Background
The Central and Eastern European (CEE) region
continues to undergo significant transformation, both socially and
economically. States today face not only the daunting tasks of democratization
and economic development, but also the challenge of greater European
integration through NATO and EU enlargement. The decentralization of state
powers and administration has played a pivotal role in this regard; countries
such as Poland, the Czech Republic, Slovakia, Bulgaria, and Hungary concluded
decentralization in the early 1990s – whereas others, like Serbia, have only
begun to undertake this process more recently.
The introduction of local government and enhancement
of local democracy poses a particular challenge to authorities within
multiethnic communities and municipalities. The tragic experience of the ethnic
wars and regional violence of the last decade underscores many of the
difficulties in achieving peaceful and harmonious ethnic coexistence.
Representative democracy at the local level, however, may play a powerful role
in reversing this trend, by giving a greater voice to minorities.
Frequently among the most disadvantaged in society,
the Romani community has only recently taken a more active role in politics;
since the beginning of the 1990s, the Roma have begun to increase ethnic and
political mobilization efforts within the CEE region. Their claims to be
regarded as a legitimate minority and political entity have been acknowledged
and supported by both the international community as well as national
governments.
The past decade has witnessed the emergence of an
extensive body of literature devoted to the Roma, detailing both their
situation and the problems they face within Europe. Indeed, a number of
recommendations advanced by international organizations have helped shape government
policies toward the Romani community. What these recommendations systematically
fail to mention however, is the critical link between Romani advancement and
their involvement in local self-government and/or cooperative relationships
with local authorities. Indeed, if government efforts to improve the situation
of the Roma are to be achieved, changes at the local level must be considered.
Advocacy efforts undertaken by Romani leaders have
until now been principally targeted toward international institutions and
national governments. Roma active at the local level have been largely involved
in small-scale projects carried out by the Romani and non-Romani civil sector.
While dealing with the Roma has become a subject of rancorous political debate
at the federal and republican levels of government, this has interestingly not
been the case at the local level. On the contrary, Romani leaders have been
particularly effective in exerting pressure upon local authorities to address
problems of concern to their communities.
Yet it is clear that strategies to improve minority
rights must be targeted at all levels of government, since programs designed at
the federal and/or republican level must be implemented locally. It is
therefore critical not only that legal measures and institutions be put in
place in order to implement these policies, but that local authorities have the
means by which to translate these policies into practice.
In focusing on the case of the Roma in Serbia, the
principal aims of the roundtable were to address not only issues of general
concern to the Romani population, but to provide specific recommendations to:
- Increase Romani awareness of the political process;
- Raise awareness among local authorities as to their obligations
vis-à-vis the Roma;
- Encourage authorities to create institutions at the local level to
respond to Romani concerns;
- Find working mechanisms at the local level to more effectively
implement minority laws and programs for the Roma;
- Design measures to increase the level of active participation of
Roma in public life, especially in decision-making bodies at the municipal
and self-government levels;
- Establish methods for better cooperation and coordination among
local authorities and the local civil sector.
Local Self-Government
According
to Article 4 of the Council of Europe’s European Charter of Local
Self-Government, powers divested to local authorities throughout the region
should be “full and exclusive”; they may not be “undermined or limited by
another, central or regional, authority except as provided for by the law.”
Local authorities maintain independent legal status, act in their own name,
manage spending and establish their own operational structures; they are
accountable to the local population and elected democratically to serve their
interests. Local self-governments are responsible for tasks delegated to them
by the state on a subsidiary basis, such as managing primary and secondary
education, planning and building, public transportation, municipal housing,
heath service, etc. Local authorities
act primarily as servants not of the state, but rather the local public.
A recent example demonstrates the sheer extent of
local autonomy. Several years ago, local authorities from the town of Usti nad Labem, in the Czech Republic, erected a
wall separating Roma from non-Roma dwellers. Despite widespread condemnation of
this act among central authorities and critics abroad, local authorities upheld
the decision on legal grounds; in essence, there was nothing the central
government could do to change the situation. While a compromise solution was
eventually reached, the crisis nevertheless demonstrates the unique powers of
local self-government.
