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On the International Day for Human Rights Protection, Deputy Prime Minister and Chairman of National Council for Cooperation on Ethnic and Integration Issues (NCCEII) Z.Zlatanova one more time preferred not to meet Roma organizations and did not attend the Open Society Institute forum “Beyond the Planning” although she had previously declared her participation. Indignant Roma activists left the forum and went to the Council of Ministers, saying they would stay there until they met the Deputy Prime Minister or the Prime Minister of Bulgaria. An hour later they were adopted - with obvious reluctance - from Zlatanova. During the meeting, both parties did not draw their positions and achieved nothing.

These few words are enough to describe what happened on December 10 in Sofia. Of course, the facts are more and their possible interpretations are even more diverse.

When the facts “speak”

- On April 8, 2013 the Roma organizations left the meeting of NCCEII demanding cardinal reforms in this inefficient structure;

- A week later the organizations suggested: a creation of a Council for Implementation of the National Strategy for Roma Integration, based on the model of Council for Tripartite Cooperation, State Agency for implementation of the Strategy and the State Commission for monitoring the integration policy;

 - At the beginning of May, the largest Roma organizations left NCCEII: CIEDT Amalipe, Integro, World Without Borders, etc.;

- On June 4 the demands of Roma organizations were sent to the Prime Minister Oresharsky and Deputy Prime Minister Zlatanova;

- Till December 10 there was received neither a reply to the requests nor invitation to a meeting where they would be discussed;

- On December 4 the Council of Ministers adopted a decree for amendments to the Rules of NCCEII that differentiate with the demands of Roma organizations. The changes were not discussed with the organizations;

- From June to December the Chairman of NCCEII did not attend any forum on Roma integration. She confirmed her participation in the "Open Society" Institute forum “Beyound the Planning”
- Minutes before the start of the forum Zlatanova canceled her participation in it;

- All Roma activists participating in the forum left it and went to the Council of Ministers with the intention to meet the Deputy Prime Minister or the Prime Minister;

- After more than an hour, Deputy Prime Minister invited 5 representatives of organizations. The attendees insisted on meeting with everyone. After another half an hour this request was also granted. The meeting continued with the participation of all activists, the Deputy Prime Minister Zlatanova, Ahavni Topakbashyan from the Secretariat of NCCEII and the PR of Zlatanova;

- The meeting took place in visibly nervous and unconstructive atmosphere, which contributed the both sides. For "Welcome" the Deputy Prime Minister Zlatanova blamed the present activists for their leaving the NCCEII, which was not done by the time Ts. Tsvetanov was a Chairman of the council. Instead of noting that they left Tsvetanov in front of Commissioner Andor and not keeping silent, activists did not respond adequately. They in turn launched into space many new ideas. Among them was the suggestion of Milen Milanov for establishing a Ministry of Integration, which goes beyond the ideas for a state agency, discussed in April. Z. Zlatanova immediately answered that this is not in her jurisdiction, and it made no sense to discuss the topic. In an emotional statement Orhan Tahir said that the Roma are a national minority, which was easily negated by the Minister of Justice Zlatanova. Lili Makaveeva's call not to look at the Roma as a mass of marginalized people left without comment. Deyan Kolev presented the request of organizations from April to create a Council for implemenation of the NSRI based on the model of the Council for Tripartite Cooperation: with clear criteria for national representation and including mandatory counseling to all government measures for Roma integration. Deputy Prime Minister questioned whether the organizations were ready to meet national criteria, but did not continue the conversation in that direction. Ultimately Z. Zlatanova insisted Roma organizations to return to NCCEII and clearly hinted that there were other organizations, after receiving their unconditional refusal. The meeting ended without any convergence of positions.

