From June 2006 Ukrainian will become the official language
in Serbia and Montenegro. Official Belgrade made such decision, having signed
European charter about defense of regional languages and national minorities’
languages. The Ukrainian language first will get the status of the official one
abroad.
Having approved of the charter, Serbia and Montenegro undertook
to give a right to education and Mass Medias in native language to ten national
minorities, including Ukrainians. Ukrainian will be able to use mother tongue in
local government, local councils and during court hearings. Besides, passports will be issued also in Ukrainian.
Vasil Nebesny, chairman of Serbia and Montenegro National
council of Ukrainians, considers that Ukrainian Diaspora in Serbia should use
the European charter about regional languages in order to renew the use of the
Ukrainian language. “For Ukrainians in Serbia it is necessary to get the chair
of the Ukrainian language in Noviy Sad (name of the University – ed.) in order
to get teachers and professors of the Ukrainian language for Diaspora in the
future,” said he.
