TOGETHER €4.25 million was allocated for the cultural activities of national minorities living in Slovakia, according to the report on the status and rights of national minorities for 2013 acknowledged by the government on May 28.
The most money, €2.6 million (or 61.67 percent) went to the Hungarian minority. Roma received €588,000, Ruthenians €200,000, Ukrainians €100,000. Czechs €160,000, Germans €80,000, Croatians and Jews €60,000 each, Russians and Poles €40,000 each, Bulgarians €32,000, and Moravians and Serbians €20,000 each, the SITA newswire wrote.
Another €250,000 went on multicultural projects and inter-ethnic activities. The minorities could ask for the subsidies for culture, periodic and non-periodic newspapers, as well as electronic media and multimedia devices.
Within the first round the committees deciding over subsidies recommended to support 1,297 projects worth together €4.155 million. Since not all money was used, they also declared the second round in which they recommended the support for 49 projects worth together €88,989. Only 1,258 projects were successful and were actually realised, SITA wrote.
The most money went on folklore, music, dance and sing festivals and exhibitions, theatre performances and cultural-educational camps.
The report also revealed that the Government Office dealt with 39 motions alleging the violation of law on using the language of national minorities in 2013. This includes, for example, the refusal to issue the copy of decision also in the language of the national minority, or the violation of the language act on railway stations in Želiezovce (Nitra Region) and Orechová Potôň (Trnava Region), the TASR newswire reported.
The most motions, 36, were submitted by the Pro Civis civic association from Štvrtok na Ostrove (Trnava Region) which alleged the violation of the law on using the language of national minorities at various petrol stations. The investigation of most of the motions are still underway, TASR wrote.
Source: SITA, TASR
Compiled by Radka Minarechová from press reports
The Slovak Spectator cannot vouch for the accuracy of the information presented in its Flash News postings.
