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The Government of the Republic of Serbia

In the service of citizens

Forest fires on Stara Planina Mt mostly under control

Belgrade, 23 July 2007

Serbian Minister of Environmental Protection Sasa Dragin stated that according to the latest data, forest fires on Stara Planina Mountain are mostly under control, whereas fires on Sar Planina Mountain are still raging.

Sasa Dragin

Author: Tanjug

At a working breakfast with the press, Dragin stressed that two fires on Stara Planina Mt have been put out, whereas the fire on the Vidlic ridge is under control.

He said he expects help from Russia in the form of an airplane fire extinguisher which was previously engaged in putting out fires in Bulgaria.

Because of the fire in Sar Planina national park, Dragin said that he has sent a letter to UNMIK demanding speedy action and added that he offered all the necessary assistance to help extinguish the fires more efficiently.

He voiced concern for the safety of Serbian citizens living near the national park, as well as hope that the problem will soon be resolved.

Minister Dragin stressed the importance of adopting and implementing legal regulations in the environmental sector and announced that at the next parliament session the Bill on the ratification of the Kyoto Protocol should be adopted.

According to Dragin, the adoption of the Kyoto protocol will not harm Serbia’s economic growth but will rather increase the number of foreign investments.

The implementation of the Kyoto Protocol should reduce air pollution in industrial zones in Belgrade, Bor, Vranje, Ivanjica and Pancevo.

Serbia is a developing country and as such is under no obligation to reduce the emission of harmful substances, however a mechanism of “clean development” is opening up for it and according to it developed countries are interested in investing in clean technology in Serbia, thus getting higher quotas for gas emission in their countries, explained Dragin.

He also announced that the line ministry will demand that fines for polluters be increased manifold, as well as the possibility that they be fined at once and not trough court procedure, adding that the aim is not to fill the government budget but to change the behaviour of polluters.

According to Dragin, legal regulation for integrated management of natural resources must be adopted as soon as possible because air quality control is now under the jurisdiction of the Minsitry of Environmental Protection and river and forest control under the jurisdiction of the Ministry of Agriculture.

Speaking about the ecological situation in the RTB Bor mining and metallurgical complex, Dragin announced that a loan from the World Bank will be procured for the recovery of arid land, whereas RSD 170 million from the National Investment Plan will be set aside for a damn at this site.

He also announced that a strategy for environmental protection in RTB Bor will envisage stricter conditions for a future buyer regarding environmental standards.

Minister Dragin called on all citizens to help protect the environment by economizing with electric energy and recalled the environmental rule “Think Globally, Act Locally”.