Coping With Immigration

Sir, - It was good to read some analysis of the background to the Romanian influx to Ireland (Weekend, August 8th)

Sir, - It was good to read some analysis of the background to the Romanian influx to Ireland (Weekend, August 8th). It might help if we tried to change the perception of what is behind these population movements. Romania, and many other countries of former Communist eastern Europe, are in a very difficult transition period. Their governments (for the most part democratic) are struggling to establish and maintain stability against appalling odds. Their populations have not yet experienced or fully understood "normal" society where freedom of speech is a natural state of affairs. Decades of oppression and fear have left deep scars, prejudice, internal suspicion, as well as awful poverty.

Ireland has made enormous progress, not only economically, but in our societal development. We might forget that voluntary and religious organisations in many fields, a first-class education system, combined with a vigorous exercise of media coverage have contributed to our understanding of tolerance, support and encouragement of less advantaged groups. Our democracy is fully functioning, despite imperfections. Our equal status legislation, when implemented, will be a model of its kind.

Such developments were totally unknown in most countries of the eastern European region.

That is why the EU and many foundations support the work of helping those populations to acquire in a short time what has taken half a century elsewhere - the knowledge of how to establish and operate civic society in all its many facets, including human rights. The European Women's Foundation works with women in many countries of the region in this field. We are aware that women's participation in voluntary bodies, pressure groups, and politics are an essential part of rebuilding their societies.

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Nothing is gained for the refugees or the countries they come from by blame. Let us acknowledge the legacy left by the Ceaucescus of this world and do the best we can in our own different ways to help them through their transition. - Yours, etc., Gemma Hussey,

Director, European Women'sFoundation (Luxembourg), Temple Road, Dublin 6.