Serbia and Montenegro: Information on the treatment of ethnic Romanians in Serbia (2002-January 2005)
| Publisher | Canada: Immigration and Refugee Board of Canada |
| Author | Research Directorate, Immigration and Refugee Board, Canada |
| Publication Date | 24 January 2005 |
| Citation / Document Symbol | SCG43294.E |
| Reference | 2 |
| Cite as | Canada: Immigration and Refugee Board of Canada, Serbia and Montenegro: Information on the treatment of ethnic Romanians in Serbia (2002-January 2005), 24 January 2005, SCG43294.E, available at: https://www.refworld.org/docid/42df61813e.html [accessed 8 June 2023] |
| Disclaimer | This is not a UNHCR publication. UNHCR is not responsible for, nor does it necessarily endorse, its content. Any views expressed are solely those of the author or publisher and do not necessarily reflect those of UNHCR, the United Nations or its Member States. |
The Romanians of Serbia "live in compact communities in Vojvodina, the Banat province, and the Timok Valley, the region between the rivers of Timock, Morava and Danube" (Rompress 24 Apr. 2003).
Following the implementation in 2002 of the Law on the Rights and Freedoms of the Minorities, national councils have been put in place by most minority groups (HRW Jan. 2005), including the Romanians (Freedom House 30 Nov. 2004). For the minorities, these councils play a representative role with the Serbia and Montenegro authorities "in the areas of education, language and culture" (ibid.).
Freedom House reports that although "cultural and ethnic minorities have their own political parties, access to media in their mother tongue, and other types of associations," their participation in government is below their percentage in the population (15 Sept. 2004). Country Reports 2003 state that some Vlachs, "the Romanized population in Central and Eastern Europe, including Romanians, Aromanians, Istro-Romanians and Megleno-Romanians" (Wikipedia 8 Jan. 2005), complained about the refusal of Serbian Orthodox Church officials to celebrate mass in the Vlach language in the community of Bor (25 Feb. 2004). Rompress states that ethnic Romanians in Vojvodina "enjoy a cultural life," but notes there are problems in other regions such as the Timok Valley (24 Apr. 2004).
During its congress held in northeastern Serbia on 24 April 2004 the Democratic Movement of the Romanians in Serbia (MDRS) stated that, while the Romanian minority is technically granted some rights, such as classes and masses in Romanian, these rights are not respected in the Timok Valley, where the majority of ethnic Romanians lives (Rompress 26 Apr. 2004). The president of the MDRS stated, however, that the situation had improved since its first congress in 1991, which was held clandestinely. Media from Romania and Serbia covered the April 2004 congress (ibid.).
An article in Rompress states that the Romanians in Timok Valley were said to be Vlachs and therefore deprived of the rights granted to ethnic Romanians by the Serbia and Montenegro government (24 Apr.2004). Ethnic Romanians in Serbia are currently attempting to have the Serbian government recognize that the words "Vlachs" and "Romanians" refer to "the same ethnic background" (ibid.). The Romanian government recently stated that it wants to increase its support of Romanian communities in Serbia and Montenegro and to "advocate" for Romanian organizations in the international community (ibid.).
Amnesty International mentions continuing "attacks against minorities and their properties," (2004) while Human Rights Watch (HRW) reports on ethnic and religious violence in the region of Vojvodina in March 2004. However, neither group specifically refers to ethnic Romanians (Jan. 2005).
This Response was prepared after researching publicly accessible information currently available to the Research Directorate within time constraints. This Response is not, and does not purport to be, conclusive as to the merit of any particular claim for refugee protection. Please find below the list of additional sources consulted in researching this Information Request.
References
Amnesty International (AI). 2004. "Serbia and Montenegro."Amnesty International Report 2004.
Country Reports on human rights practices for 2003. 25 February 2004. United States Department of State. Washington, DC.
Freedom House. 30 November 2004. "Serbian and Montenegro." Nations in Transit 2004.
_____. 15 September 2004. "Serbia and Montenegro." Freedom in The World 2003.
Human Rights Watch (HRW). January 2005. World Report 2005. "Serbia and Montenegro."
Rompress [Bucharest, in English]. 26 April 2004. "Ethnic Romanians in Serbia-Montenegro Hold Third Congress." (FBIS-EEU-2004-0426 27 April 2004/WNC)
_____. 24 April 2004. "Government to Increase Support For Romanian Organizations in Serbia-Montenegro." (FBIS-EEU-2003-0424 25 April 2004/WNC)
Wikipedia. 8 January 2005. "Vlachs."
Additional Sources Consulted
Oral sources: One oral source consulted did not provide information within the time constraints of this Response (The Helsinki Committee for Human Rights in Serbia).
Internet sources, including: AIMPress, Amnesty International, Country Reports 2003, Le Courrier des Balkans, Institute for War and Peace Reporting, OSCE Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights, UNMIK Online.
