IRU

New Year's interview with the President of IRU and Coordinator of the System and Permanent Solutions Network Zoran Dimov: "Someone is sitting in the shade today, because someone planted a tree many years ago"

In his summary of the current situation of the Roma both in North Macedonia and the Western Balkans, Europe and the world, the President of the International Roma Union - IRU Zoran Dimov and Coordinator of the Network for Systemic and Permanent Solutions of the Roma in the Republic of Macedonia in his summary of the past period at the end of this year 2023, emphasizes the need for unstoppable activity and even greater efforts in the activities as well as a more serious approach to solving the problems of the Roma and the Roma community, both at the national and international level.

Apart from the external factors, he also sees the essence of the problem in his Roma community. According to Dimov, the policies directed towards the Roma are not at all promising as long as there is an indolent attitude or personal interest towards them.

Roma Times: "How do you evaluate this year 2023 when it comes to the Roma community at a general level?"

Zoran Dimov: "I can say that unfortunately this year 2023 is another lost and difficult year when it comes to solving Roma problems. The growing trend of anti-Roma sentiment and anti-Gypsyism has been noticeable for a longer period of time. The momentum of the right-wing parties in Europe and beyond, which won power in their countries, is growing. Analogous to that, Roma issues and problems somehow came into the background or were not at all in a high place in their agendas for the realization of programs related to Roma issues. Great hopes were also placed in the promising financial support from the EU, who said during their presentations that 1.4 billion euros have been set aside for the implementation of various programs and projects related to the Roma and that these funds will be distributed in that direction. But unfortunately, in what way those funds will be used and distributed, the least known are precisely those for whom they are intended - the Roma and their representatives. In general, it follows that all of this will depend on the political will of the representatives from those countries, in which the least Roma representatives will be included. Also, in the middle of this year, as we know, we were informed that another 100 million euros will be invested for the Roma community in the next decade, which will be redistributed by the European Roma Foundation. Now, time will tell whether those funds will be correctly distributed and intended.

But one thing is noticeable, apart from these 100 million euros, which will be managed by a Romanian organization, for those 1.4 billion euros, there is no information about where and how they will be redistributed. We also know that in the past, whenever it comes to financing projects intended for the Roma, other than established and verified Roma organizations made plans, strategies and offered their own programs on how and where those funds should be channeled, many times the so-called "pilot Roma organizations" were in the game to get those funds, and unfortunately, it has been proven many times that exactly those Roma organizations that appeared at that moment, were short-lived and short-lived, for later when they would take matters into their own hands hands then suddenly "disappeared". And the effects and benefits were overwhelming.

This is exactly why I mention that in the future, when that moment comes, cooperation with verified and proven Roma activists who have been active and reliable for many years is inadvisable.

Roma Times: "What activities will the IRU undertake in the coming period?"

Zoran Dimov: The activities carried out by the IRU are continuous. The set goals that we implemented in 2023 where we held several meetings both with a physical presence and online and also actively participated in a large number of meetings and conferences with prominent European leaders, above all I mean my commitments and suggestions expressed at the meetings in the European Parliament, the European Commission, the Council of Europe, at meetings with the OSCE and other relevant international institutions. Here I highlighted my knowledge about the situation with the Roma from those regions, and also my suggestions on how to help the Roma community in order to amortize this economic crisis. In all those meetings and dialogues, apart from promises, we did not receive any concrete measures. And from there, my conclusion is that we must make the Roma community start from a standstill.

Speaking from the point of view of the IRU, we, as the largest Roma international organization, are making efforts to reduce that trend, and at the same time, in order to achieve this goal, we are available for cooperation with all benevolent and respectable Roma organizations, associations and associations that work for the benefit of the Roma community. community whether it is at the national or regional level. All those organizations have a helping hand from the IRU for joint cooperation that are in the interest of the Roma community, regardless of whether it is economic, political, social, business, health, human rights and equality and all other fields. Exactly in 2024 is the base for establishing those connections. It will be one of the key topics of the IRU Congress, which is planned for the period of April 2024, where a large number of prominent European institutional leaders and officials will be invited, here is a public invitation for all well-intentioned Roma organizations to join us and approach an open dialogue and further cooperation, where it will be necessary to build our future Roma strategy and action. Only in this way will it be shown to the European institutions that we, as influential Roma participants, can act together and make decisions, as well as contribute to the creation of future policies when it comes to the Roma community. Let us not allow Europe to decide on our behalf, but let us also actively take roles in making important decisions when it comes to the Roma, both in Europe and beyond.

Roma Times: "Let's return to these spaces. You are also the coordinator of the Network for systemic and permanent solutions of the Roma community in RSM. What were your activities in the past period, and what are the challenges in 2024?

