US embassy cable - 04BRATISLAVA789

UNCLAS  BRATISLAVA 000789 
 
SIPDIS 
 
 
DEPT FOR EUR/RPM HEATHER TROUTMAN 
DEPT PLEASE PASS TO CSCE COMMISSION - ERIKA SCHLAGER 
BUDAPEST FOR USAID - MONIQUE NOWICKI 
 
E.O. 12958: N/A 
TAGS: PHUM, PGOV, ELAB, SOCI, LO 
SUBJECT: GOS ROMA STRATEGY: INFRASTRUCTURE PROJECTS 
 
REFTEL: (A) BRATISLAVA 740 
 
        (B) BRATISLAVA 360 
 
This is the second in a series of cables on current GOS 
activities to address Roma issues. 
 
1. Summary. Poor infrastructure, primarily housing, in 
settlements remains one of the worst problems confronting 
Roma in Slovakia.  The level of development in each 
settlement varies, but most communities lack sewage systems, 
adequate access to clean water, and suitable housing.  Both 
the GOS and EU designated financing for infrastructure 
projects in selected settlements in 2001, but the tendering 
process was delayed until early this year.  A settlement's 
success in drawing from these funds was directly related to 
its relationship with the local mayor/government and the 
settlement's proximity to the village.  Some settlements 
with the worst conditions may lose project funds because of 
local government delays, while other communities have shown 
improvements. End Summary. 
 
Funding for Construction Delayed 
-------------------------------- 
 
2. Housing: According to a 2004 Ministry of Construction and 
Regional Development (MOC) report, the GOS budgeted 180 
million SKK (5,538,461 USD) to build housing in Roma 
settlements.  However, only 68 million SKK (2,092,307 USD) 
has been allocated for five settlements.  The MOC blamed 
delays on problems with land ownership, project 
documentation, and construction permits.  Two municipal 
governments declined construction proposals and 13 are not 
prepared to begin construction this year. 
 
3. Infrastructure: The GOS received an extension in early 
2004 for unspent European Union Regional Development funds, 
aka PHARE, for infrastructure projects such as water, roads, 
sidewalks, and sewage.  The GOS pledged 8.4 million euro in 
co-financing in 2001, but the tendering process has been 
delayed until this year.  The EU and GOS chose thirty 
settlements, but defined nine as risky due to the legal 
status of land and living conditions.  As of April, the 
government had only contracted 19.6 percent of the total. 
In late July, the GOS announced tenders for 14 additional 
projects.  Slovakia has until November 2005 to spend the 
remaining EU money. 
 
Success and Failure: All Politics are Local 
-------------------------------------------- 
 
4. Poloffs recently visited Roma settlements in the Spis 
region and saw both success stories and failures.  In 
Huncovce, a successful infrastructure project is nearing 
completion. The settlement is located near a main road, 
just across the stream from the village.  It has benefited 
from the mobility of its citizens, who earn money in the 
Czech Republic and are thus able to contribute to the on- 
going investment in the settlement.  The village has 
completed the EU PHARE funded roads and sidewalks and 
purchased additional land for future social housing funded 
by GOS sources.  The mayor of Huncovce formerly owned a 
construction company and actively participated in the 
planning and execution of the projects.  Community social 
workers stated that the settlements with projects already 
underway usually enjoyed good relations with the local 
government and were at a higher level of development than 
most other Roma communities. 
 
5. Communities that the GOS has deemed "risky" at the 
beginning of the process exhibit behaviors that cause them 
to fall further behind. For example, in Letanovce and 
Svinia, local governments have opposed projects and 
residents protested construction fearing that improvements 
would attract large numbers of unemployed Roma.  Letanovsky 
Mlyn, considered one of the worst settlements, is located 
2.5 kilometers from Letanovce, where Roma claim residency. 
After blocking previously proposed government projects, four 
neighboring villages finally agreed to relocate the entire 
settlement away from a popular national park.  The 
government awarded a contract for the technical preparation 
of the project, but the various mayors are still arguing 
about the final location, further delaying construction 
(reftel B).  The Svinia local government cancelled 
cooperation agreements with the Canadian International 
Development Agency (CIDA) and Habitat for Humanity after 
disagreeing on single-family versus apartment housing.  The 
MOC suggested choosing a different community for project 
funding. 
 
Comment: Looking Forward 
------------------------ 
 
6. Even though the GOS finally made funds available for 
housing and infrastructure this year, local conditions in 
many communities obstructed real change.  Local governments' 
decisions about housing took precedence over central 
government priorities, in part due to a lack of resources to 
support project development at the local level.  Five new 
regional Roma offices under the Roma Plenipotentiary will 
begin operation this fall, and at least one will be led by a 
housing specialist.  The offices are expected to give the 
GOS a larger role in problematic localities in order to 
ensure funds are equitably allocated.  Also, they will 
prepare communities to absorb available funds next year to 
avoid losing the remaining money. 
 
THAYER 
 
 
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