Congratulating the Roma on their day, Milanovic said he did not want to talk to them as a sponsor or about how much money the state gave minorities, but stress the importance of the self-respect gained through work and success.
"It's very important that the Roma community, constantly on the margin of society and constantly among losers, finally becomes a winner whose children have good education and jump over the poverty threshold," he said, adding that the state was here to help but not to patronise and teach lessons.
Milanovic cited the example of Veljko Kajzati, the MP representing 12 national minorities, saying he had earned an academic degree and success in sports solely thanks to hard work.
"We want more success, we are hungry for success, and this should apply to the Roma community too," he said, adding that those who saw their future only through assistance from cohesion funds and incentives would not succeed.
Parliament Speaker Boris Sprem said Croatia would preside over the Decade of Roma Inclusion 2005-2015 as of this May, voicing hope that during the year-long chairmanship, the socioeconomic status and inclusion of Roma would be improved despite the deeply rooted prejudices against them because of poverty, poor education and way of living.
Kajtazi said International Roma Day was observed in memory of 8 April 1971, when the First International Roma Congress was held in London and the Roma flag and anthem were adopted.
"It is our obligation to pursue that path. Roma political participation is increasingly stronger and Roma organisations increasingly stronger," he said, adding that he expected a positive cooperation with the government.
Kajtazi commended the fact that the Roma language would be introduced as an optional subject at the University of Zagreb, which was confirmed by dean Damir Boras, who told Hina lecturers would initially come from Macedonia and Bosnia.
The president of the National Minorities Council, Aleksandar Tolnauer, said at the reception that HRK 1.2 million would be allocated for cultural autonomy this year.