New Serbian Commissioner for Refugees Vladimir Cucic held a meeting with representatives of international and non-governmental organizations in Serbia, who have signed a Cooperation Agreement with the Serbian Commissariat for Refugees. The meeting was held on 15 September 2008 at the office of the Serbian Commissariat for Refugees. On that opportunity the Commissioner made a short presentation of Commissariat’s work and plans for the coming period.

 

The Commissioner reminded of the severe situation of refugees and IDPs. He stressed difficult accommodation and economic status of refugees and IDPs and the fact that these people don’t have basic conditions for a normal and decent living.

 

The new Commissioner also said that since 1995 a number of various durable solutions programmes for refugees and IDPs had been implemented in cooperation with the Government of the Republic of Serbia, international agencies and organizations, some Governments and local self-governments. He presented the updated figures related to housing programmes: durable solutions have been found for some 28.000 people, but there are still around 6,200 persons living in collective centres and some of them have lived there for more than 15 years. He emphasized that a part of the problem could be resolved through restitution of property and all other rights of refugees in countries of origin.

 

Representatives of international organizations have largely expressed their interest in implementing future programmes of the Commissariat. They spoke about their current programmes and activities, as well as of programmes they have planned to implement in a number of municipalities throughout Serbia, with EU IPA funds.  

 

Representatives of following organizations participated in the meeting:

INTERSOS: Magda Bellu, Dragana Marinkovic, Zorica Gogic and Roberto Gaibisso

DRC: Marina Cremonese and Mica Jovanovic

UNHCR: Angelita Cecere and Violeta Samaradzic

IOM: Vito de Luca and Jovana Gusic

АSB: Krunislav Isajlovic and Ivan Marin

EUROPEAN PERPECTIVE: Gregoris Krallis and Despina Kouria

HELP: Milica Djuric

HOUSING CENTRE:  Branislava Zarkovic