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HE Marcie Ries, U.S. Ambassador talked with Roma organizations on the challenges facing the integration of the Roma community and Roma organizations proposals for new administrative framework for the implementation of the National Strategy for Integration of Roma. This happened on April 23 when Ambassador Rees visited the office of Roma Academy for Culture and Education in Sliven. The host of the meeting, Ms. Stella Kostova had invited prominent Roma people from Sliven, and representatives of Roma NGOs from Bulgaria - Lili Makaveeva from the Association \"Integro\" - Razgrad, Deyan Kolev -Center \"Amalipe\", Veliko Tarnovo, Yuksel Yasharov fromNGO \"Sun for everyone\" -Peshtera, Gancho Iliev \"World Without Borders\" in Stara Zagora, Sergi Karakashev  from \"Iskra\" Foundation- Shumen.

Stela Kostova, chairman of RACE, opened the meeting with a welcome to Mrs. Rees and met the Ambassador with the Roma contribution to the history of the town. She showed the \"Blue Stones\"park, which was visible through the window of the office and explained that the area is a symbol of the spirit of Sliven that has inspired hundreds of Roma who have become a nationally known writers, poets, musicians. Ms. Reese was pleasantly surprised to learn that guests on the meeting were representatives of Roma from Sliven- artists, teachers, doctors, engineers, economists, businessmen.

The discussion on proposals of Roma organizations for restructuring the National Council for Cooperation on Ethnic and Integration Issues, so as to ensure the effective participation of civil society organizations and the Roma community in the implementation of the National Strategy for Integration of Roma was extremely emotional. The participants familiarized the diplomat with their concrete proposals, sent to the Prime Minister. They were adamant that NCCEII already exhausted its potential and needed cardinal change. Roma organizations also motivated their refusal to participate in interagency group established to consider proposals to restructure the Council and considered it as an example of NCCEII inability to reform itself. We will not participate in simulated activities, and insist on real reform, stressed the organizations.

H.E Rees said she was impressed by the consensus of the Roma community on these proposals. This is your strength - you are from a variety of activities and have a different experience, but I see that you are speaking the same language as true followers and it can not be ignored, says Mrs Rees. She expressed her gratitude for the warm welcome and said she was new in Bulgaria, but will continue the policy of America in good cooperation with the Roma community. \"I have no magic solutions. We will help with the initiatives of the Embassy and the \"America for Bulgaria\" Foundation. On the proposals to reform the NCCEII the diplomat stressed that this is an internal issue for Bulgaria and the U.S. Embassy has always advocated structures for consultation with civil society organizations to be more realistic and involving. The meeting lasted an hour and a half instead of the planned one hour.