OSCE Mission to Serbia head marks International Roma Day with call for Roma inclusion

BELGRADE, 8 April 2010 - The Head of the OSCE Mission to Serbia, Ambassador Dimitrios Kypreos, today, on the occasion of International Roma Day, expressed hopes for the further advancement of the Roma in Serbian society, and called for their inclusion in reforms undertaken by the Serbia's government.

He called the widespread acceptance in the Roma community of the minority election process initiated by the Serbian government an impressive recent development. The high number of registrations some 49,000 - give the Roma the opportunity to hold their own direct minority elections.

"I strongly encourage the Roma community to use their acquired right and participate as widely as possible in the minority elections and to have a representative National Minority Council that will work together with state authorities toward advancing the position of the Roma community. I would particularly encourage the participation of women in the Council," he said.

"We also support efforts to the Roma access to health and education," said Kypreos, adding that many steps still need to be taken for full inclusion of the Roma into all structures of Serbian society.

"The OSCE Mission as always stands ready to support the efforts of both state institutions and Roma organizations towards Roma integration in Serbian society on the road towards the European Union."