The group discussions that followed expressed the following attitudes:

The attitudes to migrants vary depending on a number of factors:

• the country of origin (those coming from the West are accepted more readily than those from the former Yugoslav republics),
• the numbers of immigrants of a certain ethnicity (non-white people do not encounter problems since they are few; concentrations of non-Slovene people cause uneasiness),
• the immigrants’ acceptance of local norms and values (“if they are hard-working and honest”), their knowledge of the Slovene language (as a proof of their willingness to accept our norms),
• their level of education (the more educated immigrants have fewer problems dealing with new culture, language, etc.),
• their religion (nationality and religion are seen as a cohesive factor; little objection to the Serbian orthodox church and a strong Serbian community, fear of islam and opposition to building of a mosque),
• knowledge of the language and country of origin (hospitality once experienced is reciprocated),
• ethnic origin (children of mixed parentage tend to be more tolerant and view the nationality issue as less important),
• the Slovenian national character (introverted, suspicious, slow to open up and accept).

Immigrants (from the former Yugoslav republics) have brought us and taught us many positive things:

• multiculturalism was a great advantage,
• a sense of humour (circulation of jokes, anecdotes about typical characters, politicians),
• the ability of improvise,
• a wealth of literature (Andrić, Krleža, etc.) songs (Dalmatian, »starogradske«),
• new ways of preparing food, new dishes,
• recognition of our abilities (»… you Slovenes are a good people, hardworking…«),
• friendship and hospitality,
• economic benefits, etc.

The participants with the experience of living (studying or working) abroad found that, on the whole, Slovenes had few problems adapting to foreign environments, learn a foreign language, accept foreign customs and habits, since we do not want to be seen »sticking out«. A certain degree of integration is necessary. But what is integration?

• Integration is a cohesive force, replacing the role of religion.
• It is not assimilation or acculturation, which tend to impoverish everybody.
• It means respect of the culture and religion of the other. Religion is an integral part of a culture. Its expression should be allowed. Forced secularisation is dangerous as a threat to one’s identity. Should freedom of religious expression be allowed only on the individual level, and not in public life?
• Integration means changing of everybody through understanding of the other.
• It means not expecting the other to have the same hierarchy of values. It means to concentrate on communication rather than to insist on imposing your values.
• Meeting with the different is a source of wealth, not a threat.

Zagreb

The first part, held on April 6, at the Public Open University Zagreb, in Zagreb, when representatives of the Czech minority presented themselves.

The guest lecturer Jarmila Kozak Marinković, Jaromil Kubiček and Juraj Bahnik spoke about Czech people living in Croatia, as well as the society ‘Češka beseda’ from Zagreb, while Maja Burger presented Czechs living in Zagreb.

After the lectures, the folklore group of ‘Češka beseda Zagreb’, namely ‘Záhřébské sluničko’ (Zagrebačko sunčeko – ‘Zagreb little sun’), managed by Martina Marinković, presented themselves with the performance of Czech folk dances.

The students of visual arts workshops, within the programme of The Third Age University, prepared a series of paintings with the theme of Migration as a challenge – Minorities as a chance, which have been exhibited at the Public Open University Zagreb.

POUZ website

Vukovar

The second part, namely the main part of the Conference III., was held on May 4, at Vukovar.

The conference started with introductory words on the part of the deputy mayor of the City of Vukovar, Dejan Drakulić, representative of the Vukovar and Syrmia region County, consul general of the Republic of Serbia, Živorad Simić, and then Tomislav Kozin, project coordinator of the Friedrich Ebert Foundation, sponsor of the conference, and Novic Gajić, president of the European House Vukovar. After that, Jasna Čurin, the programme leader of the Third Age University of the Public Open University, and co-organizer of the Conference III., set forth the results and the conclusions made after the previously held two conferences.

After the lectures held by the representative of the Institute ‘Ivo Pilar’, Prof. Sc. D. Dražen Živić:  Migrations as demographic, societal and economic phenomenon: the example of the city of Vukovar and Vukovar and Syrmia region County, and  Ph. D. Ljiljana Dobrovšak: Minorities in Croatia, the work continued within the workshops.

The conclusions of the Workshop A:  Migrations: the developmental potential or the burden for the community?, are the following:

The level of the societal community

-     migration should be an integrative factor for the community.

-         the government administration should act with preventive measures, improve economy, should create conditions for the promotion of young personnel, so that they should not emigrate.

-         The process of de-metropolisation in necessary, the creation of conditions for the people in smaller communities to stay there, and to revive them.

The level of political community

-         re-affirmation of fundamental human values is also necessary (for example, of patriotism).

-         in connection with immigrating into the country, it is necessary to create conditions for settling in of the young personnel.

-         the return of various experts should be animated.

-         the pre-condition for all of these is the rule-of-law.

The level of individual

-         the person who leaves the country, should inform himself or herself about the country where he or she is moving in.

-         the work on one’s self (resolving the situation by leaving the country)

-         within the sphere of immigration, favourable measures should be attempted within the policy of integration, and overcome stereotypes (meeting people, not the stereotypes).

The conclusions of the Workshop B: retaining an identity

The richness is in the diversity of a group (Croats as a majority in Croatia and as a minority in Europe).

-         for all this financial resources are indispensable

-         in order to preserve an identity, diplomatic activities should be intensified.

-         the reciprocity should be observed.

-         to inform citizens on existing rights.

-         we ourselves should be active in learning all about our rights.

-         promoting the facet of Croats.

Croats will enrich Europe as many other minorities enriched Croatia.

The conclusions of the workshop C: The concept of interculturalism as a way of harmonizing the community

-  interculturalism is a synthesis of history, freedom and mind.

-  it remains as a mission, to promote interculturality within the school system, co0mmunications and all other segments of social life.

-  young people are the main target group in the process of the realisation of interculturalism.

-  the importance of interculturalism should be connected with the process of becoming an EU member, because it is a political doctrine of the European Union.

-  multiculturality is a condition, and interculturality is an action, and we are on the level of condition.

Five affirmative points of reference of interculturality are: identity, tolerance, mutuality/empathy/interdependence, solidarity/interaction and ecumenism.

European House Vukovar website

The third panel took place at ”Miu Technical College”‘ in 16.04.2011, 11:00. We discussed many problems related to migration and how seniors can make a difference in this social phenomenon. 50 seniors participated together with university professors (University of Craiova, West University of Timisoara and Politehnica University), responsibles from the seniors NGOs (The Council of seniors, CARP). More details here.

History teaches that people – individuals, tribes, nations – have always migrated, often driven by wars, often looking for a better life, in order to meet with their families, but also out of curiosity and joy, wishing to see foreign parts or to enjoy more freedom. But only with the establishment of national states in the first half of the 19th century have common language, history and culture – the common origin and long-lasting territorial co-habitation – become an important factor in the treatment of the population. The state started to count, record and classify those who belong “to us” and those who do not. When we proudly talk about the wealth and diversity of our cultural heritage and our many local and regional identities, we tend to forget that these have been created partly also through acceptance and integration of the influences of “the others”, those who came to live with us and those who left their home-country to live elsewhere and then perhaps returned home – changed by their lives in foreign lands.

Where do we come from? Where do our fathers and grandfathers come from? What residues have they left in us?
Do we have contacts with non-Slovenes? What kind of contacts?
What have we learnt and accepted from them?
What bothers us? What it difficult for us to accept? Do we feel threatened? Are we (in)tolerant? Why?
What are the obstacles in building good relations with other ethnic groups within our society and what activities foster our cooperation and integration (language, values, religion, customs)?

These are the issues we will reflect on and discuss at the 3rd DANET panel in Ljubljana.