The problems of Roma and Egyptians are best known to those who have met them, stated the Roma Council in an open letter to Prime Minister Dritan Abazović and said that the possibility of employing members of that community in the Prime Minister's office should be considered.
The President of the Roma Council, Mensur Šalaj, congratulated Abazović, on behalf of the Council, on his assumption of the office of Prime Minister.
"The problems of the Roma and Egyptian (RE) community are best known to those who have encountered them, that is, through discrimination and prejudice, because who better to solve the problem of a Roma, an Egyptian, if not a Roma or an Egyptian myself," states the letter in which agency MINA had insight.
Šaljaj said that he believes that Abazović has the will, ability and willingness to help members of the RE community.
"One of our recommendations is that it would be good to analyze the possibility of employing members of the RE community, perhaps even in the prime minister's office, who would work to improve the position of Roma and Egyptians in Montenegro," the letter states. .
Šalaj said that they hope that a representative of the Roma community will be proposed by the Roma National Council, as an umbrella institution.
He said that they would understand it as a sign of Abazović's willingness and good will to finally start truly solving the problem of Roma and Egyptians who have been living in Montenegro for centuries.
"I also want to introduce you to certain facts, namely that, and I hope you agree with that, the national councils are the umbrella institutions of the minority communities that we represent, in this case the community of Roma men and women. Without any modesty, I can let's say the largest representative body that was chosen by the Roma community," the letter reads.
Šaljaj stated in the letter that he was glad that Abazović pointed out in his presentation that all minority communities will be represented in the institutions of the Government's work system, with the aim of applying the model of the civil organization of Montenegro in practice, which will be based on two key segments. - rule of law and economic development of society.
"We sincerely hope that you also have us members of the Roma and Egyptian communities in your plans, because we are also part of the minority peoples in Montenegro," the letter states.
It is emphasized that a significant number of Roma and Egyptians have existed in Montenegro for centuries.
"With the fact that the Roma community is not involved in political life, we still do not have an answer to one of our initiatives to reduce the census for the political participation of Roma in Montenegro or a guaranteed mandate," said Šalaj.
He pointed out that solving the daily problems faced by the RE community and the inclusion of Roma and Egyptians in the institutions of the system is not only a democratic, but also a civilizational issue.
Šalaj assessed that the previous approach to solving their problems was mainly of a declarative nature.
"I will remind you in just two examples that we have often been institutionally discriminated against, and this is the main reason why we have been marginalized, discriminated against and excluded from Montenegrin society for centuries," the letter to Abazović states.
Šalaj said that the Law on the Election of Councilors and Members of Parliament stipulates that the Roma community needs 0,7 percent of votes for one parliamentary mandate.
"At the same time, the same census was determined for the Bosniak community, while the Bosniak community is eight times more numerous than the Roma community," Šalaj said.
He believes that selective justice is at work, as the worst form of injustice.
"If we add to that that a certain concession was made in that law (with due respect to the Croatian community), then we have an example of double standards, which is not typical and appropriate for democratic countries that want to one day be members of the European Union," the letter reads. .
As stated, another example is the representation of RE community members in relevant institutions.
Šalaj said that an example of good practice is the local self-government bodies, where there is representation of the RE community, but these are mostly people who are not employed for an indefinite period.
"Due to all of the above, please feel free to consult in order to plan and implement activities aimed at improving the position of the minority community, which is discriminated against to the greatest extent," the letter states.
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