CROATIAN ROMS CELEBRATE INTERNATIONAL ROM DAY

( Editorial: --> 5582 ) ZAGREB, April 8 (Hina) - The Union of Croatian Roms on Wednesday prepared a celebration to mark the International Rom Day. The programme included performances by cultural and performing societies from Zagreb, Novska, Pula and Slavonski Brod. The ceremony was opened by the Union president, Nusret Seferovic, said it was the basic intention of the Union, which was established in July 1996, was to help members of Rom communities with education, employment and solving humanitarian and health issues, as well as to maintain Rom culture. Seferovic stressed the great support of the Croatian government and the Zagreb city leadership in removing obstacles in the work of the Union, so Roms could "become both socially and politically equal citizens of Croatia". Head of the Rom pre-school centre, Ragib Seferovic, said that last year, 14 Rom children had been enrolled into the Croatian education system, and four employees of the Centre had been employed as teachers at the Zagreb General Secondary School and two at the Zagreb Faculty of Philosophy. According to him, about 150,000 Roms lived in Zagreb, mostly organised into some 15 associations. The International Rom Day was first marked in Croatia in 1990. (hina) lm mm 081927 MET apr 98