HUMENNE, May 28, (WEBNOVINY)- The head of the parliamentary opposition party SNS Jan Slota visited the Roma settlement of Podskalka during Saturday’s sitting of the party leadership. He gave a news conference there focused on solving the Roma issue and related problems. He accused Deputy Prime Minister for Human Rights and National Minorities Rudolf Chmel (MOST-HID) of dealing merely with Hungarian problems and absurdities and turning a blind eye to problems of Gypsy co-citizens. Slota thinks that EU money, which Slovakia is to receive for its Roma communities should not be distributed via the third sector but self-governments should receive it as they know best concrete problems of their settlements. He told journalists that many problems would fade away if the government gives jobs to Roma people.
Slota criticized inappropriate use of funds destined for the Roma community. He said that really nobody knows where they end up. Slota believes that also the EUR 200 million that Slovakia expects now from the European Union should go to self-governments first of all. Slota underscored that the crucial problem of the Roma community is that they do not work.
The SNS leadership was also preparing for the 140th anniversary for the party’s establishment. Slota said that main celebrations will be in Martin on June 4. The party will continue a petition for announcing a referendum for Slovak being the only official communication language in the territory of Slovakia. Next week, Slota meets with President Ivan Gasparovic over the issue.
SITA