Romani people

Turkish Prime Minister Ahmet Davuto?lu has pledged to look out for Roma people with an 11 article commitment during a meeting in Istanbul with representatives of the community.

The saddest story of urban transformation in Istanbul is Sulukule. This neighborhood is known as the one of the oldest Roma settlements in the world. Romani coming from India during the Byzantium era are believed to have settled right next to the city walls of Istanbul. 

BELGRADE - Serbian Minister of Interior Affairs Nebojsa Stefanovic announced support to young Roma citizens wishing to apply for employment in the police.

Late on Wednesday, Stefanovic conferred with representatives of the Police Officers Association 'European Police Officers of Roma Nationality' concerning integration of members of the Roma minority into the Serbian MUP.

Foreign Affairs Ministry Secretary of State for strategic affairs Daniel Ionita says the integration of Roma requires the joint efforts of all the actors involved for the improvement of Roma people economic and social condition; he was speaking at a symposium on the International Roma Day on Wednesday.

Photo credit: (c) Liviu SOVA / AGERPRES ARCHIVE

BELGRADE - Head of the EU Delegation to Serbia Michael Davenport opened in Belgrade on Wednesday a photo exhition entitled Our City Our Home.

The exhibition was opend on International Roma Day and shows the life of Roma people in Nis and Belgrade. Its authors are young Roma from the Gipsy Roma Urban Balkan Beats (GRUBB) Foundation.

On Wednesday, the International Roma Day, Prime Minister Victor Ponta delivered a message in which he hailed the contributions of this ethnic community to the development of today's Romania.

Photo credit: (c) LIVIU SOVA /AGERPRES STREAM

BELGRADE - Serbian President Tomislav Nikolic on Wednesday called for the promotion of Roma rights in Serbia, stressing that the government should do everything it can to empower members of this national minority to enjoy their rights.

BELGRADE - Serbia has made progress in improving the position of the Roma people, but there is still a need for further activities aimed at their full inclusion, the OSCE Mission to Serbia stated on Wednesday.

President Klaus Iohannis congratulated Roma ethnics on the International Roma Day on Wednesday, the Presidential Administration informed in a media release.

Photo credit: (c) Alex MICSIK / AGERPRES PHOTO

Some progress, but Roma still face many difficulties

BELGRADE -- There has been progress when it comes to education and health care provide to the Roma population in Serbia, Vitomir Mihajlovic has said.

But the president of the National Council of the Roma Minority noted ahead of International Roma Day that no progress has been seen in their housing and employment.