Kosovo Romanies split over independence
BBC Monitoring European. London: Jan 22, 2006. pg. 1

Text of report by Serbia-Montenegrin radio Kontakt Plus on 20 January

[Announcer] The chairman of Roma Association of Kosovo-Metohija and Diaspora, Nexhmedin Neziri, has criticized yesterday's statement by Democratic Party of Kosovo Romas [other sources suggest United Party of Kosovo Roma] chairman Haxhi Zulfi Merxha who advocated Kosovo's independence saying that Kosovo Romas supported the independence of the province.

[Neziri, in Serbian] This is their right. We cannot meddle in what they want and what is their right, but they, too, cannot speak on our behalf that saying all Romas support this position. We should show understanding [as heard] that they lent support to this [independence]. In the meantime, it is sad that a person like Haxhi Merxa Zulfi speaks on behalf of over 150,000 Romas who have been expelled from Kosovo-Metohija since 1999 [arrival of NATO troops] but also on behalf of those Romas who today are in this hall - those who have not been consulted at all but rather [words indistinct] Well, want to live in peace with everyone, and so we believe that this is his [Merxha's] personal statement reflecting the position of his like-minded people who number around few dozens.

[Announcer] Neziri today announced the opening of Roma Society Office [Kosovo and Metohija Society of Romas] which will aim to defend and advocate interests and needs of Roma from Kosmet [Kosovo- Metohija], as well as those of the Romas exiled in Serbia and their Diaspora.

Romas are completely left out of social life, and so this office would be the spiritus movens of Roma initiative to solve their own problems with regard to their survival in these [Kosovo] territories, Neziri said.

Credit: Kontakt Plus, Kosovska Mitrovica, in Serbian 1600 20 Jan 06

Kontakt Plus, Kosovska Mitrovica, in Serbian 1600 20 Jan 06/BBCMonitoring/(c) BBC
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