US Ambassador Greets Bulgaria Roma for International Roma Day

Many Roma communities all over Bulgaria mark April 8, the International Roma day, with festivals and performances. Photo by Sofia Photo Agency

The US Ambassador to Bulgaria, Nancy McEldowney, has congratulated the Bulgarian Roma for International Roma Day, which is celebrated all across the country.

April 8, the International Day of the Roma, is a day of celebration of Roma culture, history and traditions. The Day also draws attention to discrimination directed to Roma and Gypsy communities globally and calls for human rights of all to be respected and observed.

The day was officially declared in 1990 in Serock, Poland, the site of the fourth World Romani Congress of the International Romani Union (IRU), in honor of the first major international meeting of Romani representatives, 7-12 of April, 1971 in Chelsfieldnear London.

Many Roma communities all over Bulgaria mark April 8 with festivals and performances.

Bulgaria's Prime Minister, Sergey Stanishev, will attend the Roma culture festival in the town of Perushtitsa. The festival includes a musical and dance performances of Indian, Roma and Turkish dances as well as the traditional "Ms. Romani Tchai 2009" and Ms. Romani Chavo 2009" contests.

Stanishev is also going to hold a meeting with Roma activists from the town to discuss the problems of the Roma community there.

Festivals concerts and tournaments, including football ones, will be held in many other Bulgarian cities and towns such as Plovdin, Kyustendil, in the Roma villages of Dink, Zhelyazno, Skutare, Rogosh among others.

In marking International Roma Day, the US Ambassador to Sofia, Nancy McEldowney, issued a statement in which she acknowledges the many ways in which Roma have contributed to our history and our societies and reaffirms the commitment of both Bulgaria and the US to advance tolerance and to support a common effort to help Roma realize their right to equal opportunity in all areas of life.

The Ambassador notes that in Bulgaria, the US has worked together with local partners to improve the lives of Roma and to promote ethnic tolerance. The US have funded projects to help Roma gain valuable job skills, start new businesses, train teachers, and promote ethnic desegregation.

McEldowney praises the efforts of the USAID/Bulgaria assistance program, the Bulgaria Fund, and the US Peace Corps volunteers in helping local NGO in promoting Roma rights and in making a real difference in the communities they serve.

The Ambassador, however, points out that many challenges regarding Roma integration remain in Bulgaria where Roma still face discrimination in education, housing, and employment.

 

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