BUCHAREST, Romania (AP) — A Romanian minister and the World Bank have criticized racist graffiti that appeared on a tent erected to mark International Roma Day in Bucharest.

Justice Minister Raluca Pruna said Saturday "such acts of racism aren't being tackled. A message that says 'death to Gypsies' should oblige the state to punish" the perpetrators.

A large white tent was put up in Bucharest on Friday, which was International Roma Day. Racist and obscene slogans appeared on it overnight.

The World Bank on Saturday called it "an act of discrimination incompatible with Europe's core values on human rights."

Officially, Romania has more than 600,000 Roma, also known as Gypsies, but there are believed to be more than 1 million. Roma are among the poorest people in Romania and face widespread discrimination.