MR. STANKOVIC: SECOND WAVE OF REFUGEES IN PROGRESS, SERBIA NEEDS HELP

16. September 2015.

Belgrade – The President of the Coordination Body for the Municipalities of Presevo, Bujanovac and Medvedja, Zoran Stankovic, said that after the first wave of refugees, which included mostly men, the ongoing second phase was characterized by a large number of women, children, pregnant women and the elderly. Mr. Stanković appealed that the country needed help, for, as he pointed out, a wave including one million refugees was expected.

While speaking for the "Talasanje (Undulation)" program of Radio Belgrade, Mr. Stankovic said that the said situation changed the organization of work, for a larger number of medical teams were required now.

“Those people, from Presevo to Kanjiza, need doctors, and it is necessary to make it possible for them to register and wash, as well as to provide meals and clothing to them, "said Mr. Stankovic.

That is why, as he said, a large number of people from the Ministry of Labor and Social Policy, the Commissioner for Refugees, the Red Cross and the local self-governments got organized.

“On the other hand, due to so many people coming from the war-affected area, there is a security risk, but, fortunately, there have been no problems, because the competent authorities are making every effort to prevent them, "said Mr. Stankovic.

According to Zoran Stankovic, a large number of representatives of the international community is present there, too. The President of the Coordination Body said that he was constantly in touch with them and wondered why other countries, which were obliged to receive refugees and provide assistance to them, failed to do so.

Mr. Stankovic appealed that the country needed help, since, as he pointed out, a wave of a million refugees was expected.

“Is, then, the international community the one that could prevent the war in Syria? I personally think that they can prevent it. Otherwise, we will be forced to be humanitarians at a time when our country is in a difficult financial situation, "said Mr. Stankovic.

When asked about the elections in Medvedja and the system crash, Mr. Stankovic said it was important that everyone arrived in time to vote, and that it was irrelevant why and how the system had crashed.

Due to the boycott of the 2011 census, there are no other indicators of the number of population, with the exception of the estimate drawn up by international experts. Regarding the special census, he noted that it wouldn’t be done, because the new law on that would have to be passed.

When it comes to the establishment of the Community of Albanian Municipalities, Mr. Stankovic reiterated that problems could be solved only through dialogue and not in any other way.

“Although they insist on the establishment of the Community of Albanian Municipalities, they were told by representatives of the international community that the Albanians in Presevo had never ever been mentioned during the Brussels talks", noted Mr. Stankovic.

“They continue insisting on and referring to the Koncul agreement, which the state of Serbia didn’t sign, while the Albanian Prime Minister Edi Rama said that they should have their rights, but that their problems must be solved within the state of Serbia, "said the President of the Coordination Body for the Municipalities for Presevo, Bujanovac and Medvedja.

Source: Radio and Television of Serbia and Coordination Body