Roma version of European Anthem: CD launch at the Council of Europe

Press release

Strasbourg, 19.11.2007 – A CD of Roma variations on the theme of the European anthem will be launched on Tuesday 20 November at the Council of Europe in Strasbourg.

The CD features five leading groups from the galaxy of Roma music – including Shqiperiagroup from Albania, Kal and R. Point from Serbia, the Alsatian guitarist and interpreter of manouche jazz Yorgui Loeffler, and Esma Redzepova, one of the most famous Roma singers.

Esma Redzepova will perform at the CD launch at 12pm (in the Council of Europe’s Parliamentary Chamber) during an award ceremony to honour the best local initiatives for the integration of Roma people, entitled the “Dosta! Prize for Municipalities”. The award is given by the Council of Europe Congress, which is holding a session from 19-21 November 2007 in Strasbourg.

The CD is part of the Council of Europe awareness-raising campaign “Dosta!”, which aims to help change mentalities and bring Roma and non-Roma people closer together, by showing that the Roma are ordinary members of society, with their own talents and potential.

The Roma are present in almost all Council of Europe member countries, and represent up to 5% of the population in some (making around 12 million people in total); yet many live in difficult conditions and their participation in public life remains limited. Through the “Dosta!” campaign, the Council of Europe hopes to demonstrate that their status as citizens and their access to fundamental rights must be recognised and that Roma culture enriches European societies.

The campaign is part of a joint programme between the Council of Europe and the European Commission, carried out in 2006 and 2007 in five countries: Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Montenegro, Serbia and “the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia”, as well as implemented in Moldova and Ukraine as from 2008.

A photo exhibition relating to the “Dosta!” campaign will also take place on 20 November.