The Association of Roma Employers has said that statements by Slovak National Party (SNS) Deputy Chairwoman Anna Belousovová on January 26 about what she called the "Roma crime rate" would increase the resentment of society toward a group of inhabitants who live among the poorest conditions and heighten the tension between the majority population and the Roma minority.
The association said it opposed the abuse of Roma as a tool for promotion of issue-based groups and associations that do not work directly among Roma, chairman Václav Kappel told the SITA newswire. He described Belousovová’s statement as an election strategy aimed at winning more voters, following what he called her party's failure in the European Parliamentary and regional elections last year. SITA
Compiled by Zuzana Vilikovská from press reports
The Slovak Spectator cannot vouch for the accuracy of the information presented in its Flash News postings.
28. Jan 2010 at 14:00
