21st May 2010 - Serbian Deputy Prime Minister for Social Policy and Social Services Dr. Jovan Krkobabic has on the premises of the Serbian government officially presented the representatives of 20 municipalities and cities the awarded contracts relating to the project, “Help Commissariat for Refugees of Serbia aimed at aiding refugees and internally displaced persons by providing support to and for local action plans.” The project, worth 80 million dinars, is being funded through the resources of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) and is being implemented by the Commissariat for Refugees of the Republic of Serbia.

The ceremony marking the delivery of the contracts was attended by representatives of the Delegation of the European Union in Serbia, United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees, the U.S. Embassy, the Commissariat for Refugees as well as the institutions of the Republic of Serbia.

Through the purchase of 110 households equipped with gardens, the donation of 14 grants aimed at economic empowerment, and 14 packages of construction materials will be provided as a means of achieving a permanent and sustainable solution for 137 families of refugees and internally displaced persons.

Vice President Dr. Jovan Krkobabic has on behalf of the Government thanked the international community and local government, expressing satisfaction with the remarkable progress of current projects support the municipalities and cities, which are related to the strengthening of the local capacity to address issues and problems pertaining to refugees and internally displaced persons.

“The partnership of central and local government levels is very important,” said Dr. Krkobabic and stressed that he supports the activities commenced in the municipalities and cities, “I expect that in the future activities aimed at improving living conditions in the community will be carried out successfully.  You can count on the support and cooperation of competent authorities, bodies and institutions of the Republic of Serbia.” added Vice President Krkobabic.

Krkobabic stressed that in order to improve the living conditions of refugees and displaced persons from 65 municipalities / cities the Republic of Serbia, has set aside an additional 130 million dinars from its budget, which will officially be handed over to the representatives of these municipalities on the 1st of June.  “The local governments have formed a special budget line dedicated to refugees and internally displaced persons and are providing 10% of the determined donation value,.” said Krkobabic.

The Commissioner for Refugees Vladimir Cucic thanked the representatives of the assembled international organizations for their support provided to the Republic of Serbia assisting them in trying to end the prolonged and persisting refugee situation.  The Commissioner also stressed that during the year of 2009 we saw, despite the presence of the global economic crisis, the supervised housing and economic strengthening of 1359 refugees and internally displaced persons, the closure of 14 collective centers and that the RS budget last year allocated 216 million dinars intended for housing and economic empowerment of refugees and internally displaced persons.  Cucic added, that the priorities of the Commissariat for Refugees in 2010 will be the ending a prolonged refugee situations in a further 50 municipalities / cities of the Republic and the consequent closure of 10 collective centers.