People of different ethnic and religious backgrounds have always lived among us and it was perfectly okay until these groups started claiming their rights, Ombudsman Matjaz Hanzek said in a debate on multiculturality and human rights. Slovenia would need a comprehensive national programme on the "inclusion of the excluded", he said.

Organised by Ljubljana Mayor Danica Simsic, the discussion was staged in a bid to encourage a debate on what would be an appropriate response at the local level to an increasing presence of different ethnic, religious and cultural groups in the urban environment.

The defence of national identity has become an excuse for intolerance of other religions and nations, Hanzek said. He believes those supporting the right of minority to be included in the society are even labelled "xenophobic towards Slovenians". Worst of all, this has become everyday practice, even in parliament and the media, the ombudsman said.

He believes that a comprehensive national programme on the "inclusion of the excluded" should be drafted. However, years of efforts would be required for the programme to bear some fruit. He believe that this has not been done yet because solutions are so long-term and therefore not of interest to politicians, since their terms in office usually last only four or five years.

Professor at the Ljubljana Faculty for Social Work Sreco Dragos blamed "a handful of theologists surrounding the former archbishop" [Franc Rode] for the incitement of intolerance between different nationalities and religions. He said they are "constantly bringing up some issues". Admitting that there are no religious disputes within parishes and believers, Dragor said that problems originate in the "top elite of Catholic officials in Slovenia".

The state was criticised for writing off problems of marginalised groups by giving them money and then expecting from them to be "satisfied and keep quiet".

Newly emerged ethnic communities in Slovenia, such as those of Serbs, Bosniacs and Albanians, are officially often treated as "mere societies" so the only address they can turn to for help is the Culture Ministry, which is in charge of the national culture programme, said Lev Kreft, a professor at the Faculty of Arts.

Nezad Poric, the secretary of the Muslim community in Slovenia, pointed out that many members of different nationalities or religious minorities were born in Slovenia. Recently, however, the Muslim community has felt degraded and excluded because of heated debates about the construction of a mosque in Ljubljana, he said.

Mayor Simsic, meanwhile, said that a mosque would be proof that Ljubljana has become a truly multicultural city.

 
SOURCE: STA (Slovenian Press Agency), 18. 5. 2004