A/HRC/7/19/Add.4 page 18 59. One of the reasons why the Programme for the Integration of Roma into Lithuanian Society was criticized was its virtually exclusive focus on actions within the Roma community and a lack of attention to broader initiatives that need to take place at the heart of Lithuanian society to combat prejudice and further tolerance and respect. Ultimately, the issue that was constantly highlighted by Roma leaders in their discussions with the Special Rapporteur was the broad question of cultural mentality and acceptance by the Lithuanian society of the Roma as a distinct community that is the bearer of social and cultural traditions that need to be preserved. Their main demand, therefore, is that actions to improve the conditions of living of Roma citizens be linked to the promotion of tolerance and acceptance of cultural diversity within Lithuanian society. 60. In this regard, the Special Rapporteur welcomes the new Roma Integration Programme for the period 2008-2010, which aims to focus on some of the problems outlined by the community, with a special emphasis on issues of employment, professional training, social exclusion and the building of tolerance towards the Roma community. 61. The Special Rapporteur noted with interest that one of the most popular singers in Lithuania today is a Roma. Although Roma communities in Europe have historically found in music one of the few avenues for expression and broad participation in society, which has not had a meaningful impact on the reversal of their marginalization and exclusion, the Special Rapporteur expressed his conviction that the success of a Roma musician as a national symbol in mainstream popular music in Lithuania could be an opportunity for authorities, society at large and the Roma community to deepen this expression of acceptance of diversity and engage in a profound discussion aimed at fostering new opportunities for educational, cultural and professional inclusion of Roma within Lithuanian society. C. Views of non-European communities 62. Human rights NGOs and representatives of non-European minorities living in Lithuania expressed serious concern regarding discrimination and intolerance against visually different minorities. Although these minorities are, for now, small in number, they have voiced a preoccupation regarding recent acts of racist violence and hate speech directed particularly at Africans, including acts committed by neo-Nazi sympathizers. 63. Although isolated acts of violence have already taken place in Lithuania, non-European communities, particularly Africans, emphasized their concern regarding future trends and a potential increase in intolerance and racist aggressions. This fear is also related to the increase in the flow of international migrants after Lithuania’s accession to the EU, fostered by the country’s robust economic growth. Communities expressed the concern that, to date, non-European minorities have been rare in Lithuania. However, as the size of these communities grows, issues of identity and cultural diversity will become more important. Representatives of non-European minorities stressed that there is a lack of intercultural activities aiming specifically at new minorities, whose cultural customs and traditions are not as well known as those of traditional minorities. Community representatives also expressed concern regarding the rise of Islamophobia among some societal segments. 64. A case of racist aggression that was described to the Special Rapporteur concerned an African student in Klaipeda. He was allegedly subject to multiple forms of discrimination in