Policymakers seeking to implement integration
policies may encounter certain obstacles, including a lack of will on the part
of authorities, a shortage of resources, as well as conflicts arising from
majority-Romani relations. With a growing number of persons living below the
poverty line in many regions and localities, local authorities helping the Roma
may in fact face a backlash due to differences between the Roma and non-Roma
with regard to state support and subsidies for the implementation of Romani
programs. The implementation of these programs could prove particularly contentious
as local authorities choose between principles of non-discrimination versus
positive or affirmative policies.
Observers have witnessed a disturbing trend in local
politics – the tendency among policymakers to delegate Romani issues to the
local civil sector (Romani and non-Romani) as opposed to local
administration. Absent the visible
involvement of state and local administration, the civil sector frequently
takes on many different roles, acting as a service provider, advocacy agent,
and caretaker. Moreover, where no such civil agent exists, Romani issues are
simply neglected.
The role of civil society in addressing and dealing
with Romani issues is viewed in an increasingly ambiguous light. Indeed, some
Romani activists criticize the efforts of this sector as part of a “Gypsy
industry.” State and local authorities have voiced their own criticism,
particularly with regard to the work of Romani organizations and leadership.
While some Romani activists fault the civil sector for misuse of resources,
namely, failing to reach the Romani community, state and local officials point
to the lack of transparency and accountability among the Romani civil sector.
Such criticisms underscore the need for a clearer
demarcation of the specific tasks and obligations of state and local
administrations versus those of the civil sector. When such boundaries are
blurred, those who stand to gain the most from these services are put at
increased risk. For this reason, it is critical that representatives of the Romani
community assume a greater role in the political process within their
communities; by increasing their presence within elected bodies (municipal
councils, local self-governments) and administration, the Roma can begin to
take a more active role in shaping policies affecting their community.
Roundtable Proceedings
Opening the discussion, PER’s Executive Director
welcomed the Yugoslav effort to address issues of importance to the Roma and
stressed that the active participation of the Roma in all levels of government
would be critical in determining the success of any such initiatives. Many such
programs failed in the past, she warned, because Romani communities themselves
had not been actively involved as partners.
She encouraged authorities to work with Romani communities on all
levels, particularly the local level.
State policy toward the Roma in Yugoslavia and Serbia
According
to the Minister of Ethnic and National Communities of the Federal government,
the central government is committed to addressing the concerns of the Roma. As
the most vulnerable segment of society, he posited, the Roma’s status within
Yugoslav society is one of a number of criteria used to measure the level of
inter-ethnic tolerance as well as the success of the republican government’s
minority policy. During Milosevic’s rule, he maintained, the Romani community
was treated instrumentally; attention was paid to them only within the context
of upcoming elections. The present government, in contrast, has taken a wholly
different approach, he argued, by explicitly admitting the existence of the
Romani issue and the need for its resolution. While government progress thus
far may be judged as insufficient, nevertheless, it must be considered a step
in the right direction, he said. The Romani problem, he contended, is one of
enormous complexity and can therefore not be solved overnight.
According to a participant, officials at the federal,
republican, and local levels of government are currently attempting to deal
with Romani issues in the following areas:
Legislation. Officials are developing legislation designed to
improve the legal standing and protection of Romani rights within the state and
society. Such legislation will likely include not only legal recognition of the
Roma as an ethnic minority within Serbia, but also provisions of affirmative
action toward that community. The minority rights of the Roma, he added, have
already been promulgated in the Federal
Law on Protection of Rights and Freedoms of National Minorities. In addition,
the Law on Local Self-Government, he
argued, enables greater minority
participation in local authorities and administration. This law in particular
would pave the way for greater inclusion of the Roma within local
decision-making bodies.
Encouraging participation in social and political
life. The
encouragement of Romani participation in institutions of local self-government
and democratic processes is critical, said the official. The Bujanovac case
provides a useful lesson in this regard. By abstaining from the last local
elections in Bujanovac, the Roma effectively forfeited an opportunity to
increase their representation in the local government and municipal council. He
stressed that institutions must work with Romani organizations to encourage their
citizens to participate in the political process.
