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Visit of the Russian Ambassador, Alexander Konuzin, to the Municipalities of Presevo, Bujanovac and Medvedja

4. February 2009.

Ambassador of the Russian Federation to Serbia, Alexander Konuzin, visited South Serbia on February 2 and 3, 2009. The visit was organized with support of the Coordination Body of the Government of the Republic of Serbia for the Municipalities of Presevo, Bujanovac and Medvedja. During the visit, Ambassador Konuzin met with local self-governments’ officials, as well as with representatives of the Serbian political groups in the municipal assemblies of Presevo, Bujanovac and Medvedja. The goal of Ambassador Konuzin’s visit was his familiarization with political and economic situation in South Serbia.

During his tour of Presevo and Bujanovac, Ambassador Konuzin, Vice President of the Coordination Body Sima Gazikalovic and Director of the Coordination Body Nenad Djurdjevic met with Mayors of Presevo and Bujanovac, Nader Sadiku and Saip Kamberi, as well as with Presidents of the Municipal Assemblies, Ragmi Mustafa and Jonuz Musliu. The most important topics discussed with the mayors of Presevo and Bujanovac, as well as with representatives of the Serbian political groups in these municipalities, include the need for establishing multi-ethnic local self-governments, participation of   Albanian representatives in the Coordination Body’s operation, integration of the Albanians in the governmental institutions and improvement of the educational system in these municipalities. During the meeting, the mayors voiced their satisfaction with the visit of the Russian Federation’s Ambassador. It was concluded that the situation in South Serbia was stable and that implementation of the existing projects and the conceiving of new development projects were a priority. The mayor of Presevo, Nader Sadiku, stated that the Coordination Body had invested considerable funds in development of the municipalities in South Serbia. He pointed out that “a period of increased activity is expected upon the appointment of Milan Markovic to the position of President of the Coordination Body.”

One of the most important topics discussed was the economic backwardness of Presevo and Bujanovac and the possibilities for their economic development. Ambassador Konuzin emphasized that the greatest potential for economic cooperation was Serbia’s export of agricultural produce to Russia. Ambassador Konuzin underlined that the import of agricultural produce from Serbia increased by 50% every year and he asked local self-governments’ officials to get in touch with the Serbian Chamber of Commerce and the Russian-Serbian Business Council, so that they could get included in the commercial exchange and stimulate the exports of their produce. “All problems are easily solved when the economy is functional,” Ambassador Konuzin said.