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31. Between Integration and Resettlement: The Meskhetian Turks

Author:
Tom Trier and Oskari Pentikäinen
Publication Date:
08-2004
Content Type:
Working Paper
Institution:
European Centre for Minority Issues
Abstract:
The Meskhetian Turks is a population, which was deported to Central Asia, along with seven other ethnic groups in the Soviet Union during World War II. Whilst other deported people, Chechens, Ingush, Balkars, Karachais and Kalmyks were rehabilitated after Stalin's death and allowed to resettle in their pre-deportation territories, three groups were not permitted to return. These included the Crimean Tatars, who were only to be rehabilitated with the demise of the Soviet Union, and have subsequently returned in significant numbers to Crimea in Ukraine over the past 15 years. Another group, the Volga Germans, originally deported from the Soviet Volga German Republic, have largely emigrated to Germany in the post Soviet Era, and do not have territorial aspirations in the Volga region. Hence, the Meskhetian Turks are the last of the 8 deported peoples, for whom rehabilitation and resettlement remains unresolved.
Topic:
Conflict Resolution and Ethnic Conflict
Political Geography:
Europe and Central Asia

32. Russian-Speaking Minorities in Estonia and Latvia: Problems of Integration at the Threshold of th European Union

Author:
Peter Van Elsuwege
Publication Date:
05-2004
Content Type:
Working Paper
Institution:
European Centre for Minority Issues
Abstract:
The restoration of the Baltic states' independence, back in 1991, brought about a number of political and legal challenges. The presence of large nontitular communities in Estonia and Latvi has proven to be the most pressing of these. Notwithstanding the fact that the European Commission already in 1997 concluded that 'on the whole the rights of the Russian-speaking minorities are observed and safeguarded', the legal status of these living relics of the Soviet period remains controversial. A resolution of the Council of Europe Committee of Ministers, adopted on 13 June 2002, criticised the protection of national minorities in Estonia. In the lead-up to the December 2003 parliamentary elections, the Russian Duma adopted a resolution 'on gross violations of human and minority rights in the Republic of Latvia'. Dmitry Rogozin, chairman of the Parliamentarian Committee on International Relations, announced that Russia should consider the weapon of economic sanctions to put pressure on the Baltic state, which he described as 'a land of hooligans' where 'Nazis have come to power'. Whereas these statements have to be situated within the context of the ongoing election campaign, the remarks of Alvaro Gil-Robles, European Council Commissioner for Human Rights, are to be taken more serious. During his visit to Riga in October 2003, the High Commissioner criticized the lack of citizenship for more than twenty per cent of Latvia's population and recommended the granting of voting rights to non-citizens in municipal elections. On the other hand, Günter Verheugen, EU Commissioner responsible for enlargement, declared that Latvia fulfils all the criteria in the field of societal integration and has complied with all international requirements regarding its ethnic minorities.
Topic:
Conflict Resolution and Ethnic Conflict
Political Geography:
Russia and Europe

33. Institutionalizing Ethnicity in the Western Balkans: Managing Change in Deeply Divided Societies

Author:
Florian Bieber
Publication Date:
02-2004
Content Type:
Working Paper
Institution:
European Centre for Minority Issues
Abstract:
Ethnic politics continue to dominate political discourse and institutions in the post-conflict regions of former Yugoslavia (Bosnia-Herzegovina, Kosovo, Macedonia). This has rendered these regions dependent on external intervention and blocked or delayed political and economic development, including the process of integration into European and Euroatlantic structures. Some of the post-conflict arrangements have rightfully come under criticism—both from within and outside the region—as obstacles in the normalization of ethnic relations. While the status quo needs revision and a different approach to institutional design is required, this paper argues against abandoning groupbased institutions altogether. Instead, it argues for a more dynamic and processoriented approach to accommodate ever-changing interethnic relations.
Topic:
Conflict Resolution, Ethnic Conflict, and War
Political Geography:
Europe, Bosnia, Herzegovina, Kosovo, and Macedonia

34. Kosovo/a Standing Technical Working Group, Training Workshop and Study Visit - Council of Europe

Author:
Graham Holliday
Publication Date:
11-2002
Content Type:
Working Paper
Institution:
European Centre for Minority Issues
Abstract:
A joint study visit and training workshop was organized by the European Centre for Minority Issues (ECMI) in collaboration with the Directorate General of Political Affairs at the Council of Europe (CoE). This workshop took place at the CoE headquarters in Strasbourg between 18 and 21 November 2002, and brought together approximately forty local experts from Kosovo and sixteen officials of the CoE. The general aim of the study visit/training workshop was to increase awareness of different dimensions of the CoE's work on standard setting and technical assistance in Europe, within the framework of building democratic and inclusive institutions. Special attention was paid in the training sessions of the workshop to raising awareness of international standards on minority and human rights legislation and protection, but provision was also made to cover other aspects of democracy building that were of particular interest to the project participants, such as evolving standards and good practice in local governance, social cohesion and education. The workshop further provided a forum for the participants to discuss the applicability of these standards to the Western Balkans, and to the future development of Kosovo in particular.
Topic:
Civil Society, Democratization, and Development
Political Geography:
Europe

35. Kosovo/a Standing Technical Working Group, Fourteenth Meeting: Kosovo's Health Care System: Invasive Procedure Needed