Interethnic relations. Officials must work to
foster a social and political environment that promotes a better understanding
of the problems faced by the Romani community within Serbian society. According
to several studies, the Roma are now considered among the “most acceptable”
minorities in Serbian society, with the level of negative perception toward the
Roma at a comparatively low level. While the Roma are still not largely
accepted by the general public, unlike other minorities, they are not perceived
as a danger to Serbian society.
Social, economic and cultural problems. The most pressing of
these problems is related to Romani housing conditions and the dislocation of
“illegal” Romani settlements in Belgrade such as Stari Aerodrom, Tosin Bunar,
Zahumska, and Gazela. Considerable
reluctance exists on the part of some local politicians with regard to
resolving these issues, he said. The central government and political parties
must both provide support and exert pressure on local politicians to overcome
this reluctance. The international community, he noted, is also interested in
the resolution of the housing problem of Roma in Belgrade.
According to a Serbian official, there have been some
positive developments to report in the area of Romani culture. Several radio
stations in the Romani language have been established in Serbia, and a Romani
program can now be heard on national radio – Radio Belgrade. In addition, the
government plans, he said, to increase the number of Romani children in
schools. Approximately 78 percent of the Roma never complete elementary school
while only 0.4 percent receive higher education. The authorities will encourage
all minority communities, including the Roma, he said, to become active
participants in the educational system reform process and the formulation of
curricula and textbooks related to their specific ethnic community. Moreover,
he added, the government has formed a team of experts to formulate a national strategy
related to the Romani community.
The government approach to minorities, said this
official, has been based on the principle of full respect for human and
minority rights. These rights were endangered in Serbia during the last ten
years, he said. The Roma have been
systematically neglected and no Serbian party has ever dealt in a serious way
with their problems. As a result, this
official argued, the Romani community has largely abstained from the political
and democratic processes. He urged the Roma to end this trend and to take a
more active role in political life.
A local official from the Nis municipality asserted that the following were all
prerequisites for a successful minority policy: legislation, strategy, budget,
political will on the part of decision-makers and active participation of the
Romani community. Throughout the history
of Nis, he argued, the city has served as a model of
peaceful coexistence among many ethnic communities – including the Roma, who
have taken an active part in local self-government for many years. Among the
municipality’s most notable legislative achievements was its adoption of the Program of Social Recovery of the Roma
Population.
A Romani participant and member of the Nis municipal council added that one of the most essential
criteria of a flourishing democracy is the minority’s participation in power.
He said that for the Romani community, the valid criterion of democracy was the
level of Romani participation in all levels of power. He defined three goals for
the roundtable: to promote the rights of the Roma as citizens; to define and
detect Romani problems at the local level; and to formulate concrete methods
for the resolution of these problems.
The problems of the Roma in Serbia and Yugoslavia
need to be urgently addressed, he said. One method may be through effective
implementation of the Federal Law on the
Protection of Rights and Freedoms of National Minorities, the Serbian Law on Local Self-Government, and through international
standards. While the Federal government
has been working to establish a strategy to address Romani problems, he argued,
what will be most crucial is its implementation. In that vein, he reminded Romani leaders of
their unique civil responsibility in ensuring successful implementation.
.
The speaker also expressed his disapproval as to
the concept of the “integration of Roma” as the most appropriate way to address
the community’s problems. In particular, he objected to the use of the word
“integration” in that the Roma have lived in the region for centuries and
consider themselves natives like all other ethnic communities in the country.
Instead of ‘integration,’ he advanced the need for ‘emancipation’ of the Roma
within Serbia, mainly through greater investments in education, as a necessary
precursor for their increased participation in society. While the majority population and the
international community should support the Romani emancipation process, he
argued, the primary responsibility rests with the Roma themselves.
The speaker commended the organizers of the
roundtable for directing attention toward the importance of involvement at the
local level – where he believed many of the Roma’s problems could be most
effectively addressed. Moreover, he suggested that the Serbian Government pay
closer attention to its strategies related to the local level, especially the
role of local authorities in policy implementation.
