Municipalities in Kosovo should further improve compliance with languages law, says OSCE Mission report | WPN World People News

Municipalities in Kosovo should further improve their compliance with the Law on the Use of Languages, concludes an OSCE Mission report presented.

The report raises concerns over the written translation of public meetings materials, inconsistent signage on public buildings and roads, and inconsistencies in hiring civil servants proficient in the two official languages, Albanian and Serbian. On a positive note, the report notes general compliance with the mandatory provision of oral interpretation during municipal meetings. It also notes that while municipalities have adopted regulations on the official languages in use, however, the Romani language is still not recognized or protected.

“Equal use of the two official languages, and the languages in official use at the municipal level, must be ensured as a prerequisite for the delivery of services, and to enable the effective participation of all communities in public life,” stated Head of the OSCE Mission in Kosovo, Ambassador Jean-Claude Schlumberger. “Furthermore, full respect for language rights is crucial to the preservation of different cultures and the multi-ethnic character of Kosovo society.”

The report Municipal Language Compliance in Kosovo covers the period from June 2011 to February 2014, and is based on regular Mission monitoring activities. It offers recommendations on how to tackle the shortcomings identified.

Source: Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe