September 5, 2008

5. September 2008.

The Newly Appointed President of the Coordination Body of the Government of the Republic of Serbia Milan Markovic Paid a Visit to Bujanovac

"Problems in South Serbia to Be Solved Through Joint Work of the Coordination Body and Local Self-Governments"

Bujanovac - On Friday, September 5, Milan Markovic, Minister of Public Administration and Local Self-Government in the Government of the Republic of Serbia and the newly appointed President of the Coordination Body for the Municipalities of Presevo, Bujanovac and Medvedja met in Bujanovac with mayors of Bujanovac, Presevo and Medvedja, Saip Kamberi, Nader Sadiku and Slobodan Draskovic.
Milan Markovic, President of the Coordination Body, along with with Head of the OSCE Mission to Serbia, Ambassador Hans Ola Urstad, had a meeting with MP Riza Halimi, too.
During the meeting, Mr. Markovic thanked the previous Presidents of the Coordination Body and pointed out that the political and economic situation had considerably improved. President of the Coordination Body underscored that it was necessary to solve the existing issues. "The responsibility, first and foremost, lies on me, since I'm President of the Coordination Body, but it also lies on the mayors. Only through joint work do we have a chance to achieve our common goals - a better quality of life, the opening of new working places and the inclusion of all communities in Serbia's social and political life," said Milan Markovic, President of the Coordination Body, at a press-conference for journalists reporting on the Coordination Body and OSCE, which was held at the Bujanovac Press Center right after the meeting with the three mayors.
Hans Ola Urstad, OSCE Ambassador to Serbia, stated during the press-conference that Milan Markovic's decision to pay a visit to South Serbia immediately upon his appointment was a very positive sign. "I'd like to point out that the OSCE wants to intensively co-operate with the Coordination Body in improving the living conditions of all the people that live in the region," said Ambassador Urstad.
The mayors of Presevo, Bujanovac and Medvedja hailed the appointment of Minister Milan Markovic to the position of President of the Coordination Body for South Serbia and added that they expected that it would work more intensively on resolution of the key issues.
In the afternoon of the same day, Mr. Markovic had separate meetings with representatives of the Serbian and Roma political parties, as well as with leaders of the Albanian political parties.
This is the first visit of Minister of Public Administration and Local Self-Government to South Serbia, which he visited in the capacity of President of the Coordination Body for the Municipalities of Presevo, Bujanovac and Medvedja.