Current Roma-related problems
For many Romani participants, the official
recognition of the Roma as a national minority (in the recently adopted Federal Law on Protection of Rights and
Freedoms of National Minorities) represents a major breakthrough,
specifically in establishing conditions for better protection of the rights and
interests of the their community. New provisions enabling minorities to form
national councils have inspired hope among the Roma. In addition, some
participants expressed particular optimism at the Law on Local
Self-government’s establishment of “Councils for Interethnic Relations” among
ethnically mixed municipalities. Some Romani leaders worried, however, that
they might actually be prevented from forming such ‘councils’ due to existing
census data that provides an unreliable measurement of the size of the Romani
minority. The legislation stipulates that in order to form such councils, the
minority community must account for more than 5 percent of the municipal
population (or more than 10 percent if all ethnic communities are counted
collectively). Roma have not reached that percentage anywhere, said Romani
representatives, and this could put them at a disadvantage.
In the view of some Romani activists, establishing
institutions to deal with Romani issues will improve the Roma’s present
situation as well as their overall position in society. Yet this is not enough. The Roma must also
increase their representation in municipal bodies, they argued. The reality in
this regard is grim, they noted, as there are still large Romani communities
living in ghettos who remain under-represented in local institutions or bodies.
Moreover, any positive gains to be acquired by the Roma from the Law on Local Self-Government will be on
hold at least until after the 2004 elections, when the law is scheduled to be
implemented.
Several participants raised the issue of adequate or
proportional representation of the Roma in elected bodies and state
administration. Romani participants in particular were of the opinion that they
should have at least two or three representatives in the Serbian Parliament and
much stronger representation at the level of local self-government.
A Serbian expert on interethnic relations counseled
Romani leadership to pay closer attention to legislation at the republican
level since the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia as a state will soon cease to
exist. In this participant’s view, citizens are likely to see problems arise
from the fact that certain laws have been adopted at the federal level while
others have been adopted at the republican level–a problem which could be
further exacerbated once those laws are implemented. He argued that financial
issues would be central in this regard and suggested greater allocation of
budgetary resources to the local and municipal levels. He agreed that the Roma
should have greater political representation in the republican parliament.
Several Romani participants expressed their
displeasure with the current state of education and employment policy,
suggesting that the government should formulate policies and adopt specific
measures to benefit the Romani community. As loyal citizens of Serbia, they
argued, the Roma deserve a speedy resolution of their problems.
Most Romani participants recognized the need for
fostering greater Roma-to-Roma and Roma-to-non-Roma dialogue. The mentalities
of both communities must be changed, they posited, building upon a shared
tradition of tolerance and coexistence. The Roma-to-Roma dialogue in particular
should work to formulate better Romani political objectives. Moreover, efforts
must be undertaken by Romani leaders to better organize their communities.
Addressing the broader question of capacity, another
Serbian expert from Novi Sad cautioned that Yugoslavia’s status as the poorest
country in Europe in terms of per capita income would not necessarily influence
the resolution of Romani issues. He advised participants to target donors with
a particular interest in Roma-related projects, including Romani emancipation.
Addressing the contentious issue of “illegal” Romani
settlements in Belgrade, Romani participants decried the recent actions of
Serbian authorities in attempting to expel the Roma from settlements in Stari
Aerodorom, Zahumska, and Tosin Bunar. In the view of these participants,
Belgrade authorities did not show a sufficient level of understanding in dealing
with this issue. They argued that the Roma have consistently suffered
discrimination with regard to urban planning and the building of
infrastructure. Moreover, they are always last to get new roads, water, and
electricity in their settlements.
One Serbian official acknowledged that inadequate
laws were the main obstacles to resolution of the problems of Romani “illegal”
settlements. Laws governing estates and urban planning, designed in 1995, need
to be urgently amended, he said. The official acknowledged that attitudes on
the part of local authorities toward the Roma represent yet another obstacle.
Local authorities frequently mistrust the Roma, he suggested, and to a large
extent are reluctant to deal with their problems. He urged Romani NGOs to take
on the necessary task of educating local authorities about the Romani community
and its needs. The participant reiterated that it would behoove the Roma to
better organize themselves and to elect representatives to fight for their
interests. Further, the official
suggested the following concrete steps, which would, in his opinion, accelerate
the resolution of many Romani problems:
- Local authorities should come up with plans and regulations to
address the problem of affordable housing;
- Steps should be taken to better educate authorities about Romani
problems;
- The Roma should increase its legitimate representation in
government; and
- Discrimination against the Roma should be prevented by all means.