Beyond the facts: what really happened?
The background of the incident began on April 8, 2013 when Roma organizations left the parade meeting of NCCEII as a sign of disagreement with the ineffectiveness of this structure, which did not fulfill cooperation on ethnic and integration issues or advised someone. After series of ethnically motivated killings of Roma in March, NCCEII refused our call to discuss what was happening, and we refused to serve as a cover of that inaction. A week later we offered three things that united about 35 organizations - establishment of a Council for implementation of the National Strategy for Roma Integration, based on the model of Council for Tripartite Cooperation , State Agency for implementation of the Strategy and the State Commission for monitoring the integration policy. NCCEII, namely – the Secretariat of NCCEII - tried not to reply on such requests and then Roma organizations left the Council, leaving the door open for discussions on the restructuring of that body.
These three requests were sent on June 4, to the Prime Minister Oresharsky and Deputy Prime Minister Zlatanova. We subsequently pass them on several occasions to Mrs. Zlatanova, including in front of the European Commission Vice President Viviane Reding. For six months there was no answer. As stated in a forgotten poem "Not a word, not a cry, not a whisper ...”. Instead of this the NCCEII adopted new rules that followed the spirit of "perestroika" – some new words and no real change. It had not been consulted with Roma organizations, as indeed was not consulted and who would chair the NCCEII ( Zlatanova is not the only deputy prime minister). In addition, Z. Zlatanova showed disinterest and by abdicating the Working group for resource funding for Roma integration. Although the Action Plan to the NRIS  indicates that this group is chaired by the Minister of EU Funds, Zlatanova determined for its chairman not a political but administrative figure- Rosica Ivanova, without giving a signal that Ms. Ivanova would be selected for Minister for the management of EU funds as well.
This neglect of the Roma issue found its culmination in the non- appearance of the Deputy Prime Minister Zlatanova to the Forum, organized by the Open Society Institute and provoked the just anger of Roma organizations. I have no doubt that the anger that led to the departure of the forum was fair. It was complemented by the desire for dignity - not only personal but also of the Roma community as a whole.
We, Roma organizations and activists left the forum in protest against the arrogant and dismissive attitude towards the Roma movement demonstrated by the Chairman of NCCEII. It was not a protest against our partners by the "Open Society" Institute or against representatives of the U.S. Embassy and the World Bank, but against Zlatanova and the hollow structure of NCCEII. The form of protest could also be better , but it certainly was spontaneous and sincere.

The last meeting in the Council of Ministers can hardly be defined as Roma occupation. Not only because there were no elements of occupation (eg removal of security from CM, ban on access to or exit from the building, etc.), but also because it was not the idea of Roma activists. "If Mohammed doesn’t go to the mountain, the mountain goes to Zlatanova" was what led us to the Council of Ministers, as our unwavering will was to have a meaningful conversation with the Deputy Prime Minister or Prime Minister.
The meeting itself was a victory for Roma activists. With visible reluctance, Deputy Prime Minister and Chairman of NCCEII met us: something that would not have happened if it was not our spontaneous response.
The meeting itself did not lead to anything. The reasons for this were in both sides. The Deputy Prime Minister began the meeting unconstructively (with mutually exclusive criticisms that organizations have left too early NCCEII and at the same time - they did not leave it earlier). By the end, she insisted on returning to NCCEII probably understanding that this would mean organizations to depart from their principles. On the other hand, Roma activists did not present the suggestions in a clear way, allowing the other side to dismiss them easily. Demands were different from those that have united us in April and were certainly not the responsibility of Zlatanova . In addition, the most vocal players on the Roma side were not among the ones who left NCCEII in April and followed their own requests and suggestions, which inevitably lead to chaos.

What follows?
The meeting ended with the absence of any convergence of positions. There are several possible scenarios from now on:
- Following the pattern " To find kontraprotesters for all protesters" probably the secretariat of NCCEII will insist that there are still remained Roma organizations in the Council. The fact that there are no operating really active organizations among them will be conveniently neglected. It is likely to have attempts to attract organizations that still have activity and are dependent on funding passing through the institutions of the executive power;
- The Secretariat of the NCCEII could wait for the too heterogeneous group of Roma organizations to fall in internal conflicts and split. It could easily accelerate the process of division, and then pass over in silence the requests of separated organizations;
- One of the few positive solutions could be to transfer the "integration" sector to another Deputy prime minister. In view of the demonstrated unwillingness of the Deputy Prime Minister Zlatanova to coordinate the implementation of integration policy and to consult with non-governmental organizations, and also with a view of the complete failure of the attempted dialogue since December 10, the transfer of the sector to another deputy prime minister would “unclog” the dialogue. At present it is hard to assess if this outcome is a possible solution.

- Establishment of the Council for implementation of the National Strategy for Integration of Roma based on the model of the Council for Tripartite Cooperation is another good way to follow. Its format, meeting clear criteria for national representation and mandatory consultation before adoption of acts of the Council of Ministers should be taken with Decree of Council of Ministers

Deyan Kolev