The Hungarians in Voivodina and their political organization, the DCHV places a high value on the initiative for a Pact on Stability in Europe. We regard it as a concept that will ultimately promise an equitable solution for minorities, including the Hungarians in Voivodina. Bearing in mind the helplessness of the International community in ending conflicts, it is particularly important that the plan realistically appraises the situation by placing the emphasis on prevention.

The fact that the plan addresses the collective rights of minorities and recognizes the close connection between this laws and security problems proves that the international community intends to solve the questions of minorities and borders on its merits using the plan as its basis. Dialogue also encouraged from the outside can arrive at a fair solution based on the broadest of democratic principles which the relevant multitude of international documents has failed to achieve.

The Court of Conciliation and Arbitration and the High Commissioner on National Minorities are two such institutions which would contribute to activating and implementing the Pact's agreements.

The supports adoption of the Pact on Stability in Europe and wishes to assist in its preparation and adoption. To this effect, we wish to offer the following constructive comments:

1. Bearing in mind, that the Hungarians in Voivodina, similar to other Central European minorities, are particularly interested, the invitation of Yugoslavia or Serbia for the preparatory meetings would complete the list of the concerned and could help to resolve the Balkan conflict.

2. The European Stabilizing Convention Plan does not allow for all the legitimate interested minority parties to be represented; however, it is worth considering the positive effect the presence of these legitimate and interested minority organizations could have at arriving at a fair solution. Since it is minorities which have the most direct experience, their presence would promote confidence regarding any outcome and therefore provide long-term stability.

3. Considering the proposed role of the EC mediators, it would be beneficial for an agreement to lay down minority rights and be reenforced by the signatures of the mediators themselves. This would make possible the continuous monitoring of the implementation process by bilateral committees including the EC mediators.

4. Undoubtedly, preparation and adoption of the Pact would be enhanced if the organizers reacted positively to the preventive measures included in the plan. One of the important particularities of prevention is that outside factors cannot be restricted to the preparatory and adoption process of the Pact. It is fearful that without institutionalized international inspection and incentive, which may last for years, it will be difficult to achieve those significant changes that the Plan on Stability in Europe has set as its goal.

The Presidency of DCHV