President: EU among most important partners

BELGRADE Serbia is solving the most important issues related to its future through dialogue, President Tomislav Nikolic said in Belgrade on Tuesday. Addressing the inaugural meeting of the Roma Interparliamentary Organization, held at the national parliament building, Nikolic described the EU as "one of Serbia's most important partners": President: EU among most important partners "The Eu is without a doubt one of the most important partners of Serbia at this moment, one of our biggest investors and donors, and one of the priorities of our foreign policy, while the majority of Serbian emigrants live in EU countries. We are naturally inclined toward each other when it comes to politics, economy, culture, and every other sense." Addressing the gathering, Nikolic also stated that Serbia was, on this road, "making decisive efforts to improve its position, contributing to peace, security, cooperation and sustainable development of the region." He then said that members of Serbia's Roma minority enjoyed all rights of a civilized and democratic society. Speaking about the Roma Interparliamentary Organization, President Nikolic underlined that the organization will have its part in achieving Serbia's strategic goals. The Roma population is a constituent part of our social, national being and cultural ambience, Nikolic said, adding that is also confirmed by the fact that the Serbian parliament includes Roma MPs, who initiated the holding of this event. By the meeting of the Roma Interparliamentary Organization, Serbia demonstrates its commitment to a better life of each and every citizen, regardless of their nationality, skin color, political or any other affiliation. “I am particularly proud that a new international, significant institution is being founded in the Serbian parliament- in our home of democracy and in Belgrade, the Serbian capital famed for its cosmopolitan atmosphere- which will work on promoting, protecting and advancing the rights of the Roma population,” President Nikolic said. The activation of the parliamentary dimension of the Roma issue is important for Serbia because of the exchange of experiences, given that problems facing the Roma are almost the same across the globe, but solutions to them do differ, Nikolic noted. The president pointed out that the Roma Interparliamentary Organization will be a new frame for achieving cooperation in the fields of importance for life and development of the Roma population, voicing expectation that in that sense “it will be a moving force of the region.” He also voiced expectation that the project will receive backing from international organizations and all world countries, as there is hardly a state without Roma people. “Today, you are giving an example to the entire world as to how one should fight for their rights through institutions of the system,” the Serbian president concluded. Nebojsa Stefanovic, Tomislav Nikolic take part in the Roma Interparliamentary Organization meeting (Tanjug) "New laws will improve Roma position" Serbian Parliament Speaker Nebojsa Stefanovic stated on Tuesday that on its EU path, Serbia is paying special attention to the improvement of the position of all vulnerable groups, including the Roma. The Roma community is one of the most vulnerable groups in the Serbian society, regardless of whether it is viewed in social, economic or political terms, Stefanovic said at the founding session of the Roma Interparliamentary Organisation. He noted that the new parliament composition adopted several laws relevant to the improvement of position of marginalised groups, the implementation of the strategy on integration and granting new powers to the Roma. The amendments to the Law on Non-Contentious Procedure make room for resolving the issue of legal visibility of the Roma, while the Legalisation Law opens the possibilities for the Roma families to legalise their property without hardships, Stefanovic noted. He recalled that the Law on 2013 Budget envisages additional sources for funding various activities in the area of Roma integration, and funds were also allocated for the funded institutions for Roma higher and university education. The Migration Law clearly defines the obligation of government bodies in charge of resolving the issues of IDPs from Kosovo-Metohija, many of whom are Roma, Stefanovic said. In addition to this, the Criminal Procedure Code needs to label hatred as a motive for a criminal offence. Implementation of laws is very important for a change in the given situation, Stefanovic said and expressed the expectation that NGOs would provide assistance in this matter. The parliament speaker recalled that there is virtually no municipality without Roma population in Serbia, and noted that the level of their poverty is high while their education level is rather low. This is an obligation for the government bodies to invest efforts in the search for a solution to the Roma issues, but also the Roma themselves need to take responsibility for their position and the European future of the society, Stefanovic said. Tanjug

President: EU among most important partners

"The Eu is without a doubt one of the most important partners of Serbia at this moment, one of our biggest investors and donors, and one of the priorities of our foreign policy, while the majority of Serbian emigrants live in EU countries. We are naturally inclined toward each other when it comes to politics, economy, culture, and every other sense."

Addressing the gathering, Nikolić also stated that Serbia was, on this road, "making decisive efforts to improve its position, contributing to peace, security, cooperation and sustainable development of the region."

He then said that members of Serbia's Roma minority enjoyed all rights of a civilized and democratic society.

Speaking about the Roma Interparliamentary Organization, President Nikolić underlined that the organization will have its part in achieving Serbia's strategic goals.

The Roma population is a constituent part of our social, national being and cultural ambience, Nikolić said, adding that is also confirmed by the fact that the Serbian parliament includes Roma MPs, who initiated the holding of this event.

By the meeting of the Roma Interparliamentary Organization, Serbia demonstrates its commitment to a better life of each and every citizen, regardless of their nationality, skin color, political or any other affiliation.

“I am particularly proud that a new international, significant institution is being founded in the Serbian parliament- in our home of democracy and in Belgrade, the Serbian capital famed for its cosmopolitan atmosphere- which will work on promoting, protecting and advancing the rights of the Roma population,” President Nikolić said.

The activation of the parliamentary dimension of the Roma issue is important for Serbia because of the exchange of experiences, given that problems facing the Roma are almost the same across the globe, but solutions to them do differ, Nikolić noted.

The president pointed out that the Roma Interparliamentary Organization will be a new frame for achieving cooperation in the fields of importance for life and development of the Roma population, voicing expectation that in that sense “it will be a moving force of the region.”

He also voiced expectation that the project will receive backing from international organizations and all world countries, as there is hardly a state without Roma people.

“Today, you are giving an example to the entire world as to how one should fight for their rights through institutions of the system,” the Serbian president concluded.

"New laws will improve Roma position"

Serbian Parliament Speaker Nebojša Stefanović stated on Tuesday that on its EU path, Serbia is paying special attention to the improvement of the position of all vulnerable groups, including the Roma.

The Roma community is one of the most vulnerable groups in the Serbian society, regardless of whether it is viewed in social, economic or political terms, Stefanović said at the founding session of the Roma Interparliamentary Organisation.

He noted that the new parliament composition adopted several laws relevant to the improvement of position of marginalised groups, the implementation of the strategy on integration and granting new powers to the Roma.

The amendments to the Law on Non-Contentious Procedure make room for resolving the issue of legal visibility of the Roma, while the Legalisation Law opens the possibilities for the Roma families to legalise their property without hardships, Stefanović noted.

He recalled that the Law on 2013 Budget envisages additional sources for funding various activities in the area of Roma integration, and funds were also allocated for the funded institutions for Roma higher and university education.

The Migration Law clearly defines the obligation of government bodies in charge of resolving the issues of IDPs from Kosovo-Metohija, many of whom are Roma, Stefanović said.

In addition to this, the Criminal Procedure Code needs to label hatred as a motive for a criminal offence.

Implementation of laws is very important for a change in the given situation, Stefanović said and expressed the expectation that NGOs would provide assistance in this matter.

The parliament speaker recalled that there is virtually no municipality without Roma population in Serbia, and noted that the level of their poverty is high while their education level is rather low.

This is an obligation for the government bodies to invest efforts in the search for a solution to the Roma issues, but also the Roma themselves need to take responsibility for their position and the European future of the society, Stefanović said.