President Gordana Siljanovska-Davkova sent a congratulation message to the members of the Roma community on the occasion of International Roma Day – April 8.
Respected Roma citizens,
I extend my sincere congratulations to you on April 8 – International Roma Day!
I believe that it is no coincidence that the wheel, the symbol of your ethnic flag, after long journeys, stopped on the Macedonian soil, where you have made a home.
With your cultural uniqueness and awareness, you have grown into an important and valuable segment of the Macedonian society, incredibly talented in music and dance, artistically inspired, modest!
You are in the Constitution; you fought for a Roma municipality and the Roma language as an official language therein; you founded and developed a successful high school, formed parties and civic associations and became a political factor, entered the Parliament, won mayoral and ministerial positions, but also leadership positions in important state bodies and institutions, became musically famous by participating in top cultural and artistic societies, with singers and conductors, acquired university degrees in various fields, you were described in movies and series, you were sung about, painted…
You have proven that you are a creative, capable, hardworking and adaptable community that deserves respect.
But this holiday reminds me that you are still the poorest, most vulnerable, most marginalized, most disadvantaged and most discriminated against community.
It is time to move from words to deeds, to support you in reality, to give you priority, to reach for affirmative action and inclusive policies, to enable you to express and prove your abilities and ideas, to incorporate your labor and knowledge into the development of a democratic society.
Roma are a rich human potential that must be harnessed in the social drive.
Let us turn the Roma wheel at home, but not only on April 8, but constantly, stronger, faster and further, in the interest of progress.
Congratulations on April 8 – International Roma Day!
Gordana Siljanovska-Davkova
