An illegal settlement that was set up by businessman and civil activist Alojz Hlina in the vicinity of the Agriculture Ministry and Slovakia's Towns and Villages Association (ZMOS) headquarters in Bratislava on Tuesday, August 30, is only a tool for his self-promotion, ZMOS said on Wednesday. August 31. "We view the establishment of the provisional settlement as a dangerous misuse of socially challenged people for the personal promotion of Mr. Hlina, who is deliberately twisting facts and misinterpreting discussions," ZMOS spokesman Michal Kaliňák said, as quoted by the TASR newswire.
Hlina says that ZMOS ignored his request for a meeting, at which he wanted to discuss the issue of “inadaptable” Roma who harass their non-Roma neighbours, often illegally erecting shacks on their property, among other things. "We approached ZMOS last week by telephone. The reaction surprised us, however. An office assistant called us back within an hour, saying that they aren't interested [in cooperating to organise a gathering of Roma in front of parliament]," Hlina said on Wednesday, as quoted by TASR. Hlina didn't rule out more Roma gathering at the 'settlement' on Bezručova Street in Bratislava. On Wednesday, around seven Roma sat on a bench in front of the 'settlement', which also features three goats.
Source: TASR
Compiled by Zuzana Vilikovská from press reports
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