts to score rhetorical
points. The "Lund Recommendations on the Effective Participation of
National Minorities in Public Life," initiated by High Commissioner
for National Minorities Max van der Stoel, offers useful suggestions
to guarantee effective participation of national minorities in public
life. Such participation is an essential component of a peaceful and
democratic society.

While problems affecting individuals belonging to national minorities
persist in a number of OSCE participating States, in many others
significant progress has been made. As we approach the twenty-fifth
anniversary of the Helsinki Final Act, let us redouble our efforts to
uphold the rights of every individual, including those belonging to
national minorities.

(end text)