The Framework Program of Action

I.

The Framework Program of Action (FPA), adopted together with the Joint Statement at the Portoroû conference, is based on the expressed strong commitment of all Stability Pact participating countries to support activities aimed at promotion and rehabilitation of multiethnic societies, where necessary, in countries of South Eastern Europe, based on shared universal values and standards of human rights, democracy and the rule of law.

The inaugural meeting of the Stability Pact Working Table on Democratisation and Human Rights on 18 and 19 October 1999 in Geneva welcomed the convening of the Portoroû Conference on Inter-Ethnic Relations and Minorities and mandated the Special Delegation of the Council of Europe, in co-operation with the OSCE High Commissioner on National Minorities to conduct a series of consultations at the regional level with regard to human rights and minority problems.

The final report of the Special Delegation of CoE Advisors on Minorities submitted to the Portoroû Conference and the List of Projects adopted by the Task Force on Human Rights and Minorities serve as the basis for this FPA that shall call for the development of national action plans, as well as joint projects addressing common concerns of South Eastern Europe. Plans should be transparent and exposed to public opinion.

II.

Expressing their support for projects adopted by the Task Force on Human Rights and Minorities at Ljubljana meeting (17 February 2000), the conference participants indicate the following priorities:

- Awareness raising campaign

The campaign, to be successful must be based on a strong commitment by the countries concerned and on shared goals region-wide of the promotion of multi-ethnic society and democratic citizenship. The implementation of these goals through the campaign requires the setting up of a two-tiered structure: a European organizing committee and a series of national committees in each country.

The Awareness-Raising Campaign is envisaged to be carried out in a variety of fields, such as: media, culture, youth and education, civil society and government, parliament and administration. The activities planned within the framework of the Awareness-Raising Campaign will be of many different kinds, for example: public events, youth events and exchanges, cultural programmes and exchanges, festivals, NGO initiatives, media features, public hearings, seminars, workshops, grass-roots and town-hall initiatives, sport events, competitions and prizes, business ventures, internet communication, scientific research, exchanges and publications, return assistance, confidence building and reconciliation etc.

- Implementation of existing commitments

The level of protection of minorities in a democratic society should be considered a key indicator of democratic success. Participants emphasize the importance of fully implementing the existing obligations and commitments by enhancing the monitoring role of appropriate mechanisms at the national and international level, such as, inter alia, UN mechanisms, the OSCE High Commissioner on National Minorities and the Council of Europeís mechanisms including the Advisory Committee the Framework Convention on the Protection of National Minorities, and, as appropriate, to give the widest possible dissemination to their findings. In this context, the conference strongly recommended that states quickly ratify and implement all relevant conventions regarding the protection of minorities. The conference also welcomes the initiative to launch a non-discrimination review.

The conference encourages states to participate actively in regional structures and their programs relevant to minorities and multiethnic societies (such as the CEI).

- Research, education and training

Research of the existing diversity, ethnic relations and the protection of minorities and the implementation of research findings for the improvement of interethnic relations are vitally important for the stability and democratic development of multiethnic societies. The Stability Pact also recognizes the need for continuous, systematic and coordinated research in this field for the successful realization of its objectives. This requires cooperation and coordination of relevant research institutions at the national and international levels.

Research findings provide key sources for the development of adequate education and training programs aimed at the promotion of tolerance, coexistence and equal cooperation in multiethnic societies. Such education and training programs based on the concept of democratic citizenship can promote also adequate participation of minorities.

- Roma

Promotion and rehabilitation of multi-ethnic society should involve special attention for an often neglected and marginalized minority ñ the Roma. Therefore, a comprehensive political strategy at the regional level must be adopted to ensure formal recognition of Roma as a distinct group with specific features, needs and aspirations, and to put an end to discrimination against Roma. These projects should promote specific programs of affirmative action especially in areas such as education and culture, employment, housing, health care, etc. Projects should assist Roma in forming their own associations, particularly those on a countrywide basis.

The participating countries and organizations support the particular projects on Roma submitted to all Working Tables and Task Forces of the Stability Pact. They furthermore suggest the creation of a mechanism to ensure that Roma concerns are given proper attention in all appropriate activities of the Stability Pact, for example the establishment of a regional working group to coordinate policies and projects.

III.

The Portoroû conference recalled the Declaration adopted on 11 December 1999 by the participants to the first Kosovo International Human Rights Conference and endorsed it as a welcome example of civil society support for multi-ethnic society. It strongly recommended that the declaration be taken into account for the envisaged awareness-raising campaign, as well as for the civil society conference to be convened.

The participants stressed the need to support democratic forces in Serbia.

Participants noted the efforts undertaken by Montenegro to implement democratic reforms and an effective programme of minority protection. In response to Montenegroís request for assistance, they agreed to continued and increased level of support, in particular by international organizations, such as the Council of Europe.

IV.

The conference reaffirms the importance of co-operation with all other ongoing and proposed activities of the Stability Pact, taking into account the need for synergy between its three basic pillars ñ Democracy and Human Rights, Economic Development and Co-operation and Security. It is particularly important to establish close co-ordination with various other projects which are being prepared in the framework of the Working Table I of the Stability Pact, particularly in areas such as education, media, return of refugees and internally displaced persons, good governance, ombudsmen and national human rights institutions.

No program or measure for the improvement of ethnic relations and the promotion of multiethnic society can be successful without the active involvement at the grass-root level. The conference expressed strong support to the ongoing efforts and activities of the non-governmental organizations.

V.

All Stability Pact activities and the realization of adopted projects will need to be reviewed in order to assure consistency of the overall approach and to anchor the commitments taken by individual states to concrete results in the ground. An important role in this respect could be played by the continued work of the Special Delegation of Council of Europe Advisors on Minorities. As a part of this evaluation process we suggest that an evaluation conference take place one year from now.