MINELRES: Bulgaria: Minister Dismissed because of Innaction on the Roma Issues?

[MINELRES moderator]

Original sender: Emil Cohen <emilcohen@mbox.cit.bg>


HUMAN RIGHTS PROJECT*

PRESS RELEASE

Bulgaria: A Central Bulgarian Newspaper Explains the Discharge of the
Minister without Portfolio Nejdet Mollov by the Non-Fulfillment of the
State�s Promises to the Roma 

Sofia, August 20, 03 - In its number of July 25 the moderate left
Bulgarian newspaper "Sega" (Now) by a large article commented the recent
change of the minister without portfolio Nejdet Mollov. The main
assertion of the newspaper was that Mr. Mollov was dismissed because he
did not cope with the problems of the Roma minority in Bulgaria. That
assertion was made by information of 'reliable' sources. 

In the middle of July the Bulgarian Prime Minister Simeon the Second
Saxe Coburg Gotha (the former King of Bulgaria; as from July 24, 2001 he
has been Prime Minister) made changes of his cabinet. He fired four of
his ministers. Among them was the change of the Minister without
portfolio Nejdet Mollov. Mr. Mollov as a minister was Chief of the
National Council on Ethnic and Demographic Issues (NCEDI). This Council
is the state�s agency on the problems of the minorities, including the
problems of the Roma. Mr. Mollov was Chairperson of the Council from
July 2001 till middle of July 2003. He is a member of the Movement of
Rights and Freedoms (MRF) that is the party of the Turkish minority in
Bulgaria. That party is a coalition partner of the ruling party �
National Movement Simeon the Second (NMSS). A 36 years old woman Filiz
Husmenova who also is a member of MRF was appointed as a new Minister
without portfolio and she is a new Chairperson of the NCEDI. No
explanations of the reasons for the dismissal of Mr. Mollov have been
given by the Prime Minister. 

According to the allegation of the newspaper representatives of the
European Union at the session of the Common committee on the Joining of
Bulgaria to the European Union (July 15 and 16) strongly criticized
Bulgaria for the non-execution of its duties to integrate the Roma
minority into the Bulgarian society. That criticism was expressed by the
representatives of the EU before six deputy ministers as well before the
Chief Negotiator with EU minister Meglena Kuneva and before the Chief
Secretary of the NCEDI Mr. Mikhail Ivanov. 

According to the article EU expressed its wonder about the situation
that our country has not been a concrete plan for a fulfillment of the
Framework Program for Equal Integration of the Roma in Bulgarian Society
yet. (As it is well known that document was adopted by the government
four years ago; it was created by Human Rights Project and was supported
by large coalition of Roma organizations). 

Furthermore the newspaper claimed that there was not any explanation
about the dismissal of Mr. Mollov. And made a suggestion that the very
sluggish work of Mr. Mollov is the real reason for his releasing from
the office. Furthermore the newspapers made a conclusion that the change
should be used by the Prime Minister as a justification for the work had
not done. The newspaper claimed EU was worried about the inaction of the
governments of Bulgaria and Rumania on the Roma issues. 

Moreover the newspaper made a supposition that the Prime Minister does
not have any policy about the resolving of the Roma issues such as the
mass unemployment, deep misery of the vast majority of the Roma
population, the state of the education of the Roma children etc. 

In the article a concrete criticism toward some ministers was expressed.
Nor the Minister of the Welfare (new appointed one) neither the Minister
of Construction can answer to questions what should be done with these
20% of the Roma who live by foraging in the dustbins and also how the
homes in the ghettoes will be legalized (they are almost completely
illegal). Also the Minister of Education and Science should say if he
confirm the policy of his predecessor for desegregation of the Roma
schools. 

The findings of the newspaper "Sega" are not news. Roma organizations in
Bulgaria and especially Human Rights Project many times expressed their
concerns about the inaction of the government and our last Annual Report
with similar facts and conclusions can be got by Minelres (From MINELRES
moderator: the full text of the report (127 Kb in .doc format) will be
sent to everybody interested by request. Boris
minelres@mailbox.riga.lv). 

What is more interesting is that for a first time a national newspaper
make a suggestion that the dismissal of a member of the Council of
Ministers should be caused by him policy or more precisely because of
the lack of policy on the Roma issues. Unfortunately the Prime Minister
continues to keep silence about the reasons for dismissal of Mr. Nejdet
Mollov. And beside of this there are no signs for changing of the
situation. 

On behalf of HRP:

Emil Cohen 

__________________

*Human Rights Project was established in the summer of 1992 as a
non-profit organization focusing on monitoring the human rights
situation of the Roma in Bulgaria, and on legal defense in cases of
serious human rights abuses. The HRP monitors the human rights situation
of the Roma community in Bulgaria and reports on the cases which it had
investigated; works with Roma volunteers from all over the country who
report on the human rights observation in their region; conduct
independent extrajudicial investigation into allegations of human rights
violations against Roma; hire lawyers to take up selected cases and
monitors the process of legal defense; advocates legislative and policy
changes in favor of Roma.

Rumian Russinov is Chair of the Board of HRP. 

Dimitrina Petrova and Galia Marinova are members of the Board.

Emil Cohen emilcohen@mbox.cit.bg is Executive Director.

Our address: 23 Solunska St., 6th floor; 1000 Sofia, Bulgaria

Tel./fax: (+359 2) 986 35 46 and (+359 2) 981 50 66;

E-mail: hrproject@mbox.cit.bg and hrp@netel.bg