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The Government of the Republic of Serbia

In the service of citizens

Memorandum of Understanding signed with SIDA and DFID

Belgrade, 15 March 2006

Serbian Minister of International Economic Relations Milan Parivodic and representatives of the Swedish International Development Cooperation Agency (SIDA) and the British Department for International Development (DFID), signed today a Memorandum of Understanding, which aims at improving coordination in further realisation of donation programmes.

Lars-Goran Engfeldt, left, and Milan Parivodic

Speaking at a press conference, Parivodic explained that this memorandum will help the Ministry, which is the main coordinator for receiving foreign aid, in strengthening the capacities of all ministries, Serbian government bodies and local authorities, to receive financial aid from abroad.

The memorandum was signed on behalf of the Swedish and British governments by Swedish Ambassador to Serbia-Montenegro Lars-Goran Engfeldt and Head of DFID for Serbia-Montenegro George McLaughlin respectively. Parivodic explained that it envisages three years of technical support worth approximately €1.95 million and represents the continuation of previous cooperation with relevant ministries which have a central role to play in attracting, harmonising and coordinating donators.

Parivodic said that the aim of the project is to allow young staff of the Ministry to access best possible training from that area so that increased effectiveness of foreign aid can be secured, with which strategic documents such as Serbia’s National Strategy for EU Accession, Poverty Reduction Strategy, the strategy for the reformation of public administration and others will be realised.

Engfeldt recalled that this is the second phase of cooperation between Serbia and Sweden, which began in 2001, and aims to increase international support and donation programmes for Serbia.

He voiced hope that first results will be visible in two to three years, and pointed out that this implies an increase in the capacities of the Ministry of International Economic Relations and the development of clearer regulations and responsibility when donation programmes are in question.

McLaughlin said that signing of the memorandum represents a joint donation effort, which will reduce expenditure for the Serbian government as well as for donators.