2011.05.08. 11:30
Looking after minorities "European" task, says Hungarian pres at Serbia talks
<p>Novi Sad, May 6 (MTI) - It is a "European" responsibility of every country to look after the national communities inhabiting its territory and guarantee their rights, Hungarian President Pal Schmitt said during talks in Novi Sad, Serbia, on Friday.</p>
At a joint press conference with Sandor Egeresi, Speaker of the Parliament of the Autonomous Region of Vojvodina, Schmitt said he had received reassuring answers to his inquiries about the Hungarian ethnic community living in the north Serbian province.
He noted that Hungarian was one of the official languages of the province and that his visit in Novi Sad was symbolic in the sense that he was holding talks with Egeresi, who is of Hungarian nationality while being a Serbian citizen.
Schmitt said he and Egeresi had agreed that guaranteeing the rights of minority groups was a responsibility of every country.
Schmitt added that Hungary was committed to supporting Serbia s EU integration efforts.
"In the meanwhile, we can strengthen regional cooperation," he said, noting that Budapest had helped Serbian citizens gain visa-free travel to EU countries.
Egeresi said the Vojvodina government was adamant to "Europeanise" Serbia and Vojvodina, to strengthen regionalism and democratisation. The community of Vojvodina Hungarians plays a key role in achieving these aims, he said.
Egeresi insisted that racially-motivated attacks on Hungarians in the region was on the decline.
Peace, security and freedom are the key factors which drive everyday life in Vojvodina for Hungarians as well as other nationalities, he added.
