Davenport hopes Serbia will send positive message

Davenport hopes Serbia will send positive message

At legislative and institutional level, Serbia has taken all measures towards establishing compliance with these standards - I hope that Serbia will be able to send a very positive message of tolerance and diversity on Sunday, Davenport told at press conference titled Same, Different, Diverse.

Fighting discrimination is crucial for Serbia's further European integrations, Davenport noted, adding that it is also part of the negotiation chapter 23, which deals with protection of fundamental human rights.

The Union is more than the sum of the legal acquis that needs to be embraced - it is most of all a set of common values. However, tolerance, equality and mutual understanding are not understood as a goal already achieved - they also represent a common mission and vision of all EU member states, said Davenport, who added that time, resources and willpower must be invested constantly to develop and strengthen these values.

The relevant institutions, as well as all other institutions, need to point to discrimination as long as there are cases of discrimination in society, Davenport noted.

As long as someone's personal characteristic is a reason for putting that person in a less favourable position, the institutions that fight discrimination have the obligation to inform about such cases and deal with the matter, Davenport said.

Discrimination and division in Serbia persist in many segments, Davenport said, pointing out that a large number of groups are still facing the situation of not having equal conditions due to a personal characteristic.