New Majorities and Minorities in the Changing Balkans - Project on ...

whe<strong>the</strong>r each country ought to develop its own model: Hungary,Macedonia, Montenegro <strong>and</strong> Romania as well as o<strong>the</strong>r countries <strong>in</strong> <strong>the</strong>region have found <strong>the</strong>ir own answers for <strong>in</strong>terethnic accommodation.The participants from <strong>the</strong>se countries shared <strong>the</strong>se “models” with <strong>the</strong>o<strong>the</strong>r participants. Could <strong>the</strong>re be a lesson <strong>in</strong> it for o<strong>the</strong>r countries <strong>in</strong><strong>the</strong> region? There was a strong consensus among <strong>the</strong> participants that<strong>the</strong> multiethnic character of <strong>the</strong> population must be reflected <strong>in</strong> <strong>the</strong><strong>in</strong>stitutions, policies <strong>and</strong> practices of <strong>the</strong> Balkan states.Two issues dom<strong>in</strong>ated <strong>the</strong> discussion: Kosovo’s future status <strong>and</strong> relationsbetween so-called mo<strong>the</strong>r countries <strong>and</strong> <strong>the</strong>ir ethnic k<strong>in</strong> liv<strong>in</strong>g <strong>in</strong>neighbor<strong>in</strong>g states. Not surpris<strong>in</strong>gly, <strong>the</strong>re were disagreements aboutwhat <strong>the</strong> future status of Kosovo should look like but <strong>the</strong>re was generalagreement that <strong>the</strong> <strong>in</strong>tegration of m<strong>in</strong>orities would be of paramountimportance under any status outcome. The <strong>in</strong>tegration of <strong>the</strong> Serbs, <strong>the</strong>Roma, <strong>and</strong> o<strong>the</strong>rs <strong>in</strong>to Kosovo’s life was considered as one of <strong>the</strong> biggestchallenges of post-status Kosovo. On <strong>the</strong> subject of mo<strong>the</strong>r countries <strong>the</strong>participants debated <strong>the</strong> issue of limitations to <strong>the</strong> responsibilities ofsuch countries for <strong>the</strong>ir ethnic k<strong>in</strong> liv<strong>in</strong>g outside <strong>the</strong>ir borders <strong>and</strong> howmuch loyalty, if any, do <strong>the</strong>se ethnic k<strong>in</strong> have to exhibit to <strong>the</strong>ir mo<strong>the</strong>rcountries <strong>and</strong> whe<strong>the</strong>r loyalty to one’s native country is more important.The participants also discussed how to help ethnic moderates to implement<strong>the</strong>ir programs <strong>and</strong> to stay <strong>in</strong> power.We would like to thank <strong>the</strong> M<strong>in</strong>ister of Foreign Affairs of Hungary, Dr.K<strong>in</strong>ga Goncz, for her <strong>in</strong>terest <strong>and</strong> participation <strong>in</strong> <strong>the</strong> roundtable. Wealso would like to show deep appreciation for <strong>the</strong> assistance given to PER<strong>in</strong> organiz<strong>in</strong>g <strong>the</strong> roundtable by diplomats from <strong>the</strong> M<strong>in</strong>istry of ForeignAffairs of Hungary, particularly by Oszkar Nikowitz, Andor David, <strong>and</strong><strong>the</strong> staff of <strong>the</strong> Hungarian consular offices <strong>in</strong> Serbia, <strong>in</strong>clud<strong>in</strong>g Kosovo,<strong>and</strong> <strong>in</strong> Macedonia.I would also like to thank PER staff <strong>in</strong> Pr<strong>in</strong>ceton <strong>and</strong> our representatives<strong>in</strong> Sou<strong>the</strong>astern Europe for <strong>the</strong>ir hard work <strong>in</strong> plann<strong>in</strong>g <strong>and</strong> organiz<strong>in</strong>gthis roundtable. Special thanks go to <strong>the</strong> U.S. State Department <strong>and</strong> <strong>the</strong>U.S. Agency for International Development for mak<strong>in</strong>g <strong>the</strong> project possible.Professor Steven Burg of Br<strong>and</strong>eis University, a member of <strong>the</strong> PERCouncil for Ethnic Accord, is <strong>the</strong> author of this report with additionalcomments from PER staff.In order to encourage frank <strong>and</strong> open dialogue, it is PER’s practice topublish remarks by participants without attribution. This report has notbeen reviewed by <strong>the</strong> participants, <strong>and</strong> PER assumes full responsibilityfor its contents.Livia B. Plaks, PresidentPr<strong>in</strong>ceton, <strong>New</strong> JerseyJanuary 2007From left to right: Jozef<strong>in</strong>a Topalli, K<strong>in</strong>ga Goncz, Livia Plaks, <strong>and</strong>Gabriela Konevska Trajkovska.23