Ethnic Roma Still Discriminated In Romania - President

The head of state said in a press release that in March 2006, when he promulgated the law deeming April 8 the Day of Ethnic Roma in Romania, as the holiday was already a tradition worldwide and had been instated by the first Congress of Roma everywhere in 1971.

 

"Although it is a day for celebration, we need not forget the foremost purpose of this event, which is to raise awareness in Romania and throughout Europe on the problems that affect the Roma minority, to commemorate Roma Holocaust victims and to remember we have a duty to preserve the language and traditions of this minority,” Basescu said.

 

The president added ethnic Roma are Romanian citizens and have equal rights and obligations. The Roma minority is a significant part of the population, counting some 600,000 people at the latest census.

 

He emphasized the issues of the Roma minority are complex and the increased number of children not attending school and not benefiting from medical assistance prevail among Roma, although they affect the entire Romanian society.

 

"Despite recent progress, in Romania in 2008, Roma are still subject to discrimination and intolerance,” Basescu said.

 

The president added strategies to overcome these issues exist, however, they are not adjusted to the community’s tradition and social and economic conditions.