Friday, April 25, 2008

BOSNIAN NATIONAL MINORITIES' COUNCIL FORMED

SARAJEVO, Bosnia (April 25,2008) – The Bosnian Council of National Minorities has been constituted in the Bosnian capital Sarajevo; Roma people’s representative Nedzad Jusic is President of the Council. His deputies are Slovenian Marija Grbic and Macedonian Vasilija Ibrahimagic are his deputies.

The Council will, within 60 days, pass the book of regulations, which will organize systematization, organization and program of this council.

There are currently 10 members at the Council. The Bosnian State Parliament confirmed their nomination in January.

Keeping in mind that there are 17 national minorities in Bosnia, the council will have additional seven members.

Members of the Council are elected at the proposal of Joint Commission for Human Rights, Rights of Children, Youth, Immigration, Refugees, Asylum and Ethics of BiH Parliamentary Assembly. The Assembly is obliged to consult the national minorities’ councils in the process of election of the council’s members, as well as other NGOs that deal with national minorities.

The Bosnian National Minorities Council is an advisory body which will give opinions, advice and proposals to the BiH Parliamentary Assembly, which are concerned with rights, position and interest of national minorities in Bosnia.