President Rüütel appointed Hagi Shein his representative at the Roundtable.
On todays meeting, the Roundtable of National Minorities discussed the draft Hobby School Act, which was delineated by Piret Talur from the Ministry of Education. The draft act should among other issues also regulate the activities of Sunday schools of national minorities. Sunday schools are becoming one of the most important forms of language teaching and cultural activities for the national minorities. The Roundtable working group will continue the co-operation with the Ministry of Education in the matter of Sunday schools of national minorities.
The meeting also discussed the EU monitoring, protection of national minorities, and the report on the implementation of the European Council framework convention.
Agu Laius and Aleksey Semyonov spoke of the report Protection of National Minorities in the EU Integration Process drawn up for the European Commission by the Open Society Institute. In connection with the now complete report, Jaan Tõnisson Institute will organise a roundtable discussion Protection of National Minorities in Estonia on October 26.
Also the agenda of the roundtable seminar, which is to take place on November 15, and where the concept of the Roundtables role so far will be presented and analytical presentations on the more important problematic areas connected to national minorities will be delivered, and the Tallinn Integration Programme, which is currently under preparation, will be considered, was elaborated.
Press Service of the Office of the President
Kadriorg, October 18, 2001