Zoran Dimov: "I, as the Coordinator of the Network for Systemic and Permanent Solutions, together with all our other members who are part of the Network and are part of the Roma non-governmental sector in the country, in the past year we see that the Roma community could have been much more represented in the plans and actions implemented by the state. Right at the beginning of 2023, our Network was the initiator of the creation of the National Platform of the Roma, which was then joined by other Roma networks. During the whole year, through our coordination meetings and meetings, we upgraded and supplemented it, where we then presented it to some of the state institutions to be part of the Roma strategy. In parallel, our Network, among other things, initiated and organized events such as commemorating significant days and dates for the Roma community from our country, such as April 8, August 2, November 5, etc.

In the meantime, the Network held continuous meetings and meetings, both among the members of the Network and with other Networks of Roma organizations. Well, the last meeting that was held in the middle of December this year, and initiated by the Network in which other Roma organizations and networks participated, one of the basic conclusions is that in the coming year 2024, which is quite interesting from the aspect that it is the year of Parliamentary and presidential elections in our country, our network initiates the literal formation of a form of Union that is in the interest of the Roma community. Only united in this way and in a Union in which more than 50 or more Roma organizations would be members, we will be more noticeable and more compact, and always stronger in our performances, first of all we think before the political entities, regardless of whether they are from the Macedonian, Albanian or other bloc. With the fact that it is an election year, only in the Union we can make requests to political entities with a higher goal and written guarantees. Learned from past bad experiences when, for example, the so-called Directory for Roma Issues was promised in the last elections. But we all know that nothing came of that promise. Therefore, during the meetings with those political parties and leaders, one of the priorities of the demands of the future Union will be only signed written guarantees of the given promises. In this year 2024, in coordination and without egocentrism, to achieve higher goals than the existing ones, and in the political, social, economic, cultural and other fields. Also, the future Union will advocate for greater participation in the field of employment, in the state administration of the Roma community, while taking into account that the current staff of employees from the Roma community in the state administration is not depleted. The demands will also be for higher positioning of the Roma in the state administration.

Otherwise, I, in my own name, and in the name of the Network and the future Union, will do everything for the sake of our future descendants, a better tomorrow in this society of ours. That's why I would finally quote the famous American businessman and philanthropist Warren Buffett: "Someone is sitting in the shade today, because someone planted a tree many years ago"

New Year's interview with IRU President Zoran Dimov: "At the next 12th IRU Congress in 2024, it will bring even more positive and coherent changes in the interest of the Roma community in the world"

IRU, as the oldest and largest Roma international organization that has existed for over 52 years, established itself as a leading international Roma organization with its activities decades ago. Since 2016, during the 10th Congress of the IRU, when Zoran Dimov was elected its president. With his appointment, as well as the appointment of the new composition of the IRU, the IRU presidency rose to a higher level when it comes to the interests of the Roma community. Immediately after that, the IRU in the UN regained its ECOSOC status, it also established itself as part of the EVZ foundation, an important factor in the ERTF, and a regular partner in the meetings organized by the EP, EC, CE and other European institutions.

Each time the IRU responded and gave specific guidance and proposals to the relevant European and world organizations. Now, according to its president, Zoran Dimov, in his pre-New Year's address to Roma Times readers, he himself emphasized.

- As its current president and also together with the IRU team, throughout this period since my appointment, we have been working on strengthening the capacities of the IRU, and I assure you that we have succeeded. It is due to our serious approach and constant communication among the membership itself, be it at our video ZOOM meetings or the regular Parliamentary sessions. We monitor all activities and also actively participate in making important decisions and documents. We constantly take part in many international meetings where we are invited as a relevant Roma organization.

Our focus is now on organizing the regular 12th IRU Congress, which is planned for March or April, which will be supplemented with more activities, in addition to the election of the new leadership of the IRU Cabinet and the presidency.

Sensing the need for "fresh blood", the IRU at this Congress will also focus on the reception of new young and progressive forces who are waiting for admission to the IRU. At the same time, Dimov emphasizes that at the next 12th IRU Congress in 2024, he will bring even more positive radical changes in the interest of the Roma community in the world"

That is why the importance of this IRU Congress was emphasized, at which, according to the president Zoran Dimov, in addition to the members and delegates of the IRU, a large number of distinguished senior officials in important positions from the European Union, the UN and other organizations, associations and associations announced their presence as guests. .

At the end, Zoran Dimov sent congratulations on behalf of himself and on behalf of IRU to all his colleagues, friends, partners on the occasion of the Christmas and New Year holidays with wishes for health, happiness, prosperity, success as well as the cessation of all conflict actions and peace reigning for all spaces in the world.

