Ceremony of keys handing over (38 flats and 4 prefabricated houses) to refugees from Bosnia and Herzegovina and Croatia residing on the territory of Lazarevac Municipality took place today.

Praising refugees for their patience Mr Vladimir Cucic, Commissioner for Refugees and Migration, said he was glad that refugee families will celebrate Christmas at their homes.

"I am glad that the keys are delivered on the eve of New Year and Christmas because you will be able to say that this Christmas you celebrate at home. I want this to be really your house. If in rteality there is no home that was once yours, let this new one to replace it,"said Commissioner Cucić wishing everyone long life and good health, sharing symbolically red apples.

Mr Bojan Sinđelić, Mayor of Lazarevac, said he hopes to find solutions for the remaining refugee families from Lazarevac in order to finally resolve this issue, announcing further close cooperation with the Commissariat for Refugees and Migration, the Government of the Republic of Serbia and other state institutions.

Construction of apartments for refugees in Lazarevac is financed by loan from the Council of Europe Development Bank in the framework of the project "Permanent Integration of Refugees in the Republic of Serbia through credit lines of the Council of Europe Development Bank ". The housing units in question are allocated in the lease with the possibility of purchase after six months, at reduced prices and in accordance with the Law on Refugees. Four prefabricated houses and related infrastructure have been financed from the budget of the Republic of Serbia.