MINELRES third anniversary

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From: MINELRES moderator <[email protected]>
Date: Thu, 4 May 2000 21:15:15 +0200 (EET)
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Subject: MINELRES third anniversary

From: MINELRES moderator <[email protected]>

MINELRES third anniversary


Dear MINELRES list members, 

Today is a special day for the whole MINELRES team (i.e. for two
Borises :-). Precisely three years ago the first posting was sent to
then 30 MINELRES subscribers. This cyber-community is much bigger now
- right yesterday the 500th sucbscriber - Konstantin Kilibarda from
Canada - joined us, and I believe you deserve special welcome,
Konstantin! Since we are not a commercial company we can't award you
any "material" prize, unfortunately... :-)

Within these three years, much has happened in the field of minority
rights. It should be particularly mentioned that two important
European conventions entered into force, including the Framework
Convention - the first ever legally binding instrument in this area.
Indeed, minority rights are the frontline of the modern human rights,
and progress in this field cannot be denied. In the meantime, neglect
of the basic minority rights, violence of various kinds towards
minorities, and inter-ethnic conflicts, remain widespread in the
post-Communist Europe. 

Three years ago, when we started this list, our main goal was to
facilitate awareness of minority rights. All minorities must be aware
of what protection is guaranteed to them by modern international
standards, and how to defend their rights if these rights are
violated. And - what is probably even more important - all majorities
must know what the minority rights are about, and how to respect these
rights. So much remains to be done in this respect... However, within
these three years we were lucky to meet - personally or in a
cyberspace - so many dedicated people, courageously fighting for
equality and dignity of all human beings, including those belonging to
the disctinct groups, that we do believe: sooner or later, but all our
countries and our fellow citizens will respect the basic rights of
everybody! We are grateful to all of these people (who are too many to
mention all their names here). You taught us so much, our fellow
MINELRES list members! We are looking forward to further working
together with you. 

Yours, 

Boris & Boris

-- 
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MINELRES - a forum for discussion on minorities in Central&Eastern
Europe

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