Poland`s Sejm votes to allow Belarusian to be used in local public offices as additional language
Published:
12 January 2005 y., Wednesday
Poland`s Sejm (lower chamber of the national parliament) has passed an amendment providing that ethnic Belarusians residing in the country may use Belarusian in local public offices. As the Belarusian Service of RFE/RL reported, the amendment stipulates that local governmental agencies may use Belarusian as an "additional language" provided the Belarusian national minority accounts for 20 percent of the territorial unit`s population. An original version of the amendment set the percentage at 50 percent.
The Sejm voted that numbers of people belonging to the Belarusian minority would be determined on the basis of the most recent population census conducted in Poland in 2002.
Belarusians are the second largest national minority in Poland after Germans. According to Polish official sources, in the 2002 census, 47,640 citizens of Poland declared themselves Belarusians. Of them, 46,041 resided in the Podlaskie province. The Belarusian minority is represented in the 460-seat Sejm by MPs Eugeniusz Czykwin, Aleksander Czuz and Sergiusz Plewa. The Belarusian language is reportedly taught to 3,664 children in 40 public schools.
Most of Poland`s Belarusians are members of the Polish Autocephalous Orthodox Church.
Šaltinis:
Charter`97 Press Center
Copying, publishing, announcing any information from the News.lt portal without written permission of News.lt editorial office is prohibited.
The most popular articles
EU ends 'roaming rip-off’' with calling, texting and surfing abroad all to become cheaper
more »
British comedian Sacha Baron Cohen unleashes Bruno on the world. After Borat and Ali G, the gay Austrian fashion reporter is Cohen's latest character.
more »
There were no signs of an economic downturn at Moscow's Millionaire Summer Fair.
more »
This summer Bank SNORAS, owning the largest customer service network in Vilnius region, will add 2 more mini-banks to the customer service subdivision network in Vilnius and Lentvaris.
more »
When booking a holiday or planning a daytrip many people check out restaurants, sight-seeing and beaches before they leave.
more »
In Eritrea, women and children spend much of their day collecting fuel. Now, thanks to the Irish Countrywomen's Association (ICA), and the ingenuity of an Eritrean inventor, carbon-efficient stoves are being installed in their homes.
more »
As the world mourns Michael Jackson, the pop star proves that he deserved the rank of King of Pop.
more »
The twin sisters met and fell in love with identical twin brothers, Dmitry and Alexei. Then when it came to planning their wedding day - they decided what better way to celebrate - then all together.
more »
Thousands of women hold a massive rally in India protesting against an increasing number of abortions. In some areas of India an estimated 2,000 unborn girls are illegally aborted every day in India, according to the United Nations.
more »
“Green week” expected to get people talking about environmental issues between 23 and 26 June.
more »