The Chargé d'Affaires of the U.S. Embassy to Slovakia, Keith A. Eddins, said that integration is the solution to the problems associated with Roma communities in Slovakia, according to a report by the SITA newswire.
At a seminar in Bratislava on August 24 devoted to legal aspects of the fight against terrorism and extremism in central and eastern Europe, Eddins also addressed recent protests against so-called Roma criminality in the east of Slovakia held under the sponsorship of the ultra-right extremist Slovenská Pospolitosť.
Eddins told SITA that the U.S. administration appreciates steps taken by the Slovak government targeting extremism against Roma. He said they know that the Interior Ministry is increasing the number of police offices to gain control over the situation and that the Slovak government cooperates with Roma organizations and strives to integrate the community into the majority society.
Slovakia's Interior Minister Robert Kalinák pointed out the principle that “each terrorist was previously an extremist” which means that “these issues” must be suppressed immediately in early stages. The minister said he finds it amazing that such a huge supranational coalition joined together to wage war on terrorism. SITA
Compiled by Zuzana Vilikovská from press reports
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