Minorities and Autonomy in Contemporary Eastern Europe:
Changes in International Perception 7
In a response to the rapidity and
effectiveness of secession in some cases, and to
violence in others, the international community has been forced to re-appraise
the principles upon which it regulates its relations with emerging states, and
this process has also entrained a change in its attitude towards minority or
group rights. The author, professor at University of London, offers
a quasi-
exhaustive list of questions and problems – a genuine collection of milestones
for the researchers and activists in this field.
Rosalyn Higgins
Self-Determination 18
The article is a fragment of
the book Problems and Process: International Law and
how we use it, written by Rosalyn Higgins, professor of international law in
the
University of London. Its guidelines
are related to the phases of the evolution of the
concept of self-determination; its connection with the independence from
colonial
rule, its development toward a human right status. In this context, the author
suggests
that the role of the international lawyer is to eschew current fashion when it
is
intellectually unsound and to provide the analysis that shows how, properly
understood, this important principle of international
law can serve common values.
Pierre Kende
Self-Determination in Eastern Europe
Yesterday and Today 36
Proceeding from István Bibó’s views on
self-determination, the author
analyses the prospects and limits of self-determination in Eastern Europe
198
after 1989. In theory,
the principle of self-determination applies to every
community, regardless of the size of the community or the territory it
inhabits.
Self-determination has not been and is not the same as secession. Rather, it
has led to aspirations for greater self-government and territorial and cultural
autonomy. Limits to the self-determination, the interests of
neighbouring
ethnic groups, and the needs created by the existing state structure. In
light
of the various means of implementing self-determination and the problems
of multi-ethnic territories, the author voices the conviction that lasting
peace
in Eastern-Central Europe will be achieved
only if the logic of self
determination is realised. The author is the Research Director of C. N. R. S.
of
Paris.
Christoph Pan
The
Autonomy Rights of the Ethnical Groups in Europe 49
President of FUEV (the Federal
Union of European Ethnic Communities), the
author offers a thoroughly study of the dinamics manifested by the ethnic
european groups, their rights at autonomy and the inner characteristics of the
various forms of autonomy: the territorial and the cultural autonomy, the local
self-administration, as they were established by interstatal communities like
UNO and the European Union.
Natalie Belitser
Peoples, Nations, National Minorities, Ethnical Groups and
the Right of Self-Determination
(The Case of
Ukraine
and Crimea) 63
A summary review of the main
concepts used in international practice, and
their reflection in the particular situations recorded in Ukraine and Crimea,
after 1989. The author is Coordinator of the Ukrainean Helsinki Citizens
Assembly.
DIALOGUE
Gabriel Andreescu
Atlanta: Real Topics and
Abstract Judgements 69
Gabriel Andreescu,
co-president of the Romanian Helsinki Comitee, is reviewing
the main guidelines of the February meeting in Atlanta, USA, between
representatives of the Hungarian minority of Romania and personalities
representing the Romanian political and civil society. The former USA president,
Jimmy Carter, and Harry Barnes, former ambassador of USA in Romania, were
present at this meeting, organized by Allen Kassof director of Project on
Ethnic
Relations.
CASE STUDY
Bodó Zoltán –
Marins Cosmeanu – Mátétffy Csaba – Paul Mărginean
The
Alter/Ego status in Tîrgu-Mureş 77
The authors are members of the
Students in Sociology Association of Timişoara.
Their analyse is based on a careful consideration of the information contained
in the articles published between January and March 1990 by the two daily
magazines (Romanian and Hungarian) of Tîrgu-Mureş, about issues concerning
both the community life and the interaction between the Romanians and
Hungarians, shortly before the March violent inter-ethnic conflict in this
Transylvanian town.
DOCUMENT
Council of Europe
Framework Convention for the
Protection of National Minorities 97
Comments
FUEV
The Spiritual Shortcoming Proved by the
Protection of Minorities 120
ChristophPan
European Parliament's 1201/1993 Recommendation
compared to the Framework Convention for the
Protection of National Minorities 121
Valentin Stan
The Framework
Convention - Result of a Compromise 122
Varujan Vosganian
The Framework Convention can not be applied
in the internal Judiciary Practice 124
TRANSYLVANIAN CONVERGENCES
Paul Philippi
Ecclesia Theutonicorum Ultrasilvanorum 125
Proposing a historical
approach to the evolution of the Ecclesia Theutonicorum
Ultrasilvanorum, established in 1191, Dr. Paul Philippi, historian and
theologian, president of the German Democratic Forum of Romania, offers
an interesting review of the spiritual evolution of the Saxon community in
Transylvania, during over 800 years of existence.
