Introduction

Abstract

At the 837th Plenary Meeting of the Organization for Security and Cooperation held in Vienna in November 2010, the OSCE High Commissioner on National Minorities (HCNM) Knut Vollebaek sent a clear message to participating states that problems relating to national minorities continued to be a cause for concern:

The OSCE area still faces threats to its security and stability, stemming from tensions in State-minority relations, from interethnic strife and from unresolved conflicts. There are international standards and commitments that, if properly implemented, would assist us in effectively addressing these challenges. At the same time, however, we need to do more. We need to pursue balanced policies that take into account the sensitivities of our multi-ethnic context; we need to strengthen the capacity of States to fulfil their responsibilities with respect to the protection of human rights, including those of minorities, and we need to promote the integration and social cohesion of our increasingly diverse societies. (OSCE HCNM 2010: 12)