ALBANIANS ASKING FOR MATERNITY HOSPITAL

24. October 2013.

By considering the possibility for Presevo to get a maternity ward at the end of this month, the solving of the problems of Albanians from South Serbia, which are contained in the seven-point report of the Government of the Republic of Serbia, will begin. The issues of health and social care will be discussed in the first round of talks, while it is expected that specific solutions will be reached during the upcoming visit of the Minister of Health Slavica Djukic Dejanovic. This was confirmed on Wednesday by Zoran Stankovic, the President of the Coordination Body for the Municipalities of Presevo, Bujanovac and Medvedja. He pointed out that all healthcare problems, as well as those in the other areas, would be addressed within the framework of the Constitution, laws and international conventions. The agenda will include the opportunity for Presevo to get a maternity hospital, as well as that part of the pharmaceutical institution, which is based in Vranje, be relocated to Presevo. Among the points of the report is the requirement that a hospital and an institution for the care of persons with special needs be established in Presevo. Mr. Stankovic pointed out that healthcare issues would be discussed in the first round of talks on the demands of the Albanians. The list of demands is strictly limited by the government’s report, and its extension won’t be possible. The first round of questions will be followed by the talks on other points from the report that include the representation and integration of Albanians in state institutions, economic recovery, decentralization of the judiciary and education.

Special attention will be devoted to the solving of the problem of a long-term use of the flag and other symbols of the Albanian minority. This question always causes tension in the southern part of the country, especially on the Albanian national holiday, which is the Flag Day. The essence of the problem is the fact that the Albanians are the only minority in Serbia whose national council still doesn’t have a flag, but instead of it uses the state flag of its southern neighbor. According to our laws, the displaying of other country’s symbols isn’t permitted. The seven-point report, which is the starting point for solving the problems of the Albanian minority, was concluded this June after the meeting of the Albanians with the Prime Minister Ivica Dacic. It was agreed then that the issues would be addressed in three stages, while the first to be addressed would be the issues whose solutions are short-term.

In anticipation of the implementation of the Government's report on the requests of the Albanians, the Serbian associations from Bujanovac emphasized their demands, too. They request an urgent census in southern Serbia, on the results of which the electoral roll would be upgraded.

Source: The Evening News and the Coordination Body