FACES OF EUROPE
This section includes three
articles, out of a collection of six, originally
published in 1986, under the title Co-existence in some Plural European
Societies, is reprinted here with the permission of its editor, The Minority
Rights Group (UK), using the 1991 edition. Produced to provide some
constructive lessons of successful plural societies for those working to
resolve the recurrent problems of Northern Ireland, this revised and updated
Report has relevance, today, for the new plural democracies that are
emerging in Eastern Europe and the former USSR, and also for the growing
numbers of pan-European institutions. Dr. Jonathan Steinberg is University
Lecturer in History and Vice Master of Trinity College, Cambridge, UK.
Professor Marc Bossuyt is Belgian Commissioner-General for Refugees
and Stateless Persons. Dick Leonard is EC/Brussels correspondent for The
Observer.
Jonathan Steinberg
Switzerland 153
Marc J. Bossuyt şi Dick Leonard
Belgium 163
Fred Grünfeld
Holland 173
THEOLOGY AND SOCIETY
Alan W. Black
The Ironies of Ecumenism 182
A valuable approach to the
major paradoxes, incompatibilities and
incongruences recorded during nearly 30 years of interdenominational
dialogue experience. The author is professor of Sociology at University
of Armingdale, Australia.
Pro Europa League
The Pro Europa
League (Liga Pro Europa) is one of the most well-known
civic NGO's in Romania, founded in the Transylvanian city of Tîrgu-Mureş, on
December 30, 1989, immediately after the fail of Ceauşescu's dictatorial
regime.
The PEL became
respected due to its involvement in promoting human
rights, pluralism and multicultural values. From the very beginning of the
transitional period, the PEL played a significant role in the political reality
of
Romania, joining different civic movements
and alliances committed to mobilise
public opinion against restauration of the former communist structures.
In the
specific area of the multicultural society of Transylvania, the PEL had
remarkable role in monitoring discriminatory policies against minorities and
in promoting tolerance between Romanians and Hungarians, as a key issue for
peace and democratic progress in Central Europe.
In its activity of
more than five years, the PEL organised an impressive
number of workshops, seminars, round-table debates, summer camps, conflict
resolution missions and meetings for teachers, local authorities, judges,
prosecutors, students, local political and civic leaders.
The PEL is actively
networking with other Romanian NGO's committed
to rebuild civil society and collaborates
with European and American institutions
and foundations.
The PEL has over
500 members, ' based mainly in the Transylvanian area
and a branch in the city of Satu Mare. The PEL is structured in five
departments:
• The Human Rights Office, monitoring mainly minority
rights abuses;
• The Center for
Pluralism, promoting civic education at local and regional
level;
• The Intercultural
Center, initiating research on multiculturalism and
practical approaches of this issue;
• The Women's Group,
aiming to promote women in the Romanian public
life;
• The Environmental
Group, aiming to stimulate a responsible attitude
towards environment.
These departments
aim to mobilise local public opinion and authorities
for implementing democratic values.
Between November
1991 and September 1993, the PEL edited the „Gazeta
de Mureş” weekly, supporting democratic and pluralist
ideas. Actually, the
PEL is editing a monthly newsletter: „Pro Europa”.
The PEL is member
of the Centers for Pluralism network (initiated by
IDEE, Washington), having permanent connections with other NGO's from
the former communist block.
• Acest număr a fost realizat cu
sprijinul Fundaţiilor Heinrich Böll (Germania),
CEBEMO (Olanda) şi National Endowment for Democracy (U. S. A. ). cărora
editorii le adresează mulţumiri.
• Opţiunile
exprimate în articolele publicate aparţin autorilor. Drepturile de
publicare sînt rezervate.
Grafica: Mana Bucur
Tehnoredactare: Gabriel Niculae,
Culegere: Judit-Andrea Kacsó
Tipărit la S. C. LYRA S. R. L., tel.
065-165373
ISSN 1224-0338
(c) Fundaţia Jakabffy Elemér, Asociaţia Media Index 1999-2006