Commissioner Advocates Integration For Roma Minority In Hungary
- 9 Apr 2015 9:00 AM
The “only way” forward for Hungary’s Roma minority is to close the gap with mainstream society, Flórián Farkas, the prime minister’s commissioner, told a celebration marking International Roma Day. István Hegedűs, the president of the national Roma self-government (ORÖ), said in his address that preserving Roma culture was key for their integration, which he called a “historic opportunity and obligation”.
Marking the international day, the opposition Dialogue for Hungary (PM) party said in a statement that Hungary cannot be a successful country without the integration of its Roma minority.
“Roma integration is a burning issue of nation strategy; spiritual and economic development in a liveable, peaceful and inclusive Hungary is not possible without that happening,” the party said.
The party expressed concern over growing segregation and racially motivated hatred in Hungary, and blamed the government for “tolerating or even fuelling segregation, isolating and criminalising those on the margins of society, and depriving them of an opportunity to find a way out of their hopeless situation”.
Péter Niedermüller, MEP and deputy head of the leftist Democratic Coalition, said that action must be taken against any racist manifestation, and stated his party’s commitment to building a discrimination-free country.
Source www.hungarymatters.hu
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