Examples of effective cooperation between the Roma and local
authorities
Despite offering minor criticisms of the Law on Local Self-government, most
Romani participants acknowledged the benefits the law could provide for their
communities. They cautioned however that
the receipt of such benefits will likely depend on the good will of local
authorities. One Romani participant pointed to the policy of authorities in Nis as a positive example of such leadership. As a gesture of
both good will and political inclusiveness, the municipality of Nis elected to disregard the fact that local Roma did not meet
the 5 percent census threshold required by law when deciding to grant them
recognition as a multiethnic entity. Moreover, local authorities’ unique
interpretation of the Serbian Law of
Local Self-Government has paved the way for better resolution of Romani
problems. This has been the case particularly with regard to the protection of
the individual and collective rights of national minorities, the public use of
language, and representation in the media, he said. The municipality of Nis has in fact developed a strategic and long-term program for
the socioeconomic recovery of the Romani community. Supported by the
municipality, Romani NGOs, as well as a variety of other institutions, the
program receives its funding from the Municipality of Nis as a budgetary line item.
Another encouraging example of cooperation between
the Roma and local authorities was offered by a participant from the
municipality of Leskovac, home to one of the largest Romani communities in the
region. According to the representative, Leskovac serves as a model of
interethnic cooperation, as the Roma have traditionally played an active role
in local self-government. Recently, the
city decided to include two Romani representatives on the Executive Committee
of the Municipal Council of Leskovac, he said.
The results, he argued, have been astounding. Working in tandem with
international organizations, relief agencies, and NGOs, the municipality has
succeeded in making measurable improvements in the living conditions of Roma,
including the removal of illegal dunghills in the surroundings of Roma
settlements. Cooperation has also
extended to the cultural arena, where programs in the Romani language can now
be heard on both local radio and television. Local authorities, he added, have
assigned a portion of their budget to implementing cultural, social and
recreational projects for the Romani community.
Constant communication between local officials and representatives of
the Romani community has worked to alleviate most tensions arising from
relations between the Roma and the municipality.
Highlighting his own municipality’s tradition of
Romani participation in local government, a local official from Vranje, home to
some 8000 Roma, noted that the Roma of Vranje have a longstanding tradition of
involvement in local government. The Romani presence on the municipal council,
he argued, has helped to enhance the communal infrastructure as well as the
housing conditions of Romani settlements. Moreover, unlike the vast majority of
Romani communities in the region, many Roma in Vranje regularly finish high
school. Addressing the representative from Nis, the official expressed his
willingness to facilitate the expanded transmission of private Romani TV into
Vranje, thereby allowing Roma from Vranje to view Romani programming from Nis.
Finally, the representative of the Permanent
Conference of Cities and Municipalities of Serbia stressed that she was
encouraged by the discussion and that her organization would make every effort
to support all sensible initiatives directed at the resolution of concerns
unique to the Romani community.
Experiences from neighboring countries and closing remarks
The purpose of this segment of the agenda was for
representatives from other Eastern- and Central-Eastern European countries to
share best practices in state and local policy relating to the Roma. In that
vein, several participants representing Hungary and Bulgaria delivered brief
presentations. The Hungarian representative pointed to the institution of
elected self-government as a system which has greatly enhanced the position of
the Roma in Hungary. Elected self-government, he said, has allowed the Roma to
better communicate their needs to both local and state authorities. Moreover,
these authorities are obliged by law to consult with Romani elected
self-governments when discussing issues related to their welfare.
The representative from Bulgaria offered an example
from the municipality of Lom, one of the nation’s least developed, and home to
a population that is more than 35 percent Romani, the highest concentration in
Europe. In order to help combat the problems of vast unemployment and poverty,
he said, the government has adopted the Framework
Program of Integration of Roma in Society, a program which has allowed
municipal authorities in Lom to create an advisory commission to the local Lom
municipal assembly consisting of Romani representatives, local MPs, and
different institutions in the town. The commission’s action plan was later
adopted by the local assembly and funded in part by a special budgetary line
item for resolution of Romani problems. In addition to these efforts, he added,
representatives from the Romani community, experts, and local authorities have
also produced special programs and worked to amass substantial material
resources. In fact, local authorities are now aiming even further in working to
obtain a loan from the Development Bank of the Council of Europe in order to
finance concrete projects for the Romani community.
