Thursday, June 19th

Prime Minsiter Victor Ponta requires strong punishments in the case of young Roma from Romania lynched on the outskirts of Paris

French and Romanian authorities have publicly condemned the assault of a young Romanian Roma, on the outskirts of Paris. Meanwhile, an inquiry in this case of attempted murder was initiated in the French capital. These acts are unspeakable, unreasonable and contrary to the fundamental principles of the French Republic, said president Francois Hollande, who urged the authorities to do everything possible to find the authors of this attack. Prime Minister Manuel Valls also condemned the aggression and demanded that those responsible to be brought to justice. In Bucharest, Romanian Prime Minister Victor Ponta said that such acts should be punished with the utmost firmness. He thanked his French counterpart for the prompt reaction of the authorities in Paris which firmly condemned that violence in which has fallen victim a Romanian citizen. In turn, Ministry of Foreign Affairs has asked the French authorities to clarify the circumstances of this incident in the shortest time possible. (RADIO ROMANIA reports)

American tourism industry campaign to lift visas for Romanian and Polish citizens

Representatives of the American travel industry began a campaign to try to convince Washington that lifting visa requirements for Romanian citizens would benefit both parties. Countries like Romania and Poland should be included in the Visa Waiver Program, through which citizens of several countries can travel without visas in the United Stetes, said representatives of the American travel industry, reunited in U.S. Travel Association organization. They recently started a campaign to try to persuade Congress to relax the conditions of this program, so that more states can qualify. (RADIO ROMANIA reports)

Romani Criss representatives require integration of Roma who choose to live in France

Marian Mandache, director of Romani Criss, said that the statement of condemnation made by President Francois Hollande is not enough. He added that a change of perspective on political level is needed, in terms of integration of Roma who choose to live in France and not their exclusion. The association claims that investigators were hazardous when they announced that they exclude the ethnic motivation. At the beginning of year, Romani Criss addressed an open letter to political leaders in Paris, in which it warned over the danger of violence against Roma. Its action had no answer, specified Marian Mandache. Amnesty International also argues that such incidents would be fed by the policy towards Roma pursued by the French government in recent years. (RADIO ROMANIA reports)

Adrian Strugariu

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