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Gypsies Under Seige Talking to Russians
Ustiben Report
Gypsy Council Seeks Russian Support
By Grattan Puxon
May 15, 2008: Newly-elected president of the Gypsy Council Richard Sheridan flies to Luxemburg tomorrow (16 May) to speak at a Russian-sponsored conference on the protection of minorities in Europe.
His mission is part of an effort by the Dale Farm community, backed by the Gypsy Council, to build up support ahead of the expected next round of moves by Basildon council to oust them from the area.
"Following our recent legal victory a lot more people have heard of Dale Farm, " said Sheridan. "We have friends around Europe we didn't even know about."
It was as a result of publicity that Sheridan received an invitation to address this weekend's workshop. It has been organized by Russian MEP, Tatjana Zdanoka, who heads an EU Russian-speakers' alliance.
Linked to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Russian Federation, it aims to promote the interests of minorities. Roma representative Ivan Ivanov, from the European Roma Information Office in Brussels, is also taking part in the event at the Hilton Hotel, Luxemburg.
ROMA MP VISITS
Meanwhile, one of two Roma MPs in the Serbian Parliament has expressed a wish to visit Dale Farm. While in London, Jovan Damjanovic plans also to meet with members of the All-Party Parliamentary Group on Gypsy and Traveller Law Reform, chaired by Julia Morgan.
In June, as part of a national Gypsy Month, Roma from Turkey are expected to come to south Essex. They will be discussing a twinning between the Dale Farm township and Europe's oldest Romani settlement, the quarter of Sulukule in Istanbul, first established 800 years ago but already partly destroyed to make way for new development.
Throughout the summer, Travellers from Crays Hill who journey widely in Europe and frequently meet up with fellow Gypsies in Spain, Italy and Germany, may further spread the word about the Dale Farm stand. They will take the opportunity to make contact with some of the many hundreds of NGOs representing 10 million Roma, who together form the European Roma and Traveller Forum in the EU.
The outreach effort will culminate in six months' time when the Gypsy Council sends delegates to the 7th World Romani Congress in Croatia. UK representatives, including those from Dale Farm, are to put forward a plan for co-ordinating resistance to evictions where Travellers are most in need of legal places to stay.
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