Exclusive New Year's interview with Zoran Dimov, President of IRU and Coordinator of the Network for Systemic and Permanent Solutions of the Roma in North Macedonia
"It's time to stop the modern genocide against the Roma"
In his summary of the current situation of the Roma both in North Macedonia and the Western Balkans, Europe and the world, the President of the International Roma Union - IRU Zoran Dimov and Coordinator of the Network for Systemic and Permanent Solutions of the Roma in R. Northerem Macedonia
in his statements about the past period at the end of this year 2022, he emphasizes the need for transparent accountability regarding the allocated and used funds and a more serious approach to solving the problems of the Sinti and Roma community, which is the largest minority community in Europe and the world.
He also sees the essence of the problem in his community, - but also in external factors. According to Dimov, he does not see any optimistic future for the Roma in the policies directed towards the Roma.
Roma Times: "How do you assess this year 2022 when it comes to the Sinti and the Roma community within Europe and beyond?"
- "In all my meetings and discussions with prominent European institutional factors, we did not receive any concrete measures except promises for the situation with the Roma from Ukraine and other crisis regions. And from there my conclusion that the "modern genocide against the Roma" continues
Zoran Dimov: "I can say that this year 2022 is another lost year when it comes to solving Roma problems. Starting from the fact that the Roma were treated during the Covid pandemic, where all the inconsistencies in the implementation of the crisis measures and protocols for the protection of the population, as well as the implementation of the health protocols came to light, the Roma community and the Roma settlements did not have the same treatment during the implementation of those protocols of all aspects. Those aspects include: Health treatments, tests, vaccinations, allocation of protective hygiene means, etc. They were implemented to some extent, thanks primarily to the activities of some Roma NGOs and Roma activists.
Now and in this year 2022, we are witnessing another difficult year. First of all, we think from an economic point of view, and on top of that, the conflict in Ukraine, which also left a big mark on the Roma community. We witnessed the general crisis with refugees from Ukraine, I was "bombarded" daily with information about the unequal treatment of Roma refugees from Ukraine, at the very border crossings, in an attempt to leave Ukraine, and at the same time the unequal treatment of the Roma community from Ukraine. in those reception centers for refugees from Ukraine. I personally saw this because as the President of a Roma international organization such as IRU, I had the task of seeing these conditions for myself. In my travels to those countries that offered accommodation centers for refugees from Ukraine in the Czech Republic, Poland, Slovakia, Hungary and other countries, I also saw that situation. The care of Roma from both Ukraine and those neighboring regions such as Roma from Russia, Moldova, Belarus and the Baltic countries faced a humanitarian disaster. In all my travels and visits, I can also connect it with the participation in a large number of meetings and conferences with prominent European leaders, above all I think of my commitments and suggestions expressed at the meetings in the European Parliament, the European Commission, the Council of Europe, at the meetings with the OSCE and other relevant international institutions. Here I highlighted my knowledge about the situation with the Roma from those regions, and also my suggestions on how to help the Roma community in order to amortize this economic crisis. In all those meetings and dialogues, apart from promises, we did not receive any concrete measures. And hence my conclusion that the "modern genocide against the Roma" continues
Roma Times: "According to your knowledge, what is the situation with the Roma from the region in the Western Balkans?"
- "The gunpowder from the conflicts of 1990 still smells over the Balkans, and now with the latest tensions in Kosovo, that gunpowder seems to be igniting again"
Zoran Dimov: "My conclusion is that the situation of the Roma from this region is not "rosy". The fact is that I also belong to this region and therefore I know that situation very well. The economic and energy crisis is one of the main contributors to the unequal treatment faced by the Roma community. Daily inflation creates even greater economic and social barriers that have a very bad effect on the standard of living of all nations, and especially on the most vulnerable, including the Roma.
Above all, over the Balkans, the gunpowder from the conflicts of 1990 still smells, and now with the latest tensions in Kosovo, that gunpowder seems to be igniting again. We are well aware of the epilogue of the conflict in Kosovo from the 90s, when the largest number of Roma families were forced to leave their native homes and go abroad, at least through no fault of their own. That's why I'm worried about the latest developments in Kosovo, lest the same scenarios repeat themselves and the Roma (and those who remain a little) become "collateral damage" and move out permanently. And knowing those conditions, I don't believe that in that "Kosovo chaos" any of the European and foreign factors will remember the Roma to protect them. I fear they will be left to fend for themselves again."
Roma Times: "In the IRU, you also have vice-presidents of the IRU from several regions around the world. What is the situation of the Roma in those regions?
