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Public debate on long-term economic development strategy for Serb communities in Kosovo-Metohija coming up
Bujanovac,
11 January 2007
Head of the economic team for Kosovo-Metohija and the South of Serbia Nenad Popovic announced today a wide public debate on long-term economic development strategy for Serb communities in Kosovo-Metohija as well as a development strategy for the south of Serbia.
In a statement to FoNet, Popovic said that the economic team intends to discuss issues with local businesspeople and politicians and added that the strategy should be presented in early February to international community representatives in Belgrade.
He also said that presentations in Brussels, Washington, Vienna, Moscow and Beijing are planned to take place in the first three months of 2007, adding that the strategy is being translated into English, Russian and Albanian.
Popovic said that the economic team was willing to work with local Albanians on the strategy for the whole of Kosovo-Metohija, but there was no readiness on the other side.
I think that soon we have to start drafting a development strategy for the whole province in cooperation with ethnic Albanians and international community, and if Albanians economists do not want that, we have to make this strategy together with the EU, the international community and the World Bank, he said.
Speaking on the future status of Kosovo-Metohija, Popovic said that he is sure Kosovo-Metohija will not be independent but will have essential autonomy as part of Serbia and that in that way results of the strategy will be of use for all people living there.
He recalled that this long-term strategy is among most important issues for improving living standards, putting an end to emigrations as well as for return of internally displaced persons.
At the same time, the strategy for the economic development of the Serbian south envisages development of infrastructure and creating new jobs through the development of small and medium-sized enterprises, Popovic said adding that the state must motivate businesspeople to invest in the Serbian south through various benefits.
Creating such an environment is a long-term interest of the state, which will be repaid through higher taxes collected in the region, said Popovic.
He also said that presentations in Brussels, Washington, Vienna, Moscow and Beijing are planned to take place in the first three months of 2007, adding that the strategy is being translated into English, Russian and Albanian.
Popovic said that the economic team was willing to work with local Albanians on the strategy for the whole of Kosovo-Metohija, but there was no readiness on the other side.
I think that soon we have to start drafting a development strategy for the whole province in cooperation with ethnic Albanians and international community, and if Albanians economists do not want that, we have to make this strategy together with the EU, the international community and the World Bank, he said.
Speaking on the future status of Kosovo-Metohija, Popovic said that he is sure Kosovo-Metohija will not be independent but will have essential autonomy as part of Serbia and that in that way results of the strategy will be of use for all people living there.
He recalled that this long-term strategy is among most important issues for improving living standards, putting an end to emigrations as well as for return of internally displaced persons.
At the same time, the strategy for the economic development of the Serbian south envisages development of infrastructure and creating new jobs through the development of small and medium-sized enterprises, Popovic said adding that the state must motivate businesspeople to invest in the Serbian south through various benefits.
Creating such an environment is a long-term interest of the state, which will be repaid through higher taxes collected in the region, said Popovic.
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