Kosovo Romany refugees protest outside Greek embassy in Macedonia Text of report by Macedonian A1 TV on 2 June 2003 Reporter Irina

Kosovo Romany refugees protest outside Greek embassy in Macedonia
Text of report by Macedonian A1 TV on 2 June 2003

Reporter Irina Gelevska: Today at 1000 hours 0800 gmt approximately 50 Kosovo Romanies from the refugee centre in Katlanovo began a protest in front of the Greece Liaison Office in Skopje. They demanded that they be allowed to enter Greece and other EU countries. The Greek Liaison Office did not give an official position on the Kosovo Romanies' protests today, but the Romanies were invited to talks with the Greek diplomats as soon as they arrived in front of the liaison office.

The Kosovo Romanies say that, following Kosovo Administrator Michael Steiner's statement on the Kosovo Romany refugees not being able to return to Kosovo because they would not feel safe , they cannot return to Kosovo and they cannot remain in Macedonia. As a result, they want to be temporarily relocated to the economically more developed European Union.

Zenet Berisha, representative of the Kosovo Romanies: Mr Yiorgous name as transliterated , chief of the Consular Section, told us that the EU is already discussing our problem at the highest level and that they want to help us.

Reporter: Serbia-Montenegro Ambassador Biserka Matic proposed to the Kosovo Romanies that they be accommodated temporarily in southern Serbia. But they refused because, as they say, there are approximately 700,000 refugees in this neighbouring country, as a result of which there are no conditions for them to be accommodated there.

Recently the Macedonian government proposed to the Kosovo Romanies, who have had the status of persons under humanitarian aid for four years now, that they ask for asylum in Macedonia.

Goran Momirovski, spokesman of the UN High Commissioner for Refugees in Macedonia: For now, none of the refugees who are currently at the Medzitlija border crossing have asked for asylum in accordance with the government's decision for them to receive the status of refugees in Macedonia.

Reporter: Approximately 2,700 Kosovo Romanies promised that they would no longer gather in front of the Greek Liaison Office in Skopje in this manner. In return they were told that they would be able to meet with the Greek consul. At this meeting they would be told whether the refugees in Katlanovo and those that have been waiting at the Medzitlija border crossing for the last two weeks would be allowed to enter the EU.

SOURCE: A1 TV, Skopje, in Macedonian 1700 gmt 2 Jun 03