New strategy in Serbia and Montenegro aims at integrating, empowering Roma
(OSCE)Election of the Roma National Council in Serbia and Montenegro took place on 24 May 2003. (OSCE) Photo details
BELGRADE, 7 April 2004 - The OSCE Mission to Serbia and Montenegro today welcomed the new strategy aimed at integrating and empowering the Roma community.
The strategy, which was adopted by the National Council of the Roma National Minorities, and developed with the assistance of the OSCE Mission, sets priorities on education, housing, employment and the situation of internally displaced persons.
"This new initiative needs to be implemented as soon as possible," said Ambassador Maurizo Massari, the OSCE Mission Head. "At the same time, the National Minority Councils need to be properly funded by the Government."
"For any country wanting to join the European family, the protection of minority rights is also a basic pre-requisite for membership, as set out in the European Union Copenhagen criteria of 1993," he added.
The strategy was welcomed today at a press conference by the OSCE Mission, Serbia and Montenegro's Ministry for Human and Minority Rights, and the National Council of the Roma National Minorities. Representatives of the Council of Europe and the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) were also present.
Nicolae Gheorghe, Head of the Contact Point for Roma and Sinti issues at the OSCE Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights (ODIHR) addressed the participants as a special guest.
Ambassador Massari recalled that the OSCE, with its missions in the region, was in a unique position to lobby for the protection of minority rights throughout the countries of the former Yugoslavia, thereby assisting the region's integration into Euro-Atlantic structures.
He said that the OSCE Mission and other international organizations remained committed to providing practical assistance to the National Council of the Roma National Minorities and the Strategy for the Integration and Empowerment of the Roma.
The strategy, which was adopted by the National Council of the Roma National Minorities, and developed with the assistance of the OSCE Mission, sets priorities on education, housing, employment and the situation of internally displaced persons.
"This new initiative needs to be implemented as soon as possible," said Ambassador Maurizo Massari, the OSCE Mission Head. "At the same time, the National Minority Councils need to be properly funded by the Government."
"For any country wanting to join the European family, the protection of minority rights is also a basic pre-requisite for membership, as set out in the European Union Copenhagen criteria of 1993," he added.
The strategy was welcomed today at a press conference by the OSCE Mission, Serbia and Montenegro's Ministry for Human and Minority Rights, and the National Council of the Roma National Minorities. Representatives of the Council of Europe and the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) were also present.
Nicolae Gheorghe, Head of the Contact Point for Roma and Sinti issues at the OSCE Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights (ODIHR) addressed the participants as a special guest.
Ambassador Massari recalled that the OSCE, with its missions in the region, was in a unique position to lobby for the protection of minority rights throughout the countries of the former Yugoslavia, thereby assisting the region's integration into Euro-Atlantic structures.
He said that the OSCE Mission and other international organizations remained committed to providing practical assistance to the National Council of the Roma National Minorities and the Strategy for the Integration and Empowerment of the Roma.