Category Archives: Albania

Roma Tales and Legends

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Combating anti-Gypsyism and discrimination in its various forms and supporting access to quality inclusive education are two of the priority areas of the Council of Europe’s Strategic Action Plan for Roma and Traveller Inclusion (2020-2025).

Knowledge of the history and culture of the Roma and Travelers is still marginal or even non-existent among the general public and this misreading strongly contributes to the discrimination to which these populations are confronted.

There is an urgent need to highlight the contribution of Roma and Travelers to European societies through culture, arts and history. Educational policies on minorities are urgent.

Sead Kazanxhiu’s illustrated book, Roma Tales and Legends (published in trilingual: Albanian, English, Romani and separately in French) is an important contribution to the recognition and understanding of Roma culture, for Roma and non-Roma children and for the general population.

Erdelezi

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A few articles in the Balkan press on the celebrations of Erdelezi or Đurđevdan – simply Saint Georges day in the orthodox calendar – which fell on May 6th, and is celebrated by all Roma in the Balkans.

Albania, Schools, and Roma

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To fight against child labor, and particularly young Roma, Albanian teachers’ unions are mobilizing, trying to prevent school dropouts. But difficult to fill all the gaps of a drifting system.

French Chronicle …

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More news this week in France. To start, reportage on a camp in a hole in Marseille and the plight of its inhabitants. A similar article on the situation of Roma in Nantes. In Toulouse, a camp of Roma, with many Albanians, was closed. In Montpellier, three policemen are wounded as they tried to stop a car entering a Roma camp. Near Paris, a clean-up on the site of a former camp, and a camp closure in Vigneux sur Seine. Finally, an appeal by many organisations to find permanent solutions to the shantytowns in France.
Last but not least, the story of a mayor from the North of France who made racist comments against Roma and who is now using the taxes from his town to pay for his legal costs …

– A Marseille, la survie au fond du «trou». In: Libération. 13.03.2019. https://www.liberation.fr/france/2019/03/13/a-marseille-la-survie-au-fond-du-trou_1714886
– Le “trou” de Saint-Antoine où vivent des Roms. In: Marsactu. 14.03.2019. https://marsactu.fr/bref/le-trou-de-saint-antoine-ou-vivent-des-roms/
– Aux Îles Noires à La Riche, le bidonville crie son désespoir. In: La Nouvelle République. 12.03.2019. https://www.lanouvellerepublique.fr/indre-et-loire/commune/la-riche/aux-iles-noires-le-bidonville-crie-son-desespoir
– Toulouse : évacuation d’un campement de Roms aux Arènes. In: FR3. 13.03.2019. https://france3-regions.francetvinfo.fr/occitanie/haute-garonne/toulouse/toulouse-evacuation-campement-roms-aux-arenes-1637554.html
– Un camp de Roms et d’Albanais évacué à Toulouse. In: Toulouse Info. 13.03.2019. https://www.toulouseinfos.fr/actualites/33107-camp-de-roms-dalbanais-evacue-a-toulouse.html
– Violences à Montpellier : blessés, trois policiers utilisent leur flash-ball. In: Métropolitain. 15.03.2019. https://e-metropolitain.fr/2019/03/16/violences-a-montpellier-blesses-trois-policiers-utilisent-flash-ball/
– Saint-Thibault-des-Vignes ► Grand nettoyage : le « gros furoncle » des bords de Marne dégrossit. In: Mag Journal. 12.03.2019. https://www.magjournal77.fr/saint-thibault-des-vignes-grand-nettoyage-le-gros-furoncle-des-bords-de-marne-degrossit/
– Le campement Roms de Vigneux-sur-Seine finalement évacué vendredi matin. In: Évasion FM. 11.03.2019. https://www.evasionfm.com/actualite-42462-le-campement-roms-de-vigneux-sur-seine-finalement-evacue-vendredi-matin.html
– Expulsions des bidonvilles, il est temps de décréter l’urgence sociale! In: Le Journal du Dimance. 16.03.2019. https://www.lejdd.fr/Societe/expulsions-des-bidonvilles-il-est-temps-de-decreter-lurgence-sociale-3875252
– Un maire tient des propos polémiques sur les roms et paye ses frais de justice avec l’argent public. In: BFM. 13.03.2019. https://rmc.bfmtv.com/emission/la-protection-fonctionnelle-permet-aux-elus-de-s-offrir-des-frais-de-justice-avec-l-argent-public-1651431.html

Balkan and Minorities

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According to Ambassador Bernd Borchardt, Head of OSCE Presence in Albania, society is judged by the way it treats its weakest members. And that is often, in the Balkan, the Roma minority.
There is some way to go – even to achieve the state that was under Ottoman rule.

