MINELRES: Eurolang articles: 5 - 7 October 2004

[MINELRES moderator]

Original sender: Simone Klinge <simoneklinge@freenet.de>


Dear Madam/ Sir,

we include a brief summary of the latest articles published on Eurolang.


BRETON CHIEF CALLS ON CHIRAC TO RATIFY ECRML
Brussels 10/7/2004 by Davyth Hicks

The President of the Breton region, Jean Yves le Drian, has called on
the French President Jacques Chirac for France to ratify the European
Charter for Regional or Minority Languages (ECRML). 


TRANSLATION TOOLS HOLD OUT PROMISE FOR LESSER-USED LANGUAGES 
Brussels 10/7/2004 James Fife

Providing translations of EU documents into the languages of new
accession states has been one of the biggest tasks in fully integrating
new members. But that task may become easier after the announcement last
week that the Slovenian government has developed two new computer
translation tools.


WELSH LANGUAGE ACTIVISTS READY TO FACE PRISON 
Abergele 10/6/2004 by Huw Morgan

The Welsh language pressure group Cymuned has stepped up its campaign to
protect the Welsh-speaking heartlands. Formed three years ago, the group
has concentrated up to now on lobbying the Welsh Assembly Government,
local authorities and various other bodies. Although they produced
detailed plans on how to save these communities, Cymuned say that they
have been ignored. They say that it is now time to act. 


MINORITY PROTECTION A �CORNERSTONE' ACCORDING TO CANDIDATE COMMISSIONER
BUTTIGLIONE
Brussels 10/6/2004 by Brigitte Alfter

During the 'grilling� of the incoming commissioner for justice and home
affairs by the European Parliament, Mr Buttiglione promised strong
support for minorities in general and for the Roma minority in
particular.


PUJOL : �NO� TO CONSTITUTION UNLESS EU STATUS FOR CATALAN AMIDST FURTHER
CONTROVERSY OVER THE LANGUAGE IN VALENCIA 
Brussel / Bruxelles 10/5/2004 by Davyth Hicks and James Fife

Status for Catalan as an official EU language is the prerequisite for
support in next year's constitutional referendum, said Jordi Pujol,
leader of the Convergencia Democratica de Catalunya (CDC). In addition,
amidst further moves by the Spanish Government towards EU official
status for Catalan, Basque and Galician, there has been heated debate
about the linguistic definition of the dialect of Catalan in Valencia
and a new case of language discrimination 30 kms north of Barcelona. 


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