OSCE presents “Person of the Year” awards

OSCE presents “Person of the Year” awards

"The award recognizes these individuals' contribution to implementing the Mission's programmes and upholding OSCE values through their work," said Ambassador Hans Ola Urstad, presenting the awards.

The recipients represent the Mission's five fields of engagement: law enforcement, rule of law and human rights, democratization, media, and economy and environment. They received Euro 2,000 each to give to a school or institution that has contributed to their professional development.

Dragić Josifović, the Head of the Interior Ministry's Police Education Directorate, was awarded for his contribution to the transformation of the Police High School in Sremska Kamenica into a Basic Police Training Centre. The financial part of the award went to the Sremska Kamenica School.

Petar Teofilović, the Ombudsman of the Autonomous Province of Vojvodina, was awarded for his activities as a human rights defender who puts a strong emphasis on preventing human rights violations and educating the young people. Mr. Teofilović designated the Gymnasium Jovan Jovanović Zmaj from Novi Sad as the beneficiary of the financial award.

Biljana Stojanović, Adviser to the Ministry of Education and Sports on minority education, was awarded for promoting intercultural understanding and dialogue. Ms. Stojanovic gave the financial part to the elementary school Marija Bursac in Belgrade.

Đorđe Vlajić, a senior BBC correspondent in Serbia, was awarded for epitomising the highest professional and ethical standards promoted by the OSCE - freedom of expression and of the media, tolerance, fairness and accuracy. The final recipient of the award is the Faculty of Political Science.

Vladimir Jelenković, the Director of the Nikola Tesla Museum in Belgrade, was awarded for his outstanding work in promoting achievements of one of the greatest scientists of the contemporary era, Nikola Tesla, a forerunner of today's energy security concept. Mr. Jelenković decided to forward the financial part of his award to the Fifth Belgrade gymnasium.