– OP-ED/ Society is judged by the way it treats its weakest members. In: Independent Balkan News Agency. 29.10.2018. https://balkaneu.com/op-ed-society-is-judged-by-the-way-it-treats-its-weakest-members/

French Chronicle …

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Many news in France on Salvini’s suggestion to count Roma, and several articles on the Ukraine this week. First, several arrivals from Albania in Western France. The local prefect “suspects” the existence of a criminal ring helping them arrive there. Nearby, a mayor is insinuating that Roma are responsible for the increased criminality. Then, the more usual news with a fire in a camp in the North and, following a fire of criminal nature in a camp near Grenoble, associations have made a formal complaint. Finally, an expulsion near Paris.

– Saint-Lô. Huit familles albanaises arrivent en trois jours. In: Ouest France. 25.06.2018. https://www.ouest-france.fr/normandie/saint-lo-50000/saint-lo-huit-familles-albanaises-arrivent-en-trois-jours-5846606
– Le préfet de la Manche soupçonne à Saint-Lô l’existence d’un réseau de passeurs pour les Albanais. In: FR3 France Info. 29.06.2018. https://france3-regions.francetvinfo.fr/normandie/manche/saint-lo/prefet-manche-soupconne-saint-lo-existence-reseau-passeur-albanais-1503749.html
– Sécurité à Quimper. « Un discours inquiétant » pour des conseillers d’opposition. In: Ouest France. 29.06.2018. https://www.ouest-france.fr/bretagne/quimper-29000/securite-quimper-un-discours-inquietant-pour-des-conseillers-d-opposition-5854195
– Nord: Un camp de Roms partiellement détruit par un incendie. In: 20 Minutes (FR). 29.06.2018. https://www.20minutes.fr/lille/2298907-20180629-nord-camp-roms-partiellement-detruit-incendie
– INCENDIE DU CAMP À MISTRAL : L’ASSOCIATION ROMS ACTION PORTE PLAINTE À SON TOUR. In: Place Grenet. 29.06.2018. https://www.placegrenet.fr/2018/06/29/roms-action-plainte-incendie-mistral/199002
– Camp brûlé dans le quartier Mistral à Grenoble : Roms Action porte plainte. In: Le Dauphiné. https://www.ledauphine.com/isere-sud/2018/06/26/camp-brule-a-mistral-roms-action-porte-plainte
– Thorigny-sur-Marne : les squatteurs de la rue du Maréchal-Joffre expulses. In: Le Parisien. 29.06.2018. http://www.leparisien.fr/seine-et-marne-77/thorigny-sur-marne-les-squatteurs-de-la-rue-du-marechal-joffre-expulses-29-06-2018-7800219.php

French Chronicle …

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Many news in France on Salvini’s suggestion to count Roma, and several articles on the Ukraine this week. First, several arrivals from Albania in Western France. The local prefect “suspects” the existence of a criminal ring helping them arrive there. Nearby, a mayor is insinuating that Roma are responsible for the increased criminality. Then, the more usual news with a fire in a camp in the North and, following a fire of criminal nature in a camp near Grenoble, associations have made a formal complaint. Finally, an expulsion near Paris.

