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In Assenovgrad, we are seeing the growth of a local criminal incident into a national ethnic conflict. A major factor for that are not the people of Asenovgrad, but external factors that always intervene in such cases - football fans, rockers, pseudo-nationalist media stars, and especially the end-spectrum politicians. This kind of reaction affects mostly innocent people: those Roma who send their children to urban schools, not to segregated neighborhoods that work outside the neighborhood ... ie. the most integrated part of the Roma. In the Roma neighborhoods across the country there is tension and natural fear that they can become the object of violence. At this stage, Roma organizations and communities respond wisely, not organizing counter-protests and counter-processions to Asenovgrad, although they can do so. It requires more sense and less emotion on both sides, because the division between them is artificial. Politicians have to make a contribution both to calm the situation and to prevent new cases.

These were the main messages from the press conference "Are there any ethnic tensions after the events in Asenovgrad?". It was held on July 10, Monday at 13.00 in the Press Club of BTA in Sofia with strong journalistic interest. Participants in the press conference were: Deyan Kolev (Amalipe Center for Interethnic Dialogue and Tolerance), Gancho Iliev (World without borders Association), Asen Kolev (resident of Asenovgrad), Vessela Ivanova (Principal of 101 Secondary School " Bacho Kiro "- Sofia), Lava Kotseva (Principal of the St. St. Cyril and Methodius United School - Aprilovo village, Gorna Malina Municipality), other school principals and representatives of civil organizations. The organizer was the Amalipe Center for Interethnic Dialogue and Tolerance.

The press conference included:

- information on the events in the Roma neighborhoods in Asenovgrad and other cities and regions in the country;

- Letter of principals of more than 90 schools throughout the country to Prime Minister Borisov, Deputy Prime Minister Donchev and Minister of Education Valchev;

- in response to journalistic questions, the participants also commented on the week before the debates in the National Assembly on the implementation of the National Strategy for Roma Integration.