THE FOLLOWING IS THE SPEECH OF THE SPEAKER OF THE NATIONAL ASSEMBLY OF THE REPUBLIC OF SERBIA IN ITS ENTIRETY:

Dear Mrs. Comic,

Distinguished representatives of the Roma national community,

Dear friends,

It is my pleasure to greet you on behalf of the National Assembly and to thank you for organizing this gathering on the Strategy for social inclusion of Roma in the Republic of Serbia for the period to 2030. I think it is very important that we maintain continuity in the joint effort of the state institutions and the Roma national community to constantly improve the position of Roma in our society.

I would like to remind you that in the previous period, the National Assembly as an institution as well as its committees and individual MPs paid a lot of attention to improving the position of Roma through our legislative activity and other forms of work. One of the many public hearings organized by the parliament’s last legislature was dedicated to the position of the Roma in Serbia and the ways the state and society can be more engaged on this issue.

It is crucial that we maintain continuity in terms of wider joint actions, which would, in addition to the state institutions, include all other parties that can contribute to progress, an effort in which I see the indispensable role of the National Council of the Roma National Minority and other Roma organizations that deal with improving their position in society.

It is not only my, and I believe your, impression, but relevant data also indicate that a lot of effort is being invested in improving the position of the Roma community in all aspects. However, the same time we must note that the position of Roma is still not what we would all like it to be. Roma are still one of the most vulnerable social groups in terms of economic status, housing, education, health care, and unfortunately, basic civil rights. Unfortunately, the Roma are still subject to discrimination in all its forms, as shown by numerous domestic and international reports, though even without them each of us can witness the discrimination which the Roma are exposed to.

The inclusion process is progressing, but not at the pace we would all like to see. At the state level, we have all the decisions needed to successfully conduct this process, by which I mean first and foremost that the social inclusion of Roma men and women is recognized as one of the priorities of the Government of the Republic of Serbia in the key strategic documents of the state’s European integration process. In that sense, I view the Strategy that will be discussed here today, as a very important document that will give us a framework and a plan for joint action in the coming years.

Constant care for the position of the Roma is our duty and common task, as a responsible society, and especially us as representatives of the citizens in state institutions. I am sure that the next parliamentary legislature, and especially the future government, will keep the constant improvement of the position of Roma in our society at the top of its priorities, because it is a way to continue to recognize ourselves as a solidary and responsible community which takes special care of those of its members who need the support of society most.

I wish you successful work and I look forward to our further cooperation on these issues which I personally attach great importance to.

Thank you!