11 November 2024 National Assembly Deputy Speaker Elvira Kovacs at the conference marking the 75th anniversary of NATO and the Council of Europe

11 November 2024 National Assembly Deputy Speaker Elvira Kovacs at the conference marking the 75th anniversary of NATO and the Council of Europe

Tuesday, 12 November 2024

National Assembly Deputy Speaker Elvira Kovacs at NATO and Council of Europe 75th Anniversary Conference

Conference marking the 75th anniversary of NATO and the Council of Europe was held in Rome on Monday, 11 November 2024. As representative of the delegation of the National Assembly of the Republic of Serbia to the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe, National Assembly Deputy Speaker Elvira Kovacs gave the following address:


"Since the Second World War, the political architecture of Europe has changed beyond recognition. The entire spectrum of new states began to strive for democracy, respect for human rights and the rule of law. In 1956, at a time when it seemed that there was no other reality than bloc division and an arms race, the "Three Wise Men" proposed a peaceful resolution of the conflict between NATO members - they proposed the return of dialogue, tolerance, policy of equality and non-discrimination in centre of political activity.

The experience of the European history of the 19th and 20th centuries showed that interstate relations, especially with regard to national minorities, led to the violation of promises of peace, which resulted in violent military conflicts. Therefore, as stated in the Preamble of the Framework Convention for the Protection of National Minorities: "the upheavals of European history have shown that the protection of national minorities is essential to stability, democratic security and peace in this continent."

Contemporaries who lived in different historical epochs, like us today, believed that their time was out of joint (Hamlet) - so, 75 years later, we are working on the same task - to respond to the new realities of today's increasingly diverse societies, or in other words - to write on the flag of minority rights - that the defining element of an integrated society is not the sameness of its citizens but their common sense of belonging.

The Framework Convention for the Protection of National Minorities is a crucial instrument that contained principles and goals that are relevant to the developing peace process and that paves the way for social integration and coherence - principles complementary to dialogue and cooperation with partners that strengthens international security, increasing stability and security in partner countries and NATO members.

However, it is not enough to show that we are "united around our values", but rather, we must build on words with actions. We must show that we are also united in our actions.

Today it is important to say that, while NATO and the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe provide us with dialogue as a valuable and normative, practical standard without which we cannot build a better political reality, the Framework Convention for the Protection of National Minorities provides us with the means to continue doing better, to continue to advocate for the advancement of minority rights, and for the re-establishment of peace, security and stability in Europe."

Both allow us to achieve victory - while victory is always and only - the creation of a better political reality.

From today's conference, an appeal was sent to unite thinking people, people of knowledge, people of dialogue and reconciliation, to jointly seek an answer to the question of whether we have enough wisdom to step out of the shadow of our own time, to fight for common values and interests, to fight for a better world, for a better political reality."


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wednesday, 12 february
  • 13.30 - the Chairperson of the Foreign Affairs Committee meets with the Czech Ambassador to Serbia (National Assembly Building, 14 Kralja Milana Street, office 53)

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