Yugoslavia: Information on ethnic Slovaks in Serbia and Montenegro

According to the latest Yugoslav census, there were about 67,000 ethnic Slovaks in Serbia in 1991. About 64,000 of them lived in the northern province of Vojvodina, where they constituted the fourth largest ethnic group, behind the Serbs, Hungarians and Croats (Yugoslavia 1992, 23, 26-27). In the provincial capital of Novi Sad, there were almost 8,200 ethnic Slovaks (ibid., 27). Within the district (op tina) of Ba ki Petrovac, they constituted a majority of about 70 per cent. In the district of Kova ica they represented 40.7 per cent of the population, while in the districts of Ba , Ba ka Petrovac and Stara Pazova they made up minorities of between 11.3 and 21.4 per cent (ibid., 35). The available 1991 census figures do not list Slovaks as one of the ethnic groups enumerated in Montenegro (ibid., 11). Reports indicate that since the 1991 census figures were released, there has been a significant migration into and out of Vojvodina. In mid-1993 the leader of the province's Social Democratic Party, Nenad Canak, stated that 200,000 people had left and 400,000 refugees from other republics of the former Yugoslavia had arrived to replace them (RFE/RL 19 Nov. 1993, 17; ibid. 2 May 1994).

A recent RFE/RL report indicates that ethnic relations in the province traditionally have been relatively harmonious and that Vojvodina Serbs "have not been ardent supporters of Belgrade's antiminority policies" (19 Nov. 1993, 13). However, one observer of political affairs in Yugoslavia indicates that tensions increased sharply during 1992 and were highest during the period July 1992 to July 1993 (ibid. 2 May 1994). A July 1993 report by Helsinki Watch discusses incidents of forced displacement in Vojvodina. It lists 10 villages, towns and cities from which Serbian paramilitary groups had "terrorized and forcibly displaced non-Serbs," including Slovaks (July 1993, 5). The specific instances documented by the report, however, mention only ethnic Croats and Hungarians as being affected. During a visit to Slovakia in July 1993, a delegation of the League of Social Democrats of Vojvodina indicated that members of the Slovak minority were being expelled from the province and replaced by refugees from Bosnia (Republika 20 July 1993). In mid-November 1993, Serbian police conducted raids and arrested 18 "reputed members" of Vojislav e elj's paramilitary Chetnik Movement. Three of those arrested were subsequently charged with the April 1993 killing of three Croats and a Slovak in Vojvodina (AP 11 Nov. 1993; The Guardian 15 Dec. 1993).

With respect to language rights, in April 1993 a delegation of ethnic Slovaks meeting with a leader of the ruling Socialist Party in Novi Sad, indicated that there were problems related to funding for Slovak-language elementary education and media (BBC Summary 23 Apr. 1993). In May 1993 the municipal assembly of Novi Sad adopted regulations to allow the official use of three minority languages, including Slovak. A report at the time also indicated that Slovak was being used as an official language in 13 of Vojvodina's districts (BBC Summary 31 May 1993).

Ethnic Slovaks have indicated that they do not want to establish an ethnically based political party to represent their interests (BBC Summary 23 Apr. 1993). There is, however, an ethnic Slovak cultural organization known as Matica Slovenska. In August 1992 this group was seeking representative status at the Yugoslav peace talks in London (BBC Summary 22 Aug. 1992; CTK 4 Feb. 1994).

For additional information on the issues discussed above, please refer to the attached reports.

This response was prepared after researching publicly accessible information currently available to the DIRB within time constraints. This response is not, and does not purport to be, conclusive as to the merit of any particular claim to refugee status or asylum.

References

The Associated Press (AP). 11 November 1993. Dusan Stojanovic. "Milosevic Cracks Down on Some Extremists, Promotes Others." (NEXIS)

BBC Summary of World Broadcasts. 31 May 1993. "Vojvodina Minority Languages to Be Tolerated in Official Use." (NEXIS)

. 23 April 1993. "Ethnic Slovaks in Vojvodina Do Not Want Ethnically-Based Organisation." (NEXIS)

. 22 August 1992. "Leaders of Vojvodina Slovaks Meet CSCE Delegation, Demand to Attend London Talks." (NEXIS)

CTK National News Wire. 4 February 1994. "Ethnic Slovak Representatives Hold Talks in Kekescsaba." (NEXIS)

The Guardian [London]. 15 December 1993. Ian Traynor. "Serb Enemies Trade Claims of War Crimes." (NEXIS)

Helsinki Watch. July 1993. Abuses Continue in the Former Yugoslavia: Serbia, Montenegro and Bosnia-Hercegovina. New York: Human Rights Watch.

Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty (RFE/RL). 2 May 1994. Telephone interview with writer.

. 19 November 1993. RFE/RL Research Report [Munich]. Vol. 2, No. 46. Stan Markotich. "Vojvodina: A Potential Powder Keg."

Republika [Bratislava, in Slovak]. 20 July 1993. "Vojvodina Slovaks' Situation 'Worsening'." (FBIS-EEU-93-140 23 July 1993, pp. 23-24)

Yugoslavia. 1992. Nacionalni Sastav Stanovni tva po Op tinama. Belgrade: Federal Institute for Statistics.

Attachments

BBC Summary of World Broadcasts. 31 May 1993. "Vojvodina Minority Languages to Be Tolerated in Official Use." (NEXIS)

. 2 April 1993. "Vojvodina Assembly Elects Ethnic Slovak as Provincial Secretary." (NEXIS)

. 15 February 1992. "Slovak Minister in Serbia; Slovak Minority and Economic Cooperation Discussed." (NEXIS)

Borba [Belgrade, in Serbo-Croatian]. "Article Views 'Ethnic Cleansing' of Non-Serbs." (FBIS-EEU-93-162 24 Aug. 1993, pp. 42-44)

CTK National News Service. 8 April 1991. "Slovak Deputy Premier Ends Visit to Yugoslavia." (NEXIS)

The Independent [London]. 21 December 1992. Marcus Tanner. "Serb Poll Rivals Neck and Neck." (NEXIS)

Republika [Bratislava, in Slovak]. 20 July 1993. "Vojvodina Slovaks' Situation 'Worsening'." (FBIS-EEU-93-140 23 July 1993, pp. 23-24)