Skopje, 8 April 2025 (MIA) — Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Community Relations Ivan Stoiljkovikj extended his best wishes to the Roma community on International Romani Day, pointing out that diversity is strength and respect is a choice to be made anew every day.

In his public letter to the Roma community, Stoiljkovikj said April 8 was dedicated to raising awareness of the struggle of the Romani people for equal rights, freedom and dignity. He said it was also a day to celebrate Romani culture and "a reminder that every citizen, regardless of their ethnicity or religious affiliation, has an equal opportunity to participate, contribute and make progress." 

"The Roma community is an inseparable part of the mosaic that makes our country so rich and colorful, and the Romani are an inseparable part of the Macedonian cultural heritage," the community relations minister said, adding that the Romani made daily contributions to society. 

"The Ministry of Community Relations' main mission is to guarantee the protection of the ethnic communities' rights, improving ethnic community relations and strengthening social cohesion as well as promoting cultural values," he said. 

He also said the Ministry of Community Relations would do "all it is necessary for the integration of all communities and citizens into Macedonian society to not be just empty talk but a challenge that through continuous work, honest dialogue and sincere willingness will lead to achieving the vision of a society in which no one is invisible," Stoiljkovikj said. 

The Ministry of Community Relations, he added, was a strong supporter of the Romani and all other ethnic communities in the country so their voices can be heard and included in decision-making. 

He said the integration of the Romani into Macedonian society "does not mean assimilation, but mutual acceptance, understanding and building our future together." 

"Respect is not just our duty. It is a choice, a choice we make every day through our words, our behavior and our policies. And when we choose respect, we also choose human dignity," Stoiljkovikj said. 

International Romani Day, he said, should be a reminder that the measure of social progress is not only economic indicators but also the way society treats its most vulnerable. 

"Let this be a lesson for us that diversity is a strength, not an obstacle. And let it be our guide in creating a society in which every individual, regardless of their origin or religion, feels valued, safe and equal," the minister said, offering wishes of health and success to the Roma community. mr/