Author:
Robert Curis
Publication Date:
07-2002
Content Type:
Working Paper
Institution:
European Centre for Minority Issues
Abstract:
The 14th meeting of the Standing Technical Working Group (STWG) organized by the European Centre for Minority Issues, Kosovo, on 17 July 2003 brought together approximately 25 local and international experts on issues of health and social welfare in an open Civic Forum. The aim of the forum was to generate critical dialogue between party representatives and Assembly members, members of civil society, and a team of experts on key issues of health policy development, debating needs for reform and highlighting areas of particular attention.
Topic:
Civil Society, Development, and Human Welfare
Political Geography:
Europe

36. Kosovo/a Standing Technical Working Group, Thirteenth Meeting: Integration Returns

Author:
Robert Curis
Publication Date:
06-2002
Content Type:
Working Paper
Institution:
European Centre for Minority Issues
Abstract:
The International Community should concentrate its efforts on the process of returns rather than looking to the numbers of individual returnees. . The present authorities (Provisional Institutions of Self Government – PISG – and United Nations Mission In Kosovo) should be assisted in promoting the right of all Internally Displaced Persons to return to their homes or remain in their present domicile, through ensuring the necessary social, institutional and legal preconditions for minorities to remain in Kosovo. This will help in promoting confidence building and dialogue that work toward reconciliation and tolerance between communities. . Financial assistance should be given towards organizing a proper education system for young people – if the process of returns targets only older people the effectiveness of the process is at stake. Financial support for returns should continue to be provided. Financial and technical assistance should be provided to finish projects begun in the last few years (reconstruction of houses, etc.)
Topic:
Civil Society, Development, and Economics
Political Geography:
Europe

37. ECMI Montenegro Negotiation and Capacity-Building Project: EU Accession and Minority Rights in Serbia, Montenegro and Sandzak / Sandzak as Part of a Euro-Region?

Author:
Florian Bieber and Emilija Stefanov
Publication Date:
12-2002
Content Type:
Working Paper
Institution:
European Centre for Minority Issues
Abstract:
The purpose of this evaluation is to assess the success of the 4-day workshop under The ECMI Montenegro Negotiation and Capacity-Building Project organized by the European Centre for Minority Issues and funded by the Westminster Foundation for Democracy. The event took place in Kotor, Montenegro at the Sindikalno-Poslovno Obrazovni Centar from the 5th of December 2002 till 8th of December 2002.
Topic:
Civil Society, Development, Human Rights, and Regional Cooperation
Political Geography:
Europe

38. ECMI Civil Society Project in Bosnia and Herzegovina: Supporting Annex 8 of the Dayton Peace Agreement: Development of a Cultural Heritage Association and a Education Programme

Author:
Valery Perry
Publication Date:
12-2002
Content Type:
Working Paper
Institution:
European Centre for Minority Issues
Abstract:
Since the first implementation meeting in October, the Annex 8 project has moved forward through two complementary pillars of activity. One pillar is the development of a state-level cultural heritage association that can serve as a civil society link among government officials, cultural heritage experts, and BiH citizens interested in protecting and promoting BiH\'s culture. Participants initially proposed and have continually expressed their interest in the development of such an association since the constitutive meeting. Part III of this report reviews the progress made in this effort, and notes the goals for 2003.
Topic:
Civil Society, Development, and Education
Political Geography:
Europe

39. Kosovo/a Standing Technical Working Group, Twelfth Meeting: Review of Activities 2002

Author:
Graham Holliday
Publication Date:
12-2002
Content Type:
Working Paper
Institution:
European Centre for Minority Issues
Abstract:
The Standing Technical Working Group (STWG) was established in March 2001 to address important issues of public policy in Kosovo/a at a technical level. It is composed of experts from Kosovo/a NGOs, the main political parties and other civil society representatives. Its membership is fully interethnic and it prides itself on being able to conduct debate in Kosovo/a in an interethnic way. The Group reviews technical aspects of current policy and formulates proposals and critical questions in relation to them. It then seeks to engage the relevant appointed local and international representatives on these issues. In response to the changed political environment in Kosovo/a following the Assembly elections in November 2001, the Group sought to enhance its role in public policy analysis and development through the establishment of four expert working groups.
Topic:
Civil Society and Development
Political Geography:
Europe

40. Kosovo/a Standing Technical Working Group, Eleventh Meeting: Economic Development and Labour

Author:
Graham Holliday
Publication Date:
12-2002
Content Type:
Working Paper
Institution:
European Centre for Minority Issues
Abstract:
The Standing Technical Working Group (STWG) was established in March 2001 to address important issues of public policy in Kosovo/a at a technical level. It is composed of experts from Kosovo/a NGOs, the political parties and other civil society representatives. Its membership is fully interethnic and it prides itself on being able to conduct debate in Kosovo/a in an interethnic way. The Group reviews technical aspects of current policy and formulates proposals and critical questions in relation to them. It then seeks to engage the relevant appointed local and international representatives on these issues. In response to the changed political environment in Kosovo/a following the Assembly elections in November 2001, the Group sought to enhance its role in public policy analysis and development through the establishment of four expert working groups. These Expert Committees (ECs) have devoted their activities in 2002 to monitoring policy developments in four areas considered most relevant to the needs of all communities in Kosovo/a. One of these is the Expert Committee on Economic Development and Labour.
Topic:
Civil Society, Development, and Economics
Political Geography:
Europe