Open letter from the Secretary General of IRU to the world leaders

Addressing to:
– The Leaders of the G7 Group
– Mr. George W. Bush – President of the U.S.A.
– Mr. Ban Ki-Moon – Secretary General of the U.N.
– Mr. Hose Manuel Barroso – President of the EU Commission
– Mr. Javier Solana – EU High Representative for the CFSP
– Mr. Olli Rehn – Commissioner for Enlargement
– Mr. Robert Zoellick – President of the World Bank
– Mr. George Soros – President of the SOROS Foundation

Respected,

My name is Zoran Dimov. I am Roma. I’m 41 years old. I am representing the concerns of Roma people in my native country, Macedonia, as well as on international level, as a Secretary General of the International Romany Union. Unfortunately, in my life I’ve seen more bad than good things happening to my people, wherever they are all over the world.

By this letter I would like to introduce you at least small part of someone’s human destiny, but also someone’s indignation and determination to raise the voice, hoping that somebody would heat it after all. Therefore, I shall start with simple words…

We are often called Tzigany, Gypsy, Gitano… And we are: Roma – denomination already adopted in 1971, at the First World Roma Congress.

We are poor, woeful… But also: rich – rich by soul, pride, affection… We live modestly, but in peace with the people and the nature. We are all over around; we have no our own country, but the whole world is our home. We have our language, culture, tradition, identity. Still, we live shadowy, beyond the others instead with them…

For ages outcast, humiliated, marginalized, discriminated and even executed!

But why is that?

Have you, respected, as world leaders, ever spent even a flesh of your time to ask yourselves this question… and even more, to try answer it?

Maybe it is easier to say: "Give those poor people money".

It’s true, the conscience for a moment could be calm in this way. And maybe anything would have be changed for better, if the money would find their way towards those to whom are intended to, instead part of the money lose through the bureaucratic labyrinths of the organizations which are supposed to be intermediates, or even worse, that the money end up in wrong hands and for wrong aims.

Sometimes the reality is cruel, but ought to face it: Roma people are good opportunity for money laundering. And there are many people "blustering" their philanthropic acts, but keeping silent when the people ask for answers.

And we ask for answers: what are the rules and who creates those rules. And if this game exists to promote winners or losers?

At the beginning of this decade, European Roma and Travellers Forum was established. This Forum has assigned partnership agreement with the European Council in order to take an active participation in its work. Regretfully, I have to stress that despite these references, even we, the Forum’s deputies are not quite sure about its role.

In 2005, there was important step made: Roma Decade 2005-2015 was proclaimed, focused to 4 priorities: education, health, employment and housing. Unfortunately, experiences related to Roma Decade only confirm that the path to the hell is flagged with best intentions.

The transparency is being substituted by mystification, the open human approach by hypocrisies and the joint benefit by personal interests and calculations.

For this reason, on my behalf and on the behalf of IRU, I would like kindly ask you World Conference strictly dedicated to Roma issues to be organized, what would produce clear and determinate steps, which this time should not remain only at declarative level. On this meeting, the world leaders would have been appealed, through the relevant agencies, institutions and foundations in the countries they represent, to undertake concrete measures for implementation of urgings referring quality changing of Roma community living.

Finally, I would like to point out that it is most important that all together should understand that we, the Roma people, do not ask for compassion and charity. We are capable to work and fight for better life for our children. Solely we ask for is respect and equal opportunities for dignified life. There is place for all of us under this heaven.

Even the longest path starts with one and only step. We did that step. It’s your turn! For the sake of all of us…

Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.

Blessed are those who mourn, for they will be comforted.

Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they will be filled.

Blessed are the pure in heart, for they will see God.

Respectably,

Zoran Dimov – Secretary General of the International Romany Union
rbic@mt.net.mk 
Skopje, Republic of Macedonia