US embassy cable - 05BRATISLAVA661

C O N F I D E N T I A L  BRATISLAVA 000661 
 
SIPDIS 
 
 
BUDAPEST FOR USAID/NOWICKI 
 
E.O. 12958: DECL: 08/16/2015 
TAGS: PHUM, SOCI, PGOV, KPAO, EAID, LO 
SUBJECT: FOR THE ROMA IN PRESOV, ANOTHER BRICK IN THE WALL 
 
 
Classified By: DCM Lawrence R. Silverman for Reasons 1.4 (B) and (D). 
 
1.  (C)  SUMMARY:   The proposal to erect of a wall between 
Roma and non-Roma citizens in the Stara Tehelna neighborhood 
of Presov seems to be advancing, despite negative media 
coverage and an initial retraction of the plan by the Mayor. 
In an August 12 meeting between the GOS Plenipotentiary for 
Roma Affairs and the Mayor of Presov, the Mayor declared that 
he was moving forward with the plan to segregate the Roma 
housing development from the concerned citizens.  The 
Plenipotentiary told us the meeting went "very poorly." 
(Comment: The Mayor -- who is considering a run for Governor 
of the Presov region -- is trying to cash in the political 
capital that anti-Roma statements can reap in the 
economically depressed area. End Comment)  The Embassy is 
engaging NGO's, local officials, fellow diplomats, and 
national politicians to strategize behind the scenes on 
overturning the initiative before construction begins.  END 
SUMMARY. 
 
THE ROAD TO THE WALL 
-------------------- 
 
2.  (C)  In 2000, the city of Presov undertook the 
construction of two apartment blocks in the Stara Tehelna 
neighborhood in order to relocate up to 2000 Roma who were 
delinquent on rent or utility payments in Presov's downtown 
area.  Finished in summer 2001, the first Roma were relocated 
there in the fall.  The city did not build the promised 
infrastructure for the area (providing, instead of shops and 
streets, an increased police presence).  The non-Roma 
neighbors immediately began to complain of thefts, 
trespassing, and fights among young children.  In 2005, the 
city announced that it was considering constructing 54 new 
"shelters" in Stara Tehelna for approximately 300-400 more 
"socially weak" citizens (a term often used as camouflage for 
a segment of society made up almost entirely of Roma). 
 
3.  (C)  Seeking a way to halt this additional construction, 
and to keep the Roma out of their yards and away from their 
homes, the neighbors signed a petition asking the city to 
take action and construct a wall for their security.  The 
petition was discussed by the city council on July 18 and was 
approved by 25 of the 26 deputies on the council.  The Mayor 
publicly supported the petition and the proposal to construct 
a fence. 
 
4.  (C)  Media coverage of the "Roma wall" was, to the 
surprise of many in Slovakia, critical, with one national 
newspaper running an editorial denouncing the plan after it 
was approved by the city council on July 18.  Faced with the 
sudden media spotlight, Mayor Milan Benc originally claimed 
the situation was a "misunderstanding" arising from the 
city's plans to build a "retaining wall" to fight erosion on 
a nearby hillside, and suggested that it wouldn't be built at 
all.  He scheduled a meeting with Klara Orgovanova, the GOS 
Roma Plenipotentiary, on August 12 to clarify the situation 
and make a joint statement with her about the resolution of 
the issue. 
 
THE MAYOR AND THE PLENIPOTENTIARY 
--------------------------------- 
 
5.  (C)  In advance of the Mayor's August 12 summit with 
Orgovanova, sources close to Mayor Benc and within the 
Plenipotentiary's office assured us that the Mayor was aware 
of the can of worms he had opened by supporting the wall, and 
was ready to "clear the air."  Unfortunately, no such 
cooperation emerged.  Following the Friday meeting, we 
received a call from Marian Baca, our source in the Presov 
government office, who was much less optimistic.  According 
to him, the Mayor has decided to "stand firm" behind the 
proposal.  The Mayor is allegedly now considering a run for 
Governor of the Presov region in November, and believes that 
the segregation of the Roma from the non-Roma citizens of 
Stara Tehelna will win him votes from the non-Roma in the 
economically-depressed region.  Baca told us that he feels 
awful about the wall proposal, which consists of a concrete 
wall topped by a chain link fence to keep the Roma separated 
from their non-Roma neighbors.  He also told us a 
behind-the-scenes strategy that would help the Mayor and city 
council safe face would be more effective than a public, 
media intense campaign at this point, emphasizing that there 
is "still time before the next city council meeting in 
mid-September. 
 
6.  (C)  Orgovanova confirmed that the meeting went poorly 
and claimed that it is "impossible" to negotiate with Mayor 
Benc.  Orgovanova returns to Bratislava August 17 and will 
give us a full report.  She echoed Baca's recommendation to 
seek a behind-the-scenes solution. 
 
COMMENT 
 
------- 
 
7.  (C)  Word of the unsuccessful meeting between Orgovanova 
and Mayor Benc has yet to reach the media, nor the wider NGO 
community.  We do not predict a violent reaction from the 
Roma citizens of Stara Tehelna.  However, we anticipate that 
the NGO community -- as well as western Embassies in 
Bratislava -- will quickly mobilize when word that the Roma 
wall spreads.  The Ambassador will raise the issue during a 
mid-September courtesy call with Mayor Benc in Presov; we 
continue to explore other channels through which we can help 
resolve the issue.  The city's strategy to remove Roma from 
integrated housing in the city center to brand-new ghettos on 
the outskirts of towns has never worked, but continues to be 
the preferred method for many municipalities to "deal" with 
the Roma.  USAID grantee Partners for Democratic Change in 
Slovakia (PDCS) will lead a community mediation meeting in 
Presov on August 22.  END COMMENT. 
VALLEE 
 
 
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