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| Rights and problems of minority communities |
 On 5 November, ‘Center for Integration of Ethnic Communities’ organized a debate in Recane with mayoral candidates of Prizren municipality. Topic of the debate was: “How familiar mayoral candidates are with rights and problems of minority communities in Prizren municipality and what their strategy for resolving them is”. |
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| Representation of the European maps for local government |
 On Saturday, 10 October, Centre for integration of ethnic (minority) communities in Prizren organized a public debate on „Establishing Consultative Councils in Prizren Municipality“. More than 50 participants attended the debate, including Deputy Minister of Labour and Social Welfare, Mr. Ćemailj Smailji, Deputy Mayor for Communities, Mr. Ercan Şpat, Deputy Municipal Assembly Chairperson for Communities, Mr. Čemailj Kurtiši, Communities Consultative Committee member, Mr. Ćerim Bajrami, representatives of the OSCE, ICO, media and representatives of civil society including all communities living in Prizren. |
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| Decentralization – challenge and reality |
 These days, topic on decentralization process, as one of the most actual topic, is imposed on Kosovo Bosniaks. In the round table on 'Decentralization – challenge and reality' of the Centre for Integration of Minority Communities it was concluded that decentralization process should be seriously understood, establishing new municipalities should not be the only thing to be considered. Reform of local self-government should also be taken into consideration. The roundtable was held on 20 June 2009 at restaurant ‘Dimension’ in Rečane village. Besides Deputy Minister for Local Self Government, Mr. Raif Elezi, Assembly of Kosovo member, Mr. Džezair Murati, representatives of NGOs, intellectuals, OSCE, and media were present. |
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| Public debate: Validation of diplomas |
 Amongst other numerous problems, Turkish community in Kosovo has very serious problem of validating diplomas obtained at Universities in Turkey. On this occasion, on Saturday, 13 June in the Center for Integration of Minority Communities, a round table on „Validation of diplomas“ was organized. Besides Assembly of Kosovo member, representative of Kosovo Turkish Democratic Party (KDTP), Ms. Myfera Şinik, and the deputy Minister of Education, Science and Technology (the MEST), Mr. Usmen Baldži, Mr. Orhan Volkan, officer for education in Turkish language within the Municipal Directorate of Education in Prizren, representatives of the OSCE, NGOs dealing with education problems as well as students that completed education at universities in Turkey were present. |
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| “Problematic of the antisocial behaviors and their influence in the society and education process” |
 NGO PMSH (Për mendje të shëndoshë) and ICEC from Prizren have organized a conference on “Problematic of the antisocial behaviors and their influence in the society and education process”. Conference has been organized in the hall of Municipal Assembly of Prizren (white house) starting from the 11:00 AM until the 13:00. |
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| Institutional Mechanisms on Minority Rights Protection |
 Recommendations and conclusions of the public debate on “Institutional Mechanisms on Minority Rights Protection” organized by the Centre for Integration of Ethnic Communities at Prizren Municipal Assembly hall on 16 May 2009.
Altay Suroi, Kosovo Constitutional Court judge, Džezair Murati, Assembly of Kosovo member, Nijazi Kryeziu, Prizren Municipal Assembly Chairperson and Bajram Ljatifi, Adviser to the Minister of Environment and Spatial Planning and member of the Constitutional Commission spoke about human rights protection mechanisms with special focus on minorities rights.
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| Municipal Community Office and its role |
 On 11 April 2009, Center for Integration of Ethnic (Minorities) Communities organized public debate on “Municipal Community Office (hereinafter the MCO) and its role” in the hall of the Municipal Assembly in Prizren. The debate tried to give an answer to a question about “What is the role of above mentioned Office after adopting Republic of Kosovo’s Constitution and Law on Local Self Government in accordance with Marti Ahtisaari package? What is the Office’s position within the Municipal Statute and how far the Officers may work on resolving long expected issues of concern for minority communities’ members in Prizren?”
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| ICO-EULEX and minority communities |
 Public debate on “ICO-EULEX and minority communities” organized within the project of “Cycle of debates” by the Centre for Integration of Ethnic (Minority) Communities in Prizren tried to give an answer to a question of “to which extent the previous International UN Mission in Kosovo helped solution of minority communities problems and supported their (lack of) integration into Kosovo society. In the same time a question was raised with the ICO-EULEX about their role and t o which extent they would support long expected solutions on the issues minority communities in Kosovo are facing with.
Ms. Zornitsa Popova, Head of ICO Regional Office Prizren, Martin Broox, EULEX Political Adviser, Sehadin Šok, representative of the main ICO Office in Priština spoke about role of new international Mission in Kosovo. |
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| Official Use of Languages in Prizren municipality |
 In a debate organized on 17 January 2009 by the Integration Center for Ethnic Communities – ICEC on „Official Use of Languages in Prizren municipality“ the following questions were raised:
1. It should be clarified to the people what is neutral status of the EULEX. Should EULEX do the things that are done by the Government?
2. What is EULEX’ stance regarding minority communities? What neutral status of the EULEX means for minority communities’ members?
3. What is situation in the hospital, courts, media and other institutions where use of official languages should be balanced?
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| Employment of minorities in the public institutions and enterprises |
 In a debate organized on 18 December by Integration Centre for Ethnic (Minorities) Communities - ICEC„ on the “Employment of minorities in the public institutions and enterprises it was stated that number of employed minorities is low and dissatisfactory and that we can not rely on available statistical data that may vary.
There are cases when individuals from the majority community apply for job vacancies exclusively announced for minority communities and they were getting jobs. It is also said that high number of experts from minority communities remained jobless immediately after the conflict and they were not given another chance to be employed in their field of expertise so many of them left Kosovo. |
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| Recommendations of a public debate on „Education and Minorities“ |
 On 1 November 2008, the Integration Centre for Ethnic (Minority) Communities in Prizren organized a public debate on “Education and Minorities in Rečane/Reçan village, at restaurant named “Dimension”. Approximately 80 participants attended the debate.
Amongst participants were: Deputy Minister of Education, Science and Technology (the MEST), Mr. Usmen Baldzi; Deputy Minister of Local Government and Administration (the MLGA), Mr. Raif Elezi, Deputy Minister for Communities and Return, Mr. Rifat Krasnic; Assembly of Kosovo members: Mr. Dzezair Murati, Mr. Sadik Idrizi, Ms. Spresa Murati (Coalition “VAKAT”), Ms. Vezira Emrus (SDA), Ms. Mybera Sinik, Mr. Enis Kervan (KDTP); advisors in the ministries: Mr. Bajram Ljatifi and Mr. Fikrim Dimka of the Ministry of Environment and Spatial Planning, Cemailj Smailji of the MLGA; Deputy Chairperson for Communities of the Municipal Assembly Prizren, Mr. Cemailj Kurtisi; Head of Municipal Communities Office, Mr. Ajredin Alija; Head of the Municipal Community Office in Dragash/Dragas, Mr. Mehmed Hamza; Municipal Directorate for Education, Coordinator for Education in Turkish Language, Mr. Orhan Volkan, representatives of the OSCE; media: Tv Besa, TV Prizreni, Radio Astra, Romano Avaz, ‘InfoPress’ daily, RTK Redaction in Bosnian and Turkish Language and Deutsche Welle representative. |
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