FOR THE ROMA IN PRESOV, ANOTHER BRICK IN THE WALL

C O N F I D E N T I A L BRATISLAVA 000661

SIPDIS


BUDAPEST FOR USAID/NOWICKI

E.O. 12958: DECL: 08/16/2015
TAGS: PHUM SOCI PGOV KPAO EAID LO
SUBJECT: FOR THE ROMA IN PRESOV, ANOTHER BRICK IN THE WALL


Classified By: DCM Lawrence R. Silverman for Reasons 1.4 (B) and (D).


1. (C) SUMMARY: The proposal to erect of a wall between
Roma and non-Roma citizens in the Stara Tehelna neighborhood
of Presov seems to be advancing, despite negative media
coverage and an initial retraction of the plan by the Mayor.
In an August 12 meeting between the GOS Plenipotentiary for
Roma Affairs and the Mayor of Presov, the Mayor declared that
he was moving forward with the plan to segregate the Roma
housing development from the concerned citizens. The
Plenipotentiary told us the meeting went "very poorly."
(Comment: The Mayor -- who is considering a run for Governor
of the Presov region -- is trying to cash in the political
capital that anti-Roma statements can reap in the
economically depressed area. End Comment) The Embassy is
engaging NGO's, local officials, fellow diplomats, and
national politicians to strategize behind the scenes on
overturning the initiative before construction begins. END
SUMMARY.

THE ROAD TO THE WALL
--------------


2. (C) In 2000, the city of Presov undertook the
construction of two apartment blocks in the Stara Tehelna
neighborhood in order to relocate up to 2000 Roma who were
delinquent on rent or utility payments in Presov's downtown
area. Finished in summer 2001, the first Roma were relocated
there in the fall. The city did not build the promised
infrastructure for the area (providing, instead of shops and
streets, an increased police presence). The non-Roma
neighbors immediately began to complain of thefts,
trespassing, and fights among young children. In 2005, the
city announced that it was considering constructing 54 new
"shelters" in Stara Tehelna for approximately 300-400 more
"socially weak" citizens (a term often used as camouflage for
a segment of society made up almost entirely of Roma).


3. (C) Seeking a way to halt this additional construction,
and to keep the Roma out of their yards and away from their
homes, the neighbors signed a petition asking the city to
take action and construct a wall for their security. The
petition was discussed by the city council on July 18 and was
approved by 25 of the 26 deputies on the council. The Mayor
publicly supported the petition and the proposal to construct
a fence.


4. (C) Media coverage of the "Roma wall" was, to the
surprise of many in Slovakia, critical, with one national
newspaper running an editorial denouncing the plan after it
was approved by the city council on July 18. Faced with the
sudden media spotlight, Mayor Milan Benc originally claimed
the situation was a "misunderstanding" arising from the
city's plans to build a "retaining wall" to fight erosion on
a nearby hillside, and suggested that it wouldn't be built at
all. He scheduled a meeting with Klara Orgovanova, the GOS
Roma Plenipotentiary, on August 12 to clarify the situation
and make a joint statement with her about the resolution of
the issue.

THE MAYOR AND THE PLENIPOTENTIARY
--------------


5. (C) In advance of the Mayor's August 12 summit with
Orgovanova, sources close to Mayor Benc and within the
Plenipotentiary's office assured us that the Mayor was aware
of the can of worms he had opened by supporting the wall, and
was ready to "clear the air." Unfortunately, no such
cooperation emerged. Following the Friday meeting, we
received a call from Marian Baca, our source in the Presov
government office, who was much less optimistic. According
to him, the Mayor has decided to "stand firm" behind the
proposal. The Mayor is allegedly now considering a run for
Governor of the Presov region in November, and believes that
the segregation of the Roma from the non-Roma citizens of
Stara Tehelna will win him votes from the non-Roma in the
economically-depressed region. Baca told us that he feels
awful about the wall proposal, which consists of a concrete
wall topped by a chain link fence to keep the Roma separated
from their non-Roma neighbors. He also told us a
behind-the-scenes strategy that would help the Mayor and city
council safe face would be more effective than a public,
media intense campaign at this point, emphasizing that there
is "still time before the next city council meeting in
mid-September.


6. (C) Orgovanova confirmed that the meeting went poorly
and claimed that it is "impossible" to negotiate with Mayor
Benc. Orgovanova returns to Bratislava August 17 and will
give us a full report. She echoed Baca's recommendation to
seek a behind-the-scenes solution.

COMMENT

--------------


7. (C) Word of the unsuccessful meeting between Orgovanova
and Mayor Benc has yet to reach the media, nor the wider NGO
community. We do not predict a violent reaction from the
Roma citizens of Stara Tehelna. However, we anticipate that
the NGO community -- as well as western Embassies in
Bratislava -- will quickly mobilize when word that the Roma
wall spreads. The Ambassador will raise the issue during a
mid-September courtesy call with Mayor Benc in Presov; we
continue to explore other channels through which we can help
resolve the issue. The city's strategy to remove Roma from
integrated housing in the city center to brand-new ghettos on
the outskirts of towns has never worked, but continues to be
the preferred method for many municipalities to "deal" with
the Roma. USAID grantee Partners for Democratic Change in
Slovakia (PDCS) will lead a community mediation meeting in
Presov on August 22. END COMMENT.
VALLEE


NNNN