The Congress was opened by Slavica Denic, State Secretary at the Ministry of Human and Minority Rights, Public Administration and Local Self-Government, and the guests welcomed by the MP and President of the World Roma Organisation Jovan Damjanovic. Greeting the participants of the Congress, he thanked the representatives of the 25 states who responded to the invitation, expressing pleasure at the fact that many of the projects realised by the organisation in the previous period have born fruit. Damjanovic reminded that Europe is home to between 12 and 15 million Roma whose status is not determined, which should be the reason to continue the struggle to ensure a better position of the Roma in the world, as well as adopt decisions to profile future actions. We must oppose the rampant xenophobia, segregation and discrimination present in Europe today, added Damjanovic. He stressed that it would be suggested that the World Roma Organisation become an international organisation.
On the behalf of the National Council of the Roma ethnic community the participants of the Congress were also greeted by MP Vitomir Mihajlovic who said that Serbia had taken a step toward helping the Roma community and that there is political will in the country to improve the position of the Roma.
The Electoral Congress of the World Roma Organisation – Rromanipen takes place from 20 to 22 April 2012 and gathers representatives of 25 countries. The Congress will deliberate on such issues as the organisation’s legal status, economic empowerment of the Roma and the status and position of Roma in the countries around the world, on which the participants will submit official papers. On the last day of the Congress, the World Roma Organisation will adopt a Declaration of the First Congress and elect new management.