The Assembly of Prizren approves the decision on the official use of the Romani language

The Assembly of the Municipality of Prizren on Monday approved the decision to recognize the Romani language as a language in official use. This decision was supported by all the members of parliament present. On this occasion, it was emphasized that with this decision-making it is possible for this community to preserve its identity and culture.

The members of the Assembly of the Municipality of Prizren, on Monday, unanimously approved the decision to recognize the Romani language as a language in official use in this municipality. After the presentation of the request by the mayor Shaqir Totaj, the representatives of the various subjects and communities have assessed that the Roma community deserves to enjoy this right, since the presence of their language in this city dates back to centuries.

Speaker Totaj, speaking before the members of parliament, emphasized that the legislation foresees the recognition of this language as a language in official use, as it has been spoken in Prizren for a long time. "The Romani language is not a requirement to be an official language, but it is a requirement to be a language in official use. It does not meet the percentage of the number of inhabitants which should be, but it meets the other criterion or is it a language that is already in use, is a language that is spoken, is a language that we can say more or less is also popular in the city of Prizren", said Totaj.

The parliamentarians of the parties of the majority community have expressed their support for this initiative, stressing that the Roma community must preserve its identity through language. "We, as Lévizje Vetëvendosje, are normal for this initiative because we think that every community that is part of Prizren should have their rights and we should support them unconditionally", declared LVV assemblywoman, Dafina Alishani .

Adrit Krasniqi of the PDK has asserted that Roma and other community activists have already been assured that they will have the support of this political entity.

"Even then we confirmed our support, even today we confirm the support for the language in official use of the Roma community", said Krasniqi.

Similar support in favor of this initiative has also come from the parliamentarians of the Turkish and Bosnian communities. "We must all unanimously vote for the recognition of this language in official use, and I believe that this decision will set a good example for Prizren, for Kosovo and for Europe", said Levent Bush, deputy chairman of Prizren's KK.

also EVENING NEWS October 31, 2022 The decision on the official use of the Romani language in Prizren is approved

While Merxhan Osmani from NDS has asked for support from all his fellow parliamentarians on this issue. "I think that the Municipality of Prizren, a city that is known as multi-ethnic and multicultural, it would be good to approve this decision today and I hope that my fellow parliamentarians will have understanding", he declared.

The demand for the recognition of the Romani language in official use in Prizren has been slow, but in recent months it has been re-actualized again by the activists of the Roma community, supported by colleagues from other communities. According to the statute of the Municipality of Prizren, in its territory, the official languages ​​are currently: Albanian language, Serbian language, Bosnian language and Turkish language.