- "In Brazil, there is a noticeable "exclusion" and limited access of the Roma community, especially to children in health protocols and vaccination. There are also remarks on the "special treatment" of the Brazilian police towards the Roma community, in a very large number of cases.
Zoran Dimov: "In the organizational structure of the IRU, one of the key roles is played by the Vice-Presidents of the IRU, who are appointed according to the region-continent model. Thus we have vice-presidents from parts of North and South America, Africa, Asia, the Indian subcontinent, Australia, as well as regions from European soil such as Scandinavia, the Russian Federation and the Baltic States.
From our coordination activities, we also come to the conclusion that the situation with the Roma and Sinti from those different parts of the world is no different from the well-known attitude of those societies towards the Roma and Sinti community. An example is according to the reports of our Vice President from South America, Elisa Costa, and her remarks regarding the problems faced by the Roma community in Brazil. There is a noticeable "exclusion" and limited access of the Roma community, especially children in health protocols and vaccinations. There are also remarks on the "special treatment" of the Brazilian police towards the Roma community, in a very large number of cases.
I have to mention the last incident that happened this month, when a 16-year-old Roma from Thessaloniki was fatally shot by the police in Greece. We as the IRU reacted, and sent a reaction letter to the Embassy of Greece in Skopje, noting that the whole court process with the police officer needs to be transparent and fair. The definitive decision by the court is awaited, and if it is not made according to the laws there, then the IRU is ready to respond to the Court of Justice in Strasbourg.
Roma Times: "You as IRU, what plan will you focus on in this year 2023"
- "In this 2023 IRU will present and implement the initiative for the establishment of the Roma Investment Fund - Accelerator. In that direction, the preparations are already nearing the end and the opening of that RIF office is expected at the beginning of 2023."
Zoran Dimov: "IRU as a serious global Roma organization takes care of all segments of the social life of our nation. This includes activities in the field of combating discrimination, segregation, anti-Roma sentiment, respect for human rights and equality, as well as in the field of economy, society, health, education, culture, youth, health...
In this 2023, IRU will present and implement the initiative for the establishment of the Roma Investment Fund = Accelerator, in that direction, the preparations are already nearing the end and already at the beginning of 2023, the opening of that RIF office is expected. This will contribute a lot in relation to the economic power of the Roma community and active involvement in the business sector. We believe in a successful and long-term further activity in this field as well. We have all the prerequisites and guarantees as well as support from several European and other international institutions for its successful realization.
Roma Times: "Let's return to these spaces. You are also the coordinator of the Network for systemic and permanent solutions of the Roma community in RSM. What were your activities in the past period, and what are the challenges in 2023?
"I have to express my partial dissatisfaction with the distribution of part of the funds intended for projects, and from that aspect I have to state that in one part there is still the Cultural Genocide against the Roma in our country."
Zoran Dimov: "I, as the Coordinator of the Network for Systemic and Permanent Solutions, together with all our other members who are part of the Network and are part of the Roma non-governmental sector in the country, in the past year we see that the Roma community could have been much more represented in the plans and actions implemented by the state. Above all, I am thinking of greater participation of the Roma community in several segments. In the past period, we as a Network made an effort together with our members such as Samet Skenderi, Shenaj Osmanov and others to make efforts for greater visibility of the Roma in the country. I must mention that as a Network, through MP Ljatifa Šikovska, we also submitted two declarations. We also submitted requests for meetings and coordination meetings with most ministries, but from that aspect we can notice that in some ways we were somehow "forgotten".
I should also point out that in addition to MP Ljatifa Shikovska, we were helped in some of our activities thanks to their engagements by Elvis Memeti, the advisor in the cabinet of the Prime Minister, and also by the state secretary at the Ministry of Justice, Muhammed Tochi, who invested their selfless commitment. This implies organizing events such as marking significant dates for the Roma such as April 8th, August 2nd, November 5th, but also active participation by giving proposals and suggestions in the adoption and implementation of various initiatives. action plans implemented by the Government and the ministries. I also have to express my partial dissatisfaction with the distribution of part of the funds intended for projects, where a very small part was also allocated for Roma associations and associations of part of the calls for those projects. From that aspect, I have to state that in one part there is already that Cultural Genocide against the Roma in our country. That's why we are also sending a message to stop this practice and move towards something better. And finally, in my name and in the name of the Network, I would like to wish all citizens, regardless of ethnicity and religion, a happy New Year and Christmas holidays, and I wish everyone a successful and prosperous 2023
Zoran Dimov, President of IRU and Coordinator of the Network for Systemic and Permanent Solutions of the Roma in North Macedonia
