Iohannis on International Roma Day: Let's highlight their contribution to our society's history and diversity

President Klaus Iohannis on Saturday sent a message on the occasion of the International Roma Day, underscoring that "it is important for us to understand what the traditions, values, aspirations and needs of the Roma community are, in order to identify those solutions that concretely contribute to the social inclusion of the members of the Roma community, preserving, at the same time, their cultural identity."

"On the International Roma Day, I am sending my good thoughts to the citizens of Roma ethnicity in our country! Same as each year, 8 April is also a good occasion to bring to the public attention the problems one of the most numerous ethnic minorities of Europe is confronted with, who is still exposed to various forms of social exclusion and marginalisation. It is important for us to understand what the traditions, values, aspirations and needs of the Roma community are, in order to identify those solutions that concretely contribute to the social inclusion of the members of the Roma community, preserving, at the same time, their cultural identity," the head of state points out in his message.

Iohannis says, that "in the year of Romania's Centennial, we must highlight the Roma ethnics' contribution to the history and diversity of our society."

"We must equally support this minority in the role it plays in consolidating our country as a space of social cohesion and solidarity around the large national projects, built on the values of tolerance and mutual respect," Iohannis concludes his message.

Celebrated each year by the Roma everywhere on 8 April, the International Roma Day is organised to promote the cultural values of this community, as well as to signal the problems they are dealing with. AGERPRES (RO - editor: Andreea Rotaru; EN- editor: Adina Panaitescu)