KOSOVO GYPSY REFUGEES IN MACEDONIA DEMAND HELP FROM EU, NATO
Macedonian A1 TV on 30 May

Serafimovic About 10 Kosovo Roma refugees, accommodated at the Katlanovo collective centre, have today protested in front of EU headquarters in Skopje. They were supporting their fellow citizens, who have been waiting at the Medjitlija border crossing for 12 days to be granted asylum in Greece. Refugee Zejnep Berisha Various circumstances have prevented us from joining them, which is why we would like to say that all the decisions that will be made for them will apply to us as well. Let that be the collective fate for our collective misfortune. Therefore, we accept that whatever is decided for them applies to us, too, regardless of whether it is a collective return to Kosovo or emigration to an EU member state.

Serafimovic Several refugees came from Medjitlija to participate in the protest.

Refugee Musli Shaqiri It is a real disaster. People are ill and hungry; they are sleeping in mud; it is very hot and there is rain at night, so the weather changes every moment, which negatively affects the people.

Serafimovic The Roma refugees believe that Macedonia should not solve their problems, because this is the international community's responsibility.

Berisha The Macedonian government and the Republic of Macedonia are not responsible for what happened in Kosovo. The European Union, NATO, and the United States are guilty, which is why we are asking them to help us. Macedonia should only open its doors and we should then go to the doors of those who are responsible for us.

Serafimovic Although they waited several hours, no one in the EU headquarters received them. Their written appeals were addressed to EU envoy Alexis Brouhns, but he was not in the building.

Source: A1 TV, Skopje, in Macedonian 1700 gmt 30 May 03

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