The American journalist and publicist, Paul Polanski, has been studying the life of the Roma and their culture for many years. He also lived in Kosovo for a brief period. He says that the conditions with the Rona national minority is very bad, especially after a huge number of Serbians have left Kosovo. - I lived in Kosovo from July to November in 1999, and I conducted a research in the Roma community in Kosovo, including the Roma, Ashkali and Egyptians. It is noted that in Kosovo until the NATO Bombing, there were 298 Roma communities and settlements with around 17.5 thousand houses and around 120.000 residents. When I finished the research in Kosovo, there were only 30.000 (10 thousand Roma and 20 thousand Egyptians and Ashkali). Around 14.5.thousand houses were destroyed when the Albanians returned after the NATO troops have arrived. Only a smaller number of around 14.5 thousand houses have been reconstructed. After the arrival of the international forces, most of them ran away, mostly in Germany and Italy, and some of them went to Serbia, Montenegro and Macedonia. Only a small number have remained, and they were constantly abused by the Albanian majority. - However, I don’t have a good collaboration with the NGO sector, because I believe that they are working more for their personal interests, instead of the interests of the Roma, and that is why I avoid them. - I could write novels for the Roma people. They are increasingly integrating into the western society. But, with that, they have lost a lot of their language and customs, although most of them, live in the west is no better for those Roma from Eastern Europe. Kosovo Roma have largely preserved their tradition. Today there are a dozen Roma tribes in Kosovo who come from various ancient Indian castes. - Although I don’t see any good things in the future of the Roma from Kosovo. Most of the Albanians have an historical intolerance towards them. The Roma in Kosovo need jobs. There are people who have been living and speaking Albanian for decades, and they are the only ones who can hope for something. Not even one Roma is allowed to return to a job which they had before the war. - Their main struggle is the bad life and living conditions, unfit for a human being. They don’t have adequate houses, medical care and they are completely invisible to the public. The Roma have enough struggles now and don’t have the power to fight for the past

Link: http://www.portal-udar.net/pol-polanski-romi-imaju-dovoljno-muka-u-sadasnjosti-i-nemaju-snage-da-se-bore-za-proslost/

The census of the homeless is complete. All those who are accommodated in the facilities for which the Ministry of Labor and Social Policy has created conditions together with the State Statistical Office are listed. The initial number is about 350 people, which was the target and from our knowledge, starting from Vizbegovo, Cicino Selo, so that census process is completed. Now remains most of the census that starts on April 1, said today the Minister of Labor and Social Policy Jagoda Shahpaska.