Distinguished members and IRU delegates, Roma brothers and sisters!
Today, April 8, as we mark the day the foundations of Romani identity, were laid 49 years ago, I would like to briefly remind you of the challenges we face.
We all know that the IRU is the one who opened the door to show everyone that we Roma are no different from other nations in the world. That we are a nation that deserves the same as other nations in the world.
Time passes and at the same time we as IRU are trying and we ourselves are aware that when one door closes, another always opens. Too often when we look at the closed door, we do not notice the one that has opened.
We ourselves know that time is a predator that constantly haunts behind us. I would rather believe that time follows us during our journey, just to remind us of the fact that we need to value every moment.
We, as the IRU, should also evaluate and value every task that we have set for ourselves and that we have successfully solved.
We know that it has never been easy to complete a given task, because on that path we always (even today) have many barriers and opponents, who do not always think best, whether it is an internal or external factor.
My message to all of you is that we need to be united now, united by common forces to be even stronger so that we can convince all skeptics that we are on the right path.
In addition to all this, the current situation with the pandemic of COVID 19, which is the main obstacle to not being able to react properly at the moment, but we as IRU will jointly pave the way and achieve our goals.
At the same time, despite the fact that we Roma people and at the same time IRU as an organization often suffer "low" blows from states and institutions that do not always think well of the Roma people, we must be united and united to individuals and groups that represent themselves like Roma, but are always ready to "lose" IRU or create their own IRU in their head.
We all together in IRU convey the only message that to those "concerned Roma and non-Roma" we in IRU will act most decisively against all those barriers.
We in the IRU today, on April 8, do not intend to spit or complain, but on the contrary, we have a message for all of us and all others - to unite and respect each other. Let us all show because IRU is really worth it!
That's why UPRE ROMA, and for many years April 8, International Roma Day for all Roma brothers and sisters around the world.
With respect
Zoran Dimov
President of the IRU