Echoing a theme touched upon by many at the
roundtable, the representative from the Council of Europe underscored the need
for greater Romani participation in local self-government. The Council of
Europe’s policy, she stressed, is to facilitate this process by both
encouraging state and local authorities to be more receptive to the needs of
the Roma, and by helping to create the conditions for the inclusion of Roma
within structures of local self-government. She counseled authorities also to
pay closer attention to issues of gender equality, ensuring that Romani women
be provided with the necessary conditions to increase their participation in
different institutions. The representative also called for a change in the
mentality of the majority population, including authorities, in order to
increase tolerance toward minorities. She emphasized that the resolution of the
Romani housing problem was the most urgent one facing the Serbian government
today. She also stated that the Council of Europe stands ready to assist in
various projects related to the Romani community.
The representative of the Federal Ministry of Ethnic
and National Communities thanked PER for organizing the roundtable, adding that
it was instructive to hear from all parties involved and particularly to learn
from the experiences shared by neighboring countries. She expressed her
optimism that the national councils and new institutions envisioned by the law
would help protect both minority rights and their identity overall. As an
institution working on behalf of collective rights, the national councils, she
argued, would enable national minorities to be represented in official
governmental structures. She emphasized that it would be a long road ahead to
achieve more significant results and that much sensitivity would be
required.
Closing the roundtable, PER’s Executive Director
noted that since the Roma had participated in developing democracy in Serbia,
they should therefore benefit from it. The Roma should play an active role in
democratic processes and their participation should be encouraged by greater
cooperation at the local and republican levels. International institutions such
as the World Bank, the Council of Europe, the OSCE and the European Commission,
she added, support specific programs fostering such cooperation. Authorities
should avail themselves of these possibilities.
This participant concluded by listing other
conditions for effective resolution of Romani issues, including the good will
and commitments of central and local authorities. Financial commitments in
particular will be pivotal, she noted, as will the role of both Romani and
majority-operated media. Finally, she highlighted the need for establishing
more Romani local authority structures in order to spur greater participation
of the Roma in public life. She further expressed her hope that at least one of
the benefits of the roundtable will be the establishment of a network of
municipalities to exchange information including best practices in dealing with
Romani issues.
Conclusions
Participants of PER’s Nis
roundtable reached the following conclusions:
Awareness of both cultural diversity and tolerance
should be the twin pillars of public policy in multiethnic communities. There
is a need for greater understanding of Romani problems among local authorities.
Education is among the most significant issues of
concern within the Romani community. Romani leadership must find effective ways
to bridge the education gap that exists in relation to the majority. This will
likely require permanent and coordinated action among Romani organizations and
activists, authorities and the Serbian society in general.
While many Romani leaders advocate the “emancipation”
of Serbian Roma, the precise definition of this concept remains unclear.
Authorities invite the Romani leadership to provide a definition of their
objectives and expectations of the government.
State authorities should continue to:
- Develop legislation to improve the legal position and protection of
Romani rights;
- Encourage greater Romani participation in institutions of local
self-government and democratic processes overall;
- Create a social and political environment conducive to better
understanding of Romani problems within Serbian society;
- Work toward the resolution of problems affecting the Roma, namely
Romani housing conditions and the forced dislocation of “illegal” Romani
settlements;
- Encourage all minority communities, including the Roma, to take an
active role in the reform of the educational system and the formulation of
curricula related to their specific ethnic community.
The Roma should be educated as to how to better
protect their rights. Local Romani organizations should be given an orientation
of domestic and international law designed to protect human rights and promote
local self-government.
The capacity of Romani organizations must be
strengthened in the areas of: local self-government, protection of human and
minority rights, management, democracy-building, human resources management,
and lobbying.
Municipal budgets should contain line items dedicated
to promoting the welfare of the Romani community.
Public awareness against Romani discrimination should
be raised within the majority population.
