Dear readers, from today onwards I will have the pleasure to share with you my thoughts, analyzes, views, and opinions.
But let me get to the point. We all know that the focus of public attention is on the Pandemic with Covid 19 one of the biggest global problems, and if we locate by region, specifically in our country besides the Pandemic one of the biggest focuses is given at the beginning for recommendations to start entry negotiations in the EU of the Republic of Northern Macedonia. The local public is focused on the current blockades for the start of negotiations and the veto given by the Republic of Bulgaria.
Exactly those events somehow "shadow" some moments related to the Roma community in our country. First of all, we are thinking of some moves made by the current Government of RS Macedonia and the positioning of the functions (read ministers, deputy ministers, and other positions). It is obvious that after the appointment of those positions, the Roma community in the sense of the word was "forgotten" because exactly in those positions no Roma was appointed.
That moment was met with disappointment and various comments by the Roma community in the country. But that only caused disappointment - and nothing more.
But it is necessary to ask a rhetorical question: "Who is to blame for this situation?" Is it the fault of the government or the Roma political bloc that is in coalition with the current government? The comments are as follows: "Roma Syndrome of Disunity and Advocacy" is currently the winner. Unlike some other communities living in this territory and regardless of different political views and attitudes, when it comes to "national interest" mutual misunderstandings are forgotten only in the name of national interests.
And with us Roma it is the other way around, and only because we always want personal interest to win.
An example is the newly appointed position - function in the Government - Directory! Previously, this position was designated as "Minister without portfolio" where in all past years that position was represented by a party representative - staff from that Roma political option that is in coalition with the winning coalition and a member of the Government.
But now, with the renaming of this position, there is still no one, because according to the new legal provisions, some changes need to be made because now that position will have wider competencies. This implies some new systematization of jobs in several ministries (Social Affairs and Labor, Health, Transport and Communications, Culture, Youth and Sports) where so far there were departments that had appointed managers, who led those sectors and closely related to Roma issues, which should now be under the authority of the Directory
However, in parallel with that moment, negotiations and agreements are being conducted as to who will take that position. And instead of being resolved without a major problem, which indirectly means that position should be taken by a staff of a political party in power (as in previous years), now how to delay that process intentionally or not. Is this delay due to the fact that some sectors that were in the designated ministries will be abolished. Does this mean that some positions from those ministries that were reserved for the same people for a long time, can now be left without work engagement. Is that the reason for that - braking and resistance?
We are aware that the challenges and problems faced by the Roma community in the country are huge, and it is necessary for that directorate to start operating as soon as possible, while the public focus is in another direction (as I stated above), this question is somehow posed in some second or third plan.
Also a question to the Government, do they have in their Budget for 2021 allocated funds for this Directory and its functioning as well as funds that this Directory will have at its disposal and will distribute them according to the priorities and strictly defined criteria. Or maybe he will wait for a new rebalance in January next year.
Maybe this Government is also hoping for some financial support from outside so that it can more easily deal with and pass "easier" from a financial point of view with the Directory
I am of the opinion, regardless of everything, that the Directory by the end of 2020 will be officialized and will function and will enter the package as an account of the Government for its work in the first 100 days. The fact is that 3 months have passed, all ministries and deputies have been appointed, only the Directory is still a "brake".
Where is the "resistance" hidden? In the country, in the sectors of some ministries that work on activities related to the Roma, and now they should be under the jurisdiction of the new Directory, or in some external factor?
No matter how much I say I work, there should be a solution soon. And who will run the directory is another story! For that - then!
Zoran Dimov
