COORDINATION BODY CELEBRATED 12 YEARS OF ITS OPERATION

The Coordination Body of the Government of the Republic of Serbia for the Municipalities of Presevo, Bujanovac and Medvedja celebrated the 12 th. anniversary. A documentary on the activities of this governmental body was shown to the attendees of the event that took place at Bujanovac Spa’s hospital. Scholarships granted to secondary school students, the school of the Serbian language for young Albanians, the opening of the Faculty of Economics’ department in Bujanovac, as well as of the Faculties of Law and Economics’ departments in Medvedja, the financing of economic projects through the allocation of grants to small and medium-sized enterprises, are only some of the Coordination Body’s activities in the municipalities of Presevo, Bujanovac and Medvedja, which were presented to the attendees of the event.

In the presence of numerous attendees,  the Coordination Body’s President, Zoran Stankovic,  said that the body had played a key role in the reconciliation of different ethnic communities and in  improvement of the economic situation.  He pointed out that the Coordination Body had achieved a lot in the reagion until then and added that it would continue working there, since the economic development of the three municipalities was a prerequisite for the regional stability. Mr. Stankovic said that over the past 12 years, the Coordination Body had invested 75 million euros in the municipalities of Presevo, Bujanovac and Medvedja, while the international community  had supported the municipalities with 35 million euros.

“We’ll finish the project of constructing the building of the Faculty of Economics in Bujanovac, as well as the second phase of construction of an outpatient maternity hospital in Presevo. We will also continue to award grants to small and medium-sized enterprises and  we will initiate many other projects, "Mr. Stankovic said, adding that the Coordination Body had launched a program that year to support the development of small and medium-sized enterprises in the region worth 40 million dinars.

“Next year, the funds for this purpose will be increased to 60 million dinars, "Mr. Stankovic said. 

The Coordination Body’s President  also announced an investment fair, noting that the ultimate goal was to attract as many investors as possible, which would  round off the story related to improving the quality of life of  Presevo, Bujanovac and Medvedja citizens.

Mayor of Bujanovac, Nagip Arifi, welcomed the  Coordination Body’s efforts  and emphasized that the results in the field of economic recovery hadn’t been achieved. He expressed the hope that changes for the better would take place in the near future. Mr. Arifi pointed out that he expected  better integration of Albanians in institutions and enterprises.

“ We are in Bujanovac  Spa, which employs 98 workers, out of which only one Albanian woman is employed here, "said Mr. Arifi, stating that that had to change.  

Addressing the  attendees, the mayor of Presevo, Ragmi Mustafa, referred to the language, alphabet, national emblems and education in the Albanian language, arguing that the Albanians were still not fully using the language. “The Coordination Body should ensure that the position of Albanians in the area is improved in the future, "said Mr. Mustafa.

The mayor of Medvedja, Slobodan Draskovic, called for more support to the  municipalities in the field of economic development.

OSCE  Coordinator for South Serbia, Eric Manton, said that the Coordination Body was the  international community’s  key partner  in the region and he also said that multiethnic police was a very important project. Mr. Manton called the National Council of Albanians to propose a national symbol of the Albanians who live in the area in accordance with the law.  

The Coordination Body for the Municipalities of Presevo, Bujanovac and Medvedja was established on December 16, at a joint session of the Government of the FRY and the Provisional Serbian Government, which was held in Bujanovac.