President Stevo Pendarovski, on the occasion of April 8 – International Roma Day, sent a congratulation note to the members of the Roma community in the Republic of North Macedonia.
Dear fellow Roma,
Let me congratulate you on April 8, the International Roma Day, and wish you good health, happiness and enthusiasm to jointly improve the situation of the Roma community in the Republic of North Macedonia. On this occasion, I would like to express my respect for your contribution to the enrichment of the Macedonian multiethnic and multicultural society.
Congratulations on the 50th anniversary of the First Roma Congress in 1971 in London, when European activists reaffirmed the Roma flag, anthem, language, culture and Roma identity of more than 12 million Roma in Europe. Fifty years after the First Roma Congress, we have a generational duty to build a society where we will value differences, respect dignity and ensure equal participation of all citizens equally in making decisions on important issues essential to our country.
Together, we aim to build solidarity, a just and free society that respects diversity and human dignity. Not only on April 8, but throughout the year we continue the common struggle because the challenges, needs and responsibilities of the Roma community, as well as all other citizens are daily.
Dear friends,
This year, we mark the International Roma Day amid the global COVID-19 pandemic, which exactly in this period, with the greatest fervor so far, endangers the lives of all Macedonian citizens. The pandemic reminded us that we are all vulnerable and those who are on the margins of society suffer the most. All of us together, in our daily roles of politicians, members of institutions and non-governmental organizations, activists, media workers, citizens are responsible to be proactive in order to overcome the pandemic, but also to solve the accumulated problems we face every day in order to be able to build a prosperous and secure future for everyone.
Congratulations on April 8 – International Roma Day!
Bahtalo о 8. April sa e Romenge!
Stevo Pendarovski