– Saint-Lô. Huit familles albanaises arrivent en trois jours. In: Ouest France. 25.06.2018. https://www.ouest-france.fr/normandie/saint-lo-50000/saint-lo-huit-familles-albanaises-arrivent-en-trois-jours-5846606
– Le préfet de la Manche soupçonne à Saint-Lô l’existence d’un réseau de passeurs pour les Albanais. In: FR3 France Info. 29.06.2018. https://france3-regions.francetvinfo.fr/normandie/manche/saint-lo/prefet-manche-soupconne-saint-lo-existence-reseau-passeur-albanais-1503749.html
– Sécurité à Quimper. « Un discours inquiétant » pour des conseillers d’opposition. In: Ouest France. 29.06.2018. https://www.ouest-france.fr/bretagne/quimper-29000/securite-quimper-un-discours-inquietant-pour-des-conseillers-d-opposition-5854195
– Nord: Un camp de Roms partiellement détruit par un incendie. In: 20 Minutes (FR). 29.06.2018. https://www.20minutes.fr/lille/2298907-20180629-nord-camp-roms-partiellement-detruit-incendie
– INCENDIE DU CAMP À MISTRAL : L’ASSOCIATION ROMS ACTION PORTE PLAINTE À SON TOUR. In: Place Grenet. 29.06.2018. https://www.placegrenet.fr/2018/06/29/roms-action-plainte-incendie-mistral/199002
– Camp brûlé dans le quartier Mistral à Grenoble : Roms Action porte plainte. In: Le Dauphiné. https://www.ledauphine.com/isere-sud/2018/06/26/camp-brule-a-mistral-roms-action-porte-plainte
– Thorigny-sur-Marne : les squatteurs de la rue du Maréchal-Joffre expulses. In: Le Parisien. 29.06.2018. http://www.leparisien.fr/seine-et-marne-77/thorigny-sur-marne-les-squatteurs-de-la-rue-du-marechal-joffre-expulses-29-06-2018-7800219.php

Albania: Civil Society

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Roma leaders and representatives of the civil society have launched an initiative of re-forestation in the Elbasan region in central Albania.
Good!

– Roma community leaders and civil society organizations contribute to reforestation of Krastë e Madhe. In: Council of Europe. 13.03.2018. https://www.coe.int/en/web/tirana/-/roma-community-leaders-and-civil-society-organizations-contribute-to-reforestation-of-kraste-e-madhe

ICTY

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The United Nation International Tribunal for the former Yugoslavia has closed. It did many things, but one thing it did not:
Not a single Albanian UCK representative has been judged for the forced expulsion of Roma from the Kosovo. This crime of ethnic cleansing has remained unpunished.

– Comment le TPIY a changé notre monde. In: Le Temps. 05.01.2018. https://blogs.letemps.ch/pierre-hazan/2018/01/05/comment-le-tpiy-a-change-notre-monde/

French Chronicle …

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The news in France were dominated by the evacuation of the camp on the petite ceinture railway in Paris. Other news included a fire in a camp in Ivry, near Paris, resulting in the evacuation of the entire camp; in that same city, other Roma were received by the authorities, as they are requesting access to housing (as mandated by French Law); a discussion on a project from Roma in the North was very much controversial; a cold snap in Western France; and finally an altercation between Roma and Albanians in Macon.

– Paris : les Roms de la Petite ceinture ont quitté le bidonville… mais pour combien de temps ? In: Le Parisien. 28.11.2017. http://www.leparisien.fr/paris-75018/paris-les-roms-de-la-petite-ceinture-ont-quitte-le-bidonville-mais-pour-combien-de-temps-28-11-2017-7421238.php
– A Paris, un campement de Roms évacué pour la 4e fois en trois ans. In: RFI. 28.11.2017. http://www.rfi.fr/france/20171128-paris-campement-rom-evacue-france-fois-3-ans-nord-communaute
– Paris: un campement de Roms démantelé. In: Actu Politique. 28.11.2017. http://www.actupolitique.info/paris-un-campement-de-roms-demantele/
– Pierrefitte-sur-Seine : un campement rom évacué à cause d’un incendie. In: Yahoo. 02.12.2017. https://fr.news.yahoo.com/pierrefitte-seine-campement-rom-évacué-à-cause-d-123015231.html
– Ivry-sur-Seine : les Roms de l’ancien camp Truillot ont rendez-vous en prefecture. In: Le Parisien. 28.11.2017. http://www.leparisien.fr/ivry-sur-seine-94200/ivry-sur-seine-les-roms-de-l-ancien-camp-truillot-ont-rendez-vous-en-prefecture-28-11-2017-7420830.php
– Ivry : la préfecture reçoit les Roms. In: Le Parisien. 29.11.2017. http://www.leparisien.fr/ivry-sur-seine-94200/ivry-la-prefecture-recoit-les-roms-29-11-2017-7423200.php
– La réunion publique de présentation du «sas roms» a été houleuse… In: La Voix du Nord. 29.11.2017. http://www.lavoixdunord.fr/275904/article/2017-11-29/la-reunion-publique-de-presentation-du-sas-roms-ete-houleuse
– Avis de grand froid sur le campement rue du Maine. In: Ouest France. 28.11.2017. https://www.ouest-france.fr/pays-de-la-loire/angers-49000/avis-de-grand-froid-sur-le-campement-rue-du-maine-5413796
– Deux suspects jugés ce vendredi après l’altercation au parking Monnier. In: Le Journal. 01.12.2017. http://www.lejsl.com/edition-macon/2017/12/01/deux-suspects-juges-ce-vendredi-apres-l-altercation-au-parking-monnier

