October 28, 2010

28. October 2010.

UN Provides Support for Development of Southern Serbian Municipalities

The municipalities and cities of Jablanica and Pcinj Districts are going to get half a million US dollars from the UN Peace-Building and Inclusive Local Development (PBILD) Program, which is implemented through the UN in South Serbia, it was said in Lebane yesterday.

The funds are intended for regional development and employment of the people, it was stated at a press-conference that was held following a meeting of the PBILD Managing Board. However, in order to receive each single donation that ranges from 50 to 100 thousand US dollars the municipalities are obliged to establish partnerships with at least two municipalities.

“The project is aimed at encouraging the municipalities and cities to set up partnerships and show, over the next two months, how much they are ready to provide the conditions for creating new jobs. This is one of several projects in South Serbia that is planned to be implemented over the next two years”, said Chrisie Hurst, PBILD Program Manager. The municipalities and cities may apply for the funds for their projects until December 20, 2010, whereas the funds for the programs will be allocated in February 2011.

Slobodan Kocic, Head of the Managing Board of the Center for Development of Jablanica and Pcinj Districts and Mayor of Leskovac, said that Serbia, too, had funds, but that they could be received only if the ideas and programs were good.

Biljana Stankovic, Director of the Center for Development of Jablanica and Pcinj Districts, pointed out that the applying for the first portion of the funds will provide some kind of training for further applying for larger sums from PBILD programs and UN funds.

Dusko Radakovic, Sate Secretary at the Ministry of Public Administration and Local Self-Government, and Mica Stankovic, President of the Municipality of Lebane, also talked at the press-conference.