The President of the Republic of Macedonia, Dr. Gjorge Ivanov today received a delegation of representatives of the parties of the Roma community in Macedonia. The meeting was attended by Amdi Bajram, Union of Roma, Shaban Saliu, Democratic Forces of Roma, Mustafa Nezdet, United Party for Emancipation of Roma and Samka Ibraimovski, Party for Full Emancipation of Roma.

At the meeting, organized before the International Day of Roma, April 8, the state of play within the Roma community in the Republic of Macedonia was discussed and the implementation course of the Decade of Roma was assessed. President Ivanov stressed that Macedonia should continue with the activities for full integration of Roma community in education and in other social spheres. To that end, the President urged active involvement of Roma intellectuals, activists and of the community as a whole.

The party leaders presented their considerations concerning the position of Roma and the steps needed to further improve the living standard and status of Roma in general. They stressed the unique political position of Roma in Macedonian society, with its model of participation in political life as a model that should be applied in other countries as well that aim to improve the position of Roma.