Kosovo: The Other Victims

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The other victims of the Kosovo war, the Serbs, the Rroma, Moslem Slavs, Turks, and even Albanians are increasingly asking for justice. Many of them were killed by the UCK, were ethnically cleansed from their ancestral homes.
Up till now, no one was condemned for those acts, even in the case of Haradinaj who was judged in the Hague’s tribunal. In that latter case, several witnesses were subjected to extreme pressure not to appear in court.
Let’s hope for justice!

– Les victimes de «second ordre» du Kosovo. In: La Tribune de Genève. 13.02.2017. http://www.tdg.ch/monde/victimes-second-ordre-kosovo/story/22753153
– Oubliées, les victims de la rébellion kosovare réclament justice. In: Media 24. 13.02.2017. https://www.medias24.com/filafp/afp-81110-Oubliees-les-victimes-de-la-rebellion-kosovare-reclament-justice.html

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Only a few news this week on Rroma in France. The fate of the Rroma from Montreuil who were evicted in July still dominate the news. Frankly, had half the energy that has been put into news, manifestations and other activities be invested into solving the issue, these people would have a house by now. Now, the are threatened with being expelled from France. Among the other news, a fire in a Rroma camp in Grigny, near Paris; neighbours protesting a Rroma squat near Paris; in Western France, in Caen, Rroma from Albania are occupying a house; and finally in the South West, after their eviction, Bulgarian Rroma are sleeping in tents in Mérignac.

– Montreuil : bras de fer entre la municipalité et des Roms attachés à la ville. In: Libération. 13.10.2016. http://www.liberation.fr/france/2016/10/13/montreuil-bras-de-fer-entre-la-municipalite-et-des-roms-attaches-a-la-ville_1521525
– Montreuil : des Roms sommés de « quitter le territoire » In: Le Parisien. 11.10.2016. http://www.leparisien.fr/montreuil-93100/montreuil-des-roms-sommes-de-quitter-le-territoire-11-10-2016-6194751.php
– Familles Roms expulsées à Montreuil: comment ça va la santé? In: Mediapart. 10.10.2016. https://blogs.mediapart.fr/juliette-keating/blog/101016/familles-roms-expulsees-montreuil-comment-ca-va-la-sante
– Grigny : une partie du camp de Roms part en fumée. In: Le Parisien. 11.10.2016. http://www.leparisien.fr/essonne-91/grigny-l-incendie-du-camp-de-roms-provoque-la-fermeture-de-l-a6-11-10-2016-6194979.php
– Corbeil-Essonnes : les voisins d’une maison squattée par des Roms exceeds. In: Le Parisien. 10.10.2016. http://www.leparisien.fr/corbeil-essonnes-91100/corbeil-essonnes-les-voisins-d-une-maison-squattee-par-des-roms-excedes-10-10-2016-6191785.php
– Près de Caen. Une famille d’Albanais squatte une maison à Fleury. In: Ouest France. 14.10.2016. http://www.ouest-france.fr/normandie/caen-14000/pres-de-caen-une-famille-d-albanais-squatte-une-maison-fleury-4558783

