that everyone has equal access to acquire the skills necessary to participate effectively in the economy of the State of citizenship/residence. She drew the attention of the participants to the fact that inter-State co-operation is another tool able to assist in the realisation of the socio-economic rights of persons belonging to minorities. However, it is imperative that this co-operation is founded on the strict observance of international law and principles, which do not accept the kinship argument beyond measures aimed at ensuring the protection of the linguistic and cultural identity of ethnics. Hence, in the absence of the express consent of the State of citizenship/residence unilateral measures concerning the socio-economic situation of persons belonging to minorities cannot be taken by other State/States, irrespective of the relation of kinship in between that State/those States and the targeted persons. She noted that this has been underscored in the OSCE HCNM recommendations on the effective participation of national minorities in the social and economic life, which further qualifies such discriminatory unilateral support as potentially contributing to tensions or even conflict. Hence, dialogue in general about the promotion and the protection of the rights of persons belonging to ethnic, religious, and linguistic minorities, which the ‘92 declaration on their rights underlines, contribute in no small way to their equality, social inclusion, and socio-economic participation and to the social stability of the States where they live and more broadly to regional and global political and social stability. The importance attached to UN spaces for dialogue, meaningful participation, and exchanges, such as at the Forum on Minority Issues, where stakeholders can participate and contribute in a free and open manner, to exposing problems and advancing solutions aimed at ensuring the effective realisation of their individual rights including in the socioeconomic sphere, must be equally emphasized. She added that as it has been stated in the opening session, this year’s Forum has been unique since it has also prefaced the 75th anniversary of UDHR and has been tailored to accommodate all voices and has successfully accomplished this task. To conclude, Assoc. Prof. Lazăr quoted Martin Luther King Jr., who said: “Almost always, the creative dedicated persons belonging to minorities have made the world better. Therefore, I invite you all to be creative and focus on comprehensive strategies.” Prof. Petra Roter, Co-Chair of the Forum, started her concluding remarks by reflecting on minority issues in general, and on the forum as a platform for dialogue on minority issues. She pointed to the notable presence of socio-economic and other forms of inequalities, the still too frequent perception of minorities as a problem rather than an integral and valued part of our diverse societies, providing the basis for exclusive policies, often securitizing minorities and minority issues, as well as to the misunderstanding of the substance of minority rights that go – and need to go – beyond prevention of discrimination. She noted that exclusion, inequality, abuse, violence against persons belonging to different minorities – all cause frustration, detachment and lead to disintegration rather than cohesion of societies. Importantly, cohesion will not be achieved by imposing one language and one culture upon everyone living in a state. This is a problem that we still witness in the form of such identity politics and policies, which are reflected also in the socio-economic field and in access (or lack thereof) to effective participation regarding socio economic issues. Prof. Roter acknowledged that many speakers raised the point of the general absence of the formal permanent space for advocacy for minority rights within the UN and added that this is truly a pity – as this absence leaves a lot of space for marginalizing not just minorities and persons belonging to them, but also marginalizing minority rights as human rights. The issue of “The Fate of Minorities” or the promise of the UN back in 1948 not to remain indifferent to the fate of minorities, thus has many dimensions and many forms. Not only do we need to understand them, but we need to understand diversity within minorities – hence different needs, interests and concerns. She noted that there were many calls at the Forum for understanding intersectional issues persons belonging to minorities face. Prof. Roter concluded by saying that she hoped that states would be able to understand that the ‘fate of minorities’ is about the fate of their people at home - whose 13