BELGRADE, May 13 (Hina) - Serbian Roma will inform the presidency of the world Roma organisation about their having been prevented from attending a May 11 ceremony marking the 58th anniversary of the break-out of inmates from the WWII
Jasenovac concentration camp, the director of the Roma Communication Centre in Belgrade, Dragoljub Ackovic, said.
BELGRADE, May 13 (Hina) - Serbian Roma will inform the presidency of
the world Roma organisation about their having been prevented from
attending a May 11 ceremony marking the 58th anniversary of the
break-out of inmates from the WWII Jasenovac concentration camp,
the director of the Roma Communication Centre in Belgrade,
Dragoljub Ackovic, said. #L#
"The Croatian President, Mr. Mesic, made a good speech, distancing
himself from the policy of the NDH (Independent State of Croatia,
1941-45), but our delegation encountered an unpleasant situation
and harassment," Ackovic told Belgrade's paper "Danas".
He explained that a Roma delegation from Belgrade had been invited
to the ceremony in Jasenovac and promised to be given visas at the
border. This did not happen due to "Zagreb's decision" and the
delegation was sent back, Ackovic said.
Croatian Interior Ministry spokeswoman Zinka Bardic said on Monday
the delegation of former Jasenovac camp inmates and Roma
representatives from Serbia had not been allowed to cross the
border because it did not have visas. "The Ministry was not notified
about their arrival," she said, explaining this was the reason why
they were not able to obtain daily visas at the border crossing.
"Such visas are given only in exceptional cases, on condition the
arrival has been announced and agreed, which was not the case here,"
she said.
(hina) rml