Interview with Vladimir Milcin

Vladimir Milcin

Vladimir Milcin Asmet Elezovski

Would you like to briefly describe your background and your current position?

I was born in Skopje in 1947. I completed the theater play director course at the Theater, Film, Radio and Television Academy in Belgrade in 1970. I am currently working as a full-time professor of acting at the Dramatic Arts Faculty in Skopje. Since 1992 I have been the executive manager of the Foundation Open Society Institute Macedonia (FOSIM). I am proud of my contribution to the beginnings of the Pralipe theater. Specifically, I have selected Rahim Burhan’s first play (it was staged in Macedonian) for the Amateurish Dramatic Reviews, I held a small seminar in the Sutka warehouses and I suggested they stage the second play in the Roma language. As a professor, I am proud to have two talented Roma female students, Sanela (she has already graduated) and Emran (she is second year now).

What is your view on the current situation in the Republic of Macedonia regarding the state’s attitude toward and treatment (certainly following the numerous and lengthy reforms of the institutions and the state’s systematic changes) of the minorities and sensitive groups?

On the one hand, I feel somewhat pleased because Macedonia is ahead of all the surrounding countries in a number of things when it comes to the non-majority communities. On the other hand, I am dissatisfied because I thought and hoped that Macedonia would advance faster in a number of things, including the minorities and the vulnerable groups. It becomes clear straight away that, just like in many other states, the Roma are the most marginalized non-majority community in every aspect. There are numerous reasons for this, which the state and the politicians may use as an explanation, but not as an excuse.

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Public hearing for the condition of the Roma in Macedonia

Skopje, 31st of January (MIA) – The Roma issue in Macedonia – lack of knowledge or lack of political will is a subject on the today’s public hearing which is held in the Assembly of Republic of Macedonia.

According to the report of the European Roma Rights Centre and the National Roma Centrum from Republic of Macedonia, the Roma in Macedonia in regard of employment and conditions for work are in a very difficult condition.

The report states the 31% of the Roma in Macedonia do not have any education and as a result of that many of them are unemployed or do manual labor.

Hearing

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