In Brussels, today, October 1, the 17th European Platform for Roma Inclusion, organized by DG JUST of the European Commission in cooperation with the Hungarian Presidency, started

At the invitation of the European Commission, the President of the IRU Zoran Dimov will attend this event.

This high-level event brought together political decision-makers from the EU, at national, regional and local levels, fund management bodies and representatives of Roma and pro-Roma civil society.

The main topic of the meeting is "Roma equality, inclusion and participation in the planning and development of the territory". This key topic in the wider Roma policy field aims to raise awareness of persistent issues and challenges, discuss ways to address these challenges and contribute to a more effective use of EU funds to promote equality, inclusion and participation of the Roma.

At the same time, the minister without portfolio in the Macedonian government, Shaban Saliu, was also present at this event.

During the event, IRU President Dimov had meetings and talks with high European representatives such as Mrs. Irena Moozova, Deputy Director General – International Dimension of Justice Policies, Rule of Law and Equality, Directorate General for Justice and Consumers, European commission, Ms. Melissa Kamara, Member of the European Parliament, Mr. Attila Stojka, State Secretary for Social Opportunities and Roma Relations, Hungary, Ms. Luci Fukova, Government Commissioner for Roma Minority Affairs, Czech Republic, Ms. Věra Jourova, Vice President of the European Commission for Values ​​and Transparency and others.

Today, in the Government of the Republic of North Macedonia, November 5, International Day of the Roma Language, in the presence of the highest representatives of the country, which was attended by the Prime Minister Hristijan Mickovski, the Minister without portfolio Shaban Saliu and other ministers, the president was also present and had his address of IRU Zoran Dimov.

Among other things, in his address he mentioned the importance and significance of the Roma language, as well as the rich culture and history of the Roma people. In the last few decades, serious efforts have been made to protect and promote the Romani language and culture. However, we face many challenges, as this language is still under threat of being lost due to assimilation and lack of systemic support. Today we celebrate the day of the Roma language, but at the same time let's remember the need for joint work for greater inclusion and support of the Roma community. The International Roma Union and I, as its president, initiated a month ago to start studying the Roma language as a course within the Blaže Koneski Faculty of Philology at UKIM, and now, 18 young Roma and non-Roma are already attending the course which it will last three months.

IRU and Daniel Petrovski, MA, initiate the opening of a scientific Institute for Romani language, culture and history, which in the first five years will deal with scientific activity and then higher education activity, which will produce professional Romani scientific and professorial staff from the social humanities sciences. The institute will affirm the Romani language, print literature in the Romani language and perform professional translation and interpretation of the language itself. This initiative will begin to be implemented first with the creation of a visibility study, from which a report should be produced, which will be submitted to the government institutions for approval. We suggest that the Institute be named after the first Doctor of Science, Roma, Professor Dr. Trajko Petrovski, and that it be a national institution within the Ministry of Education and Science or within the University of St. Cyril and Methodius, from whom we have support and also signed a Memorandum of Cooperation. It is precisely planned in that direction to produce qualified Roma staff as well as lecturers of the Roma language, culture and history.

That is why we are asking for support from all governmental and non-governmental institutions for our initiative. We hope that the Government will make its own contribution, as well as the Minister for the Implementation of the Roma Strategy, Mr. Shaban Saliu.

Today, within the framework of his activities, the president of IRU, Zoran Dimov

had a meeting with the Deputy Minister for Local Self-Government in the Government of Macedonia, Erdzhan Selimi.

During the meeting, Dimov informed Deputy Minister Selimi about activities related to several topics in the field of education, culture and local policies in our country.

At the meeting, among other things, Selimi welcomed the engagement of Mr. Zoran Dimov for the efforts and initiative of the IRU for the study of the Romani language and culture within the Faculty of Philology "Blaje Koneski" in Skopje, through the online course, where the visitors themselves will acquire certificate with initial level A, signed and certified by the Faculty of Philology "Blaze Koneski" at UKIM, Skopje.

At the same time, Dimov informed Selimi that on October 1, he will participate in the meeting for the Roma Platform within the EU, which will be held in Brussels. He will also have meetings and meetings with high representatives from the EU and the European Commission.

Today, October 24, in Oslo, Norway, long-time member of the IRU and its honorary president Tore-Jarl Bielenberg died after a short illness. Tore was born on January 30, 1935 in Oslo and was a Norwegian journalist, cultural worker, peace activist, translator and author. .

He has been working on Roma culture for many years. He is the only non-Roma who was a member of the Nordic Roma Council. He also lived in Moscow and had close contact with the Romain Theatre. Torre also participated in the First Congress of the IRU in London in 1971.

He was a journalist in Freehetten for many years, he has translated a large number of books and debuted in fiction and non-fiction in 2012. With the death of Tore-Jarl Bielenberg, the IRU and the entire Roma community lost a great friend of the Roma.