– Mérignac : après l’évacuation de leur squat, une quinzaine de Roms bulgares dorment dans des tentes. In: FR3 France Info. 10.10.2016. http://france3-regions.francetvinfo.fr/aquitaine/gironde/bordeaux-metropole/merignac-apres-evacuation-leur-squat-quinzaine-roms-bulgares-dorment-tentes-1105725.html

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Appart from the news on the town of Saint-Ouen ordered to enrol Rroma children in school, the news is (unfortunately as usual). Still no solution for the Rroma who were expulsed in Monteruil, this is spite of a lot of mobilisation; the Rroma who occupied the island of the impressionists in Chatou have left; in Western France, the prefect of the Loire Atlantique discussed possible means of integrating Rroma in Nantes; in Bordeaux, a camp was closed; in Albi, in the South, no solution has yet been found to the Albanian asylum seekers; in the North, in Hautbourdin, the Rroma can stay; a positive story on an association helping young Rroma to learn near Paris; a mayor complaining of having to enrol Rroma children in classes (again); and finally, a really BAD story on beggars and human trafficking re-inforcing all stereotypes.

– Montreuil. Familles Roms expulsées: impasse et voie de secours. In: Mediapart. 19.09.2016. https://blogs.mediapart.fr/juliette-keating/blog/190916/montreuil-familles-roms-expulsees-impasse-et-voie-de-secours
– Montreuil. Rue fée d’herbes. In: Mediapart. 21.09.2016. https://blogs.mediapart.fr/juliette-keating/blog/210916/montreuil-rue-fee-dherbes
– Chatou : les Roms ont quitté l’île des Impressionnistes. In: Le Parisien. 22.09.20126. http://www.leparisien.fr/chatou-78400/chatou-les-roms-ont-quitte-l-ile-des-impressionnistes-22-09-2016-6142403.php
– Roms : le préfet reçoit les 24 maires de la métropole nantaise. In: Ouest France. 23.09.2016. http://www.ouest-france.fr/pays-de-la-loire/nantes-44000/roms-le-prefet-recoit-les-24-maires-de-la-metropole-nantaise-4511520
– Mérignac : ce jeudi, un camp de Roms bulgares a été évacué et des gens du voyage se sont installés. In: Ouest France. 22.09.2016. http://www.sudouest.fr/2016/09/22/merignac-ce-jeudi-un-camp-de-roms-bulgares-a-ete-evacue-et-des-gens-du-voyage-se-sont-installes-2510242-3001.php
– Grand ménage d’automne dans les squats de Bordeaux Métropole. In: Rue89. 22.09.2016. http://rue89bordeaux.com/2016/09/grand-menage-dautomne-dans-les-squats-de-bordeaux-metropole/
– Albi : la Préfecture a mis à disposition des hébergements d’urgence pour les demandeurs d’asile Roms Albanais. In: Le Tarn Libre. 22.09.2016. http://www.letarnlibre.com/2016/09/22/4779-albi-prefecture-mis-disposition-hebergements-urgence-pour-demandeurs-asile-roms-albanais.html
– Le Département débouté en appel : les Roms sont autorisés à rester. In: La Voix du Nord. 19.09.2016. http://www.lavoixdunord.fr/47085/article/2016-09-19/le-departement-deboute-en-appel-les-roms-sont-autorises-rester
– Antenne scolaire mobile/ Les petits Roms en route pour l’école. In: JSD. 19.09.2016. http://www.lejsd.com/content/les-petits-roms-en-route-pour-lécole
– D’après le maire, les enfants du 115 lui coûtent trop cher. In: Le Parisien. 22.09.2016. http://www.leparisien.fr/espace-premium/seine-saint-denis-93/d-apres-le-maire-les-enfants-du-115-lui-coutent-trop-cher-22-09-2016-6139667.php
– Embauchés pour cueillir des pommes en Belgique, ils finissent mendicants. In: La Voix du Nord. 20.09.2016. http://www.lavoixdunord.fr/47639/article/2016-09-20/embauches-pour-cueillir-des-pommes-en-belgique-ils-finissent-mendiants

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