Bahtalo Ohtoto April

Celebration of International Roma Day 8th of April In Republic of Macedonia

The NGO Roma Democratic Development Association „Sonce“- Tetovo for the occasion of International Roma Day organized several activities and implemented initiative under ROMED2 programme. The initiative concerned to displaying of Roma flag in all 10 ROMED Municipalities: Tetovo, Gostivar, Prilep, Bitola, Stip, Vinica, Kicevo, Debar, Berovo and Kocani. The local action groups in all ten municipalities organized various activities and events in coordination with the municipalities, local NGO’s, the Roma community and RDDA Sonce.

Tetovo

In Tetovo the Celebration of 8th April continue with putting of the Roma flag in front of the Municipality. In 2015

Municipality of Tetovo was the first

Municipality that put the Roma flag in sign of International Roma Day. On

that occasion, the local action group

within the Romed programme, realized meeting with the Mayor of

Municipality of Tetovo Mrs. Teuta Arifi.

On the meeting was discussed about the implemented activities of the municipality in the interests of the Roma community, and future plans for the implementation of the priority issues of the community within the

Romed program.

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Gostivar On the 8th April 2016, the Roma in Gostivar enrolled a new page in the history. For the first time the

Roma flag is putted the flagpole in front of the Municipality of Gostivar, with the anthem of the

Roma and the presence of representatives of local government. Also, as initiative of the Romed programme, in Municipality of Gostivar the local action group realized meeting with the local authorities and the Mayor of the Municipality Mr. Nevzat Bejta. On the meeting were discussed the future plans of the municipality for bettering the Roma situation and solving of the Roma community issues.

Debar Presentation of Romed mediators for Roma language, culture and identity in presence of Roma

youth, local authorities and Roma community was organized in Debar. Besides of that, in

Municipality of Debar for the first time was putted the Roma flag in the Cabinet of the Mayor in

presence of local authorities.

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Kicevo With the ROMED programme the Municipality of Kicevo

accepted the initiative for putting the Roma flag in front of

the municipality for the first time. The event was organized in

coordination with the mediators, Roma community, local authorities, the local NGO Bela Kula and Sonce. The event was media covered and with presence of local authorities.

After that, was organized cultural event with cocktail.

Prilep On 7 of April, in the premises of the City Library in

Prilep was held "a fashion show of traditional

Roma dresses”. The event was organized by the Association for perspective integration and development "Roma Perspective" and the

th Municipalities of Prilep. 8 of April began with raising of the Roma flag on a flagpole in front of the municipality. In the evening on the ceremonial academy organized on that occasion, Mayor of

Prilep gave a speech in which extended congratulations to all members of the Roma community. At the Academy its points had the folklore and music group of Roma students from primary school “Dobre Jovanovski”- Prilep. 3

Stip As part of the celebration, in front of the

Municipality of Stip was placed the Roma flag and

representatives of the local action group and local NGO’s had meeting with the Mayor of Stip Mr. Ilco Zahariev on which were discussed the

activities that the Mayor and local self- government take to promote the rights of Roma.

After that, was organized a panel discussion on

which spoke representatives of Roma NGO from

the Association of multiethnic society for human rights and local authorities. As part of its program activities was organized cultural and educational

event in order to preserve, foster and promote the cultural values of the Roma.

Vinica

Municipality of Vinica accepted the initiative for putting the Roma flag in front of the municipality for the first time. The event was organized in coordination with the mediators, Roma community, local authorities, and Sonce. Besides of that, in front of the municipality was organized cultural and educational event in order to promote the Roma culture, language and identity on which participated the Mayor of Vinica Mr. Emil Doncev, local authorities and the Roma community.

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Kocani

Municipality of Kocani accepted the ROMED initiative for putting the Roma flag in front of the municipality. This represents a historical act for Kocani because it’s happening for the first time.

The Mayor of Kocani Mr. Ratko Dimitrioski jointly with employees in the municipality participated on the ceremonial event. The Municipality gave support in the organization of the event which was organized in cooperation with ROMED mediators, the Municipality, local NGO's, ROMED programme and RDDA Sonce. Also, in Kocani was organized high level Conference on the topic:

Where are the Roma? In the past and today, on which were invited the Roma community, local authorities and representatives of local institutions.

Berovo

In Municipality of Berovo the event for Celebration of International Roma Day was successfully organized. The event started with defile of the Roma community which started from the Roma

settlement to the Municipality. Putting of the Roma flag started with ceremonious address by the

Mayor of Berovo Mr. Dragi Nadzinski. Thereby, it was given a brief historical review of the origins

of Roma. After that there was a cultural and artistic event with young talents and were given gratitude to associates of the local institutions. At the end was organized a joint cocktail. Many thanks to ROMED mediators who organized the event in cooperation with the Municipality, Sonce and the local NGO Terno Vas.

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SONCE expresses deep gratitude to the ROMED programme initiated by Council of Europe and European Commission, to all 10 Municipalities (Tetovo, Gostivar, Prilep, Bitola, Stip, Vinica, Kicevo, Debar, Kocani and Berovo) and Mayors of the same, local action groups and local NGO’s for the organization and implementation of the initiative and other activities for celebration of International Roma Day.

Roma Democratic Development Association “Sonce”- Tetovo

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