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The Government of the Republic of Serbia

In the service of citizens

Privatisation of ski centre Brezovica must wait until future status of Kosovo-Metohija is resolved

Belgrade, 2 August 2006

Head of the Economic Team for Kosovo-Metohija and southern Serbia Nenad Popovic said at a forum regarding the privatisation of the ski centre Brezovica that it is necessary to wait for the future status of Kosovo-Metohija to be resolved, because the ski centre would fetch a far better price when investment risks are reduced.

Popovic said that there can be no economic development without foreign direct investment, and solving the future status of Kosovo-Metohija would fulfil elementary conditions for the arrival of a reputable international tourism firm which would not only bring know-how, a better image and employment potential but also their own tourists.

He stressed that this ski centre is one of the basic elements of economic development in the Strpce municipality, and also an important factor in the economic development of the entire province. This is why it is necessary that the best, fairest and economically sound decision is reached through dialogue between Serbian and ethnic-Albanian sides and the UNMIK Popovic stated.

According to Popovic, the issue of privatisation of the ski centre cannot be considered without a clear economic strategy, and environmental protection is also an important point, because the area in question is a unique national park in this part of Europe.

Popovic presented an idea based on inter-state cooperation between Montenegro and Bosnia-Herzegovina on the one hand and Serbia and Kosovo-Metohija on the other in a joint development of the image of a new ski region in Europe. All three countries have ski centres which are only a small distance from each other. The reduced costs of transport for tourists, with the additional attraction of the variety offered by the Balkans, could become a major attraction for visitors from Europe and the rest of the world.

The forum on the future development and special conditions regarding the privatisation of ski centre Brezovica, was attended among others by Deputy Special Representative of the UN Secretary General, UNMIK’s Pillar 4 Head Joachim Rucker, in charge of economy and reconstruction in Kosovo-Metohija, deputy director of the Kosovo Trust Agency Bruce McQueen and president of the municipality of Strpce Stanko Jakovljevic.