Address of Mr. Milan Markovic, Minister of Public Administration and Local Self-Government and President of the Coordination Body for the Municipalities of Presevo, Bujanovac and Medvedja, to members of the Bujanovac Municipal Assembly, December 29, 2008

Address of Mr. Milan Markovic, Minister of Public Administration and Local Self-Government and President of the Coordination Body for the Municipalities of Presevo, Bujanovac and Medvedja, to members of the Bujanovac Municipal Assembly, December 29, 2008

Esteemed President of the Bujanovac Municipal Assembly,

Esteemed members of the Bujanovac Municipal Assembly,

I’m turning to you in connection with the agenda of today’s session of the Bujanovac Municipal Assembly, during which members of the Municipal Assembly are to decide on the issues that are extremely important for residents of the Bujanovac municipality.

As President of the Coordination Body, I would like to point out that the most important principles of our joint activities are reaching, maintaining and improving the principle of multi-ethnicity and a proportional representation of ethnic communities in decision-making processes in the municipalities of Presevo, Bujanovac and Medvedja. Following an agreement of all the parties involved, the principle of multi-ethnicity was reached as far back as 2002, and it is our joint responsibility now to maintain this principle for the purpose of prosperity of all the residents of the three municipalities.

Multi-ethnicity is the future of Presevo, Bujanovac and Medvedja. This process is a value on which the policy of the government of the Republic of Serbia and of the Coordination Body is based. I, therefore, underscore that each and every decision that fails to contribute to the achievement of this goal threatens our joint efforts to make Presevo, Bujanovac and Medvedja developed and stable municipalities. I’m convinced that the process of achieving multi-ethnicity is unavoidable and that it is the pillar of a successful and sustainable integration. In other words, please rest assured that the today’s status of one-ethnical local self-governments in Bujanovac and Presevo is untenable.

The Coordination Body is of the view that all communities should have the responsibility for achieving the vision of developed municipalities of Presevo, Bujanovac and Medvedja. It’s, therefore, important for representatives of all ethnic communities to be equally included in the local self – government bodies. The esteemed members of the Municipal Assembly, this principle must also be applied to the discussion and decisions on items of the agenda of today’s session of the Municipal Assembly.

I’m asking you once again to show responsibility and firmness regarding our joint solution of the issues that are important for the municipalities of Presevo, Bujanovac and Medvedja. I expect from you to reach decisions that won’t jeopardize our efforts to establish a multi-ethnic government in the municipality of Bujanovac. A final agreement on multi-ethnic governments in Bujanovac and Presevo is a condition for further successful work and achievement of the goals that we are striving for.

Finally, I would like to inform you that I have considered all your objections about a draft Strategy of the Coordination Body and to tell you that I’m sure we’ll develop full understanding in that respect, as well as in connection with reorganization of the Coordination Body, so that that the voice of residents of these municipalities could be better heard.

Hence, the esteemed members of the Municipal Assembly, there are great chances for 2009 to be the year of remarkable success in Medvedja, Presevo and Bujanovac. I’m asking you to remove all the obstacles on our path, and one of the current major obstacles is the fact that there is no agreement on participation of the Serbs and Roma in the local governments in Presevo and Bujanovac. I’m convinced that you’ll demonstrate responsibility and that you’ll, accordingly, reach appropriate decisions at today’s session.

The esteemed President and members of the Municipal Assembly, let me finally wish to you lots of good luck, health and success in the new 2009.