(To be checked against delivery)

Statement by Maud de Boer-Buquicchio, Deputy Secretary General

DOSTA ! Congress Prize for Municipalities

Strasbourg, 20 November 2007

Mr President,
Excellencies,
Ladies and Gentlemen,

As recent examples in some of our member states have shown, for some people, when thinking of Roma, a big collection of prejudices and stereotypes comes out.

Unfortunately, we all know that prejudices and stereotypes are as strong as they are wrong.

We at the Council of Europe have been working on Roma issues for years. But now I think we can proudly say that the Council of Europe no longer works for Roma, it works with them, through the “Dosta!” campaign.

Dosta!, a word which means “Enough” in the Romani variant of the targeted region, means enough of intolerance, enough of unequal treatment, enough of discrimination, enough of prejudices towards Roma neighbours. The campaign aims at recognising the Roma as European citizens, as well as their contribution to European cultural heritage.

This campaign has proved that its messages are valid for all Council of Europe member states, and that is why so much support has been shown throughout Europe for the Dosta! campaign as a useful tool for promoting intercultural dialogue .

Today we reward the efforts of three municipalities from five participating South-East European countries to promote the multicultural dialogue and integration of the most vulnerable in many innovative ways.

This Prize distinguishes those municipalities engaged in the promotion of Roma political participation or in the fight against discrimination, and presents their work as examples of good practice.

I am also very happy that today, for the first time, the CD “Music beyond prejudice: Romani variations on the European Anthem”, will be presented to the public. This production is also very symbolic, because it will give to the Roma the opportunity of sharing the ownership of the European Anthem, which is also their anthem as Europeans.

It will be presented by one of the five group of artists who co-operated with the Council of Europe in this production. Mrs Esma Redzepova, nominated for Nobel Prize for Peace in 2003 is one of the greatest Ambassadors of culture, peace and fraternity that the Roma brought to Europe.

Ladies and Gentlemen,

For me, Roma is not only a “European” issue, but also a national, regional, and local one. Therefore, it is not for international organisations to take the place of governments and regional and local authorities in member states. But it is our role, and the role of international organisations, to coordinate and co-operate in order to provide a common and synergic approach to improve the situation of Roma throughout Europe.

The Council of Europe will always assure the wide range of responsibilities it has assumed at all levels; we count on the same commitment from all actors concerned: governments, regional and local authorities and Roma leaders.

It is only through this collaborative and participatory approach that we can make progress towards the goal of living together within cohesive, sustainable societies, respectful of our identities, traditions and cultures.

I know that I can count on the support of the local and regional representatives of the Congress to achieve this aim, who are at the forefront and best placed to tackle prejudices in our every day life.

Thank you.