Memorandum between IRU and Czech Ministry of Foreign Affairs
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From: MINELRES moderator <[email protected]>
Date: Fri, 4 May 2001 09:17:34 +0300 (EEST)
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Subject: Memorandum between IRU and Czech Ministry of Foreign Affairs
From: MINELRES moderator <[email protected]>
Original sender: Ariel Eliyahu <[email protected]>
Memorandum between IRU and Czech Ministry of Foreign Affairs
Dear friends,
We are sending to you the text of "Memorandum of understanding and
co-operation between IRU and Czech Ministry of Foreign Affairs
(CMFA)".
It is first memorandum that IRU signed with representative of a
government. Necessity of governmental recognition of roma as Nation,
as well as acceptance of roma representation and co-operation in
foreign policy and in questions regarding the roma nation in Europe
and in the World, were main reasons for signing such a memorandum.
This memorandum does not omit practical steps, as the possibility for
roma applicants to study on the Czech Diplomatic Academy, where roma,
not only from Czech Republic can gain grounds of diplomacy and use
them in roma foreign policy.
"Czech" memorandum will not remain as the only one, other it would not
have any sense for roma. The Czech memorandum is the firs one, and it
creates a precedent, and other states are showing their interest in
signing similar agreements. IRU is preparing signing of such document
with government of India, presidents of Bulgaria, Slovakia, Romania,
Sweden etc., and will report about all its activities.
I`d like to ask you to distribute it with this foreword.
Thank you in advance
Best regards
Mr. Emil Scuka
E-mail: <[email protected]>
The International Romani Union
http://www.romaniunion.org
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Memorandum of Understanding and Cooperation
between the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Czech Republic
and the International Romani Union
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs as a central body of state
administration of the Czech Republic responsible for formulating Czech
Republic's foreign policy and co-responsible for formulating and
implementing the Government Policy Concept towards persons belonging
to the Roma community, enhancing their integration into society
(hereinafter referred to as "MFA") and the International Romani Union
as an organization representing under its Charter the Romani nation
(hereinafter referred to as "IRU"),
noting the existence of identity of interests, views and objectives in
respect of a number of issues of international policy;
agreeing in principle in identifying and perceiving the current
development processes, such as the process of Roma political
emancipation and Roma politics as part of international policies
related to the Roma and their interests, and sharing their view on the
importance to deal with these matters at an appropriate level;
jointly evaluating the significance of the 5th IRU World Congress the
results of which provided scope for an agreement on the usefulness of
cooperation between the MFA and IRU, based on partnership and benefits
expected by both sides;
sharing the perception of the interlinkage and interdependence of
development processes in Roma issues at international level and of
progress in the status of the Roma in individual countries;
j o i n t l y d e c l a r e
Article 1
The common objective of cooperation between the MFA and IRU shall be
the continuous improvement of the situation and living conditions of
the Roma for the benefit of civic societies as a whole; the MFA and
IRU agree that the most promising way of overcoming existing problems
is the integration of these societies, proceeding from the free will
of all their elements and including also maximum respect for cultural
specificity of minorities, including the Roma.
Article 2
In approaching major Roma issues of general nature, the MFA proceeds
from the Policy Concept of the Government of the Czech Republic
towards persons belonging to the Roma community, i.e. also from
respecting the view that the Roma minority in the Czech Republic forms
a part of the Roma nation living in Europe. The MFA therefore does not
see the request for the general recognition of the Roma nation as set
by the 5th IRU World Congress as a problem of principal nature.
Article 3
The MFA appreciates the IRU vision reflecting both the negative
historical experience and the opportunities offered by the European
integration process and not tying the recognition of a nation to the
establishment of a nation state. Both the MFA and IRU are convinced
that such approach, proceeding consistently from the rejection of
violence, constitutes a reasonable point of departure in the present
world. The MFA is prepared to lead an open dialogue on this approach.
Article 4
Partnership between the MFA and IRU relies both on the attractiveness
of the IRU political vision, based on the rejection of violence and on
cooperative approach to the non-Roma world, and on the IRU as a
representative organization defending Roma interests on an
international scale. The MFA and IRU at the same time agree that
putting this vision into life depends to a considerable degree on the
unity of the international Roma movement. The MFA and IRU jointly
declare that their bilateral cooperation shall not be closed to other
international Roma organizations.
Article 5
The MFA and IRU share the conviction that the way of achieving genuine
progress in resolving Roma issues on the European continent rests in
the implementation of an all-European approach to this problem; the
MFA and IRU shall work together in fostering the all-European approach
to the Roma issues.
Article 6
The forms of cooperation between the MFA and IRU are included in the
Annex forming an integral part of the present Memorandum.
Done at Prague, on 4th April 2001
Martin Palou� Emil Scuka
For the Ministry of Foreign Affairs For the International
of the Czech Republic Romani Union
Annex
The MFA and IRU shall seek to work together in developing the
following activities while respecting valid legal standards and MFA
internal regulations:
- meetings of the Minister of Foreign Affairs with the IRU President
to discuss major conceptual and topical issues and to preserve the
high level of the dialogue;
- dialogue at the level of top representatives of the MFA and IRU on
questions of common interest;
- formulation of the MFA foreign policy concept towards the Roma
issues and its implementation;
- exchange of information necessary within the preparation of
participation in international sessions related to the Roma issues and
cooperation during international sessions in subjects of common
interest;
- joint research and/or consultations in selecting subjects of
research funded by the MFA with the results to be usable for both
sides;
- cooperation in building specialized databases and their evaluation;
- participation of IRU officers and expert staff in specialized
courses organized at the Diplomatic Academy of the MFA of the Czech
Republic;
- establishment of the office of the Coordinator of Roma Issues and
the Roma Adviser at the MFA to provide, inter alia, for expert support
for cooperation under the present Memorandum.
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