D E C L A R A T I O N
By the end of the second millennium Roma from Kosovo are still considered to be undesirable citizens, despite their desire to live in peace. Extreme military groups who continually wage war on ethnic impurity in Kosovo, despite the presence of the UN forces, have beaten, raped, robbed, killed and finally banished Kosovar Roma from their native homes.

These people are now undergoing the centuries-old tragic scenario, in which they face an unavoidable exodus and genocide. Very few International institutions have noticed or protested against the situation, and even fewer have done anything to protect these people who, against their will, were banished from their homes and from their country.

We are now faced with an exodus of Roma from Kosovo who are seeking refuge in the Republic of Macedonia and many other European countries. More than 120,000 Kosovar Roma have sought refuge in Europe, 20,000 - 30,000 of whom are living under extreme conditions in the enclaves of Kosovo.

Therefore we request:

1. That the UN investigate and verify the real situation of Roma in Kosovo, and of Roma refugees from Kosovo, according to the Geneva agreement (article 90), the Protocol of interned civilians from 1977.

2. That the UN Security Council require UNHCR to establish secure and permanent shelters for Roma refugees from Kosovo and Roma in Kosovo; as well as including Roma representatives in all the activities of UN institutions concerning the situation in Kosovo.

3. That the UN provide funding through its different institutions to prevent a humanitarian catastrophe for Roma refugees from Kosovo and Roma living in Kosovo. The primary purpose of these funds should be to provide shelter and to improve the living conditions of Roma in Kosovo and the Roma refugees from Kosovo

4. To take an initiative to the Hague Tribunal for due process against all persons and groups who committed murders, burnt property, tortured, raped, and/or participated in the exile of Roma citizens from Kosovo.

5. That competent human rights institutions and organizations initiate a process to protect the human rights and freedom of Roma in Kosovo, in accordance with the UN Universal Declaration of Human Rights, The Geneva Convention Protocol for the Interning of Civilians and the European Council's Framework for the Protection of the Human Rights of Minorities. The above mentioned institutions should also provide the material and financial means to improve the living conditions of Roma in Kosovo and Roma refugees from Kosovo. They should also monitor any repatriation programs for Kosovo Roma refugees to ensure that all repatriation is voluntary and safe.

6. That the Macedonian Government put put forth the request of passage of a law for asylum to the Macedonian Parliament.

7. That the UN, European Council and NATO Alliance, as well as other competent institutions, provide conditions for the adequate participation of Roma from Kosovo in both the executive and legislative branches of future local and central Governing bodies.

8. That the UN intensify their programs for the protection of children, women and the elderly from the adverse effects of the war and military activities in Kosovo.

9. That the UN and European Council initiate programs to address educational, work, health care, social and other needs that the Roma refugees from Kosovo and the Roma in Kosovo may have.

10. That the Roma International Center in Macedonia (RICM) be appointed to document and archive an account of destroyed and/or stolen property belonging to Roma refugees from Kosovo (those who are presently accommodated in the Republic of Macedonia), and to make the request to the responsible institutions to either return said property or make compensations.

11. The working group of the Conference should create a system for ensuring further program activity and coordination, which includes all the participants, for the realization of the recommendations and conclusions herein.

12. The Roma International Center in Macedonia and the working group of Conferences are obligated to, at least once a month, inform the participants who are involved in the realization of the Declaration, and to inform the public about questions, problems and activities which have been undertaken, and to what extent they have been realized.

13. Included in this declaration are the determinations of the leaders of the International Romani Union (IRU), at their conference held on May 6 - 8, 2000, about the migration of Roma to Scandinavia and countries in Central and Eastern Europe, and the conclusions about the situation in Kosovo. Also mentioned is the declaration of Kosovar refugees in the "Stenkovec 2" refugee camp in Skopje.

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