Coordination meeting of IRU President Zoran Dimov with the delegate from Japan Sumi Yusuke and General Secretary Ramush Muarem in preparation for the 12th IRU Congress

As part of the activities of the IRU for the upcoming 12th IRU Congress, which will be held in the period of April 2024, a coordination meeting was held in the IRU office in Skopje between the President of the IRU Zoran Dimov with the delegate from Japan Sumi Yusuke and Secretary General Ramush Muarem. At the meeting, guidelines were agreed upon, as well as unplanned activities in preparation for the organization of the Congress of the IRU, at which there will be the election of a new leadership and a new structure within the ranks of the IRU. These are only the first steps taken for a more transparent and democratic process in the IRU, as well as plans for future action and strengthening of the IRU membership. The following period will be aimed at organizing a call for young, new and more progressive IRU members from all over the world, reviewing the work of all previously inactive IRU delegates and members.

According to this coordination meeting, it follows that an even greater commitment of the existing membership and replenishment with new blood and new additional directions of action is needed.

 

"The Congress in London united the Roma around the world", recalls Tore - Jarl Bielenberg - journalist, art director, manager and IRU delegate from Norway

I first met Raya, then still called Raisa Udovikova, in 1964 when I was working as a reporter for a Norwegian newspaper in Moscow. She was a leading actress at the famous Theater Romain. We married in 1966 and later moved to Norway with her two children, Natasha and Oleg. Due to the language barrier - Raya spoke only Russian and Romani at the time - she changed her education from acting to dancing and singing. Later, when she learned Norwegian, she also acted in theaters and films. I also changed my field - from a journalist I became his manager and a book translator (I translated about a hundred books from six languages into Norwegian).

The International Roma Union is the oldest and largest international Roma organization. I am a member of its parliament. We have offices in Vienna, Geneva and Washington. President Zoran Dimov is based in Skopje, North Macedonia. IRU is now represented in more than fifty countries. It takes a high degree of ingenuity and organizational talent to unite Roma on four continents who belong to different subgroups. This was never an easy task. We were forced to fight against anti-Roma prejudice, persecution and bureaucracy. We won and suffered defeats. Dissatisfaction and impatience is growing among many Roma because of the unfulfilled promises of the authorities and the lack of great results. Many other Roma organizations with different goals have come and gone. But the IRU is still here. During its more than fifty years of existence, it has been a central driving force and inspiration in the global struggle for Roma rights and an important instrument of unity and solidarity across all borders and all Roma groups.

Link: https://romea.cz/cz/zahranici/kongres-v-londyne-spojil-romy-po-celem-svete-vzpomina-jeho-umelecky-reditel-novinar-manazer-a-aktivista-tore-jarl-bielenberg

 

IRU congratulates the UN on the occasion of United Nations Day - October 24

On the occasion of October 24 - UN Day, the International Roma Union - IRU and its president Zoran Dimov, on behalf of the entire membership of IRU, sends congratulations to the world's largest organization, the UN, which is synonymous with peace and stability in the whole world.

The IRU's congratulatory message to the UN said: “Humanity has entered the era of sustainability – with a global commitment to deliver on the great promise of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development. All the challenges that are of a global nature are only a motive for us all to work together and eliminate all global challenges and problems"

We wish you much success in further activities and undertaken plans and actions, because this planet of ours is a place for all nations to live equally"

Otherwise, IRU is an active member with its own ECOSOC status in the UN.

Otherwise, chronologically, the United Nations was officially established on October 24, 1945. In 1947, the United Nations General Assembly declared October 24, the anniversary of the United Nations Charter, as the day "to be devoted to announcing the purposes and achievements of the United Nations to the people of the world and enlisting their support" for its work. .

In 1971, the United Nations General Assembly adopted a supplementary resolution (UN Resolution 2782) declaring United Nations Day to be an international observance or international holiday recommending that it should be observed as a public holiday by member states of the United Nations.

IRU representatives led by IRU President Zoran Dimov took part in the 16th European Roma Inclusion Platform in Madrid

In the organization of the Spanish Presidency with the Council of the European Union and the European Commission, the 16th European Platform for Roma Inclusion was held on November 29 and 30 in Madrid, Spain.

The aim of the meeting itself was how to improve the use of EU and national funding to enable effective and equal access to housing and combat anti-Gypsyism.

On this 16th European platform for the inclusion of the Roma, the organizers invited the representatives of the IRU, which were attended by the President of the IRU Zoran Dimov, and the Vice-President of the IRU Stefano Kuzhicov.

During the meeting, a delegation of the IRU met with high representatives of the Council of Europe and the European Commission and members of the EP. They met with Helena Dali, the European Commissioner for Equality, with the Commissioner for Equality and Good Neighborhood for the Western Balkans and a friend of the Roma, Marta García Fidalgo, with the Eurocombatant Livia Jaroca and others. They had the opportunity to share the local challenges of the Roma community in terms of housing and anti-Gypsyism.

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