OSCE Mission in Kosovo appeals for full integration of the Ashkali community

PRISHTINE/PRISTINA, 14 February 2009 - The Head of the OSCE Mission in Kosovo, Ambassador Werner Almhofer, today called for the full integration of the Ashkali community into Kosovo society in a statement released ahead of 15 February, designated as Ashkali Day in Kosovo. 

"The Ashkali community is among the most marginalized communities in Kosovo. They are not fully integrated into the education system nor the labour market, and they lack access to basic services. The Kosovo government needs to act to improve civil registration of members of the Ashkali, as well as the Egyptian and Roma communities, in order to ensure their access to services," Almhofer said.

"Integration of all communities is, however, not only the responsibility of the authorities. Everybody living in Kosovo should treat Ashkali and other minorities as equal citizens and overcome prejudice against people who are different."

The OSCE Mission supported the development of the Kosovo Integration Strategy for Roma, Ashkali and Egyptian Communities. The Government of Kosovo endorsed the strategy on 24 December 2008.

About 35,000 Kosovo residents are estimated to belong to the Ashkali, Egyptian and Roma communities - the exact number is unknown as many of them are not registered and lack identity documents. The Ashkali hold a reserved seat in the Kosovo Assembly.

Tens of thousands of Ashkali, Egyptians and Roma are displaced in the region and in Western Europe. Many were forced to flee their homes in the aftermath of 1999 and in the wave of violence in March 2004. The lack of civil registration and unresolved property disputes hinder their right to return to their place of origin.

The OSCE Mission in Kosovo organized several activities, including a soccer tournament with Kosovo Ashkali, Roma, Serb and Albanian football teams participating, to mark Ashkali Day.