In order to take advantage of greater opportunities
for political representation, the Romani community must take steps to better
organize their citizens. The secretary
of the Permanent Conference of the Cities of Serbia has proposed the formation
in 2003 of a network of Romani leaders and municipal authorities. PER has pledged to assist in establishing and
working with this network.
List of Participants
Romani Participants:
Dragoljub Ackovic, President, Roma Congress Party
Radovan Askovic, President, Cultural Information Center, Pirot
Aleksandar Bakic, Roma Cultural Center, Leskovac
Osman Balic, President, YuRom Centar; Vice-President, Executive
Board, Municipality of Nis
Stevan Beljic, Municipal Association of Roma, Sabac
Salim Demirovic, OSCE Civic Center, Bujanovac
Osman Ibrahimi, Member, Municipal Assembly, Presevo; Democratic
Union of Roma
Miroslav Jovanovic, President, Committee for Protection of Human Rights
of Roma in FRY
Tane Kurtic, President, League of Romani Societies of Serbia
Dejan Markovic, Member, Rakovica Municipal Council, City of
Belgrade
Slobodan Mitrovic, League of Romani Friendship, Krusevac
Dragan Music, Secretary, Fair of Cultural Achievements of Roma of
Serbia
Petar Nikolic, Editor, Romani programs, TV Novi Sad
Ferhat Saiti, Co-Chairman, Democratic Union of Roma; Radio Nisava
Zavadin Salijevic, President, Roma Association “Sait Balic”, Nis
Ratko Silistarevic, Association Rom-Vranje; Member, Municipal Council,
Vranje
Djura Simic, President, League of Roma of Yugoslavia
Slavica Vasic, Romani
Women Center “Bibija”, Belgrade
Local, Republican,
and Federal Officials
Goran Ciric, Mayor of Nis;
President, Permanent Conference of Cities of Serbia
Branislav Cvetkovic, President, Municipal Assembly, Niska Banja
Dijana Hasanagic, Secretary, Committee for International Cooperation,
City Council of Belgrade; Secretary, Permanent Conference of Cities of Serbia
Agnes Odri Kartag, Deputy
Minister for Ethnic and National Communities of FRY
Zarko Korac, Deputy Prime
Minister of Serbia
Rasim Ljajic, Minister for
Ethnic and National Communities of FRY
Aleksandar Manojlovic, President,
Municipal Council, Pirot
Meho Omerovic, Chairman,
Committee on Interethnic Relations, Parliament of Serbia
Radoslav
Pavkovic, President, Municipal
Assembly, Aleksinac
Sinisa
Stamenkovic, President, Municipal
Assembly, Gadzin Han
Dragoljub Zivkovic, Mayor of
Leskovac
Non Governmental and Academic Organizations
from Yugoslavia
Dusan Janjic, Member, Project on Ethnic Relations Council
for Ethnic Accord; Director, Forum for Ethnic Relations, Belgrade
Vladimir Macura, Director,
Town Planning Institute of Belgrade
Aleksandar Vidojevic,
Representative in Serbia and Montenegro, Project on Ethnic Relations
International Participants
Lee Brown, Second
Secretary, Political Section, Embassy of the USA in FRY
Alex Grigor’ev, Program
Officer, Project on Ethnic Relations (USA)
Jelena Jokanovic, Coordinator for Ethnic Minorities, Mission in
FRY, Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe
Allen Kassof, President,
Project on Ethnic Relations (USA)
Judith Kiers, Adviser, Catholic Organization for Relief and
Development, Novi Sad (Netherlands)
Nikolai Kirilov, Expert,
Community Council, Lom, Bulgaria
Maria Arpadne Kovacs, Head, Roma Department, Office for
National and Ethnic Minorities, Government of Hungary
Andrzej Mirga, Chairman, Project on Ethnic Relations Romani
Advisory Council; Co-Chair, Council of Europe Specialist Group on Roma/Gypsies
(Poland)
Stephan Muller, Minorities Officer, Mission in FRY, Organization
for Security and Cooperation in Europe
Livia Plaks, Executive
Director, Project on Ethnic Relations (USA)
Eleni
Tsetsekou, Migration and Roma/Gypsies Division, Council of Europe
