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The Government of the Republic of Serbia

In the service of citizens

Italian government releases €7.5 million for implementation of Serbian housing programme

Belgrade, 7 February 2005

Serbian Minister of Capital Investment Velimir Ilic thanked the Italian government for granting €7.5 million for the implementation of a housing programme, which will build 670 new homes for war refugees and other vulnerable people in seven Serbian cities.

Ilic told a press conference that all conditions for the UN-HABITAT programme have been fulfilled, noting that it will be implemented in the municipalities of Cacak, Kragujevac, Kraljevo, Nis, Pancevo, Stara Pazova and Valjevo.

He underlined that the funds are the first allocation from a total of €15 million. Ilic also expressed hope that other EU countries will aid in bringing this programme to completion.

The programme will build some 670 new homes, he said, noting that it is being carried out by the Italian government, through UN-HABITAT, in collaboration with the Serbian Ministry of Capital Investment and the Serbian Ministry of International Economic Relations.

Italian Ambassador Antonio Zanardi Landi thanked all those who helped in implementation of the project, and said that the support from the Italian government signifies the friendship of the two countries.

Landi said that Italy wants to invest in Serbia, noting that the Italian government decided to allocate another credit line of €33 million for assisting Serbian small and medium-sized enterprises.

Serbian Minister of International Economic Relations Milan Parivodic said that the peoples of Italy and Serbia have a long lasting friendship behind them, noting that around €180 million of Italian support has been agreed on, with €63.38 million realised so far.

This programme aims to support the national housing strategy, to support local housing agencies and local housing strategies, as well as to build 670 housing units for refugees, Parivodic said, noting that there are almost 500,000 refugees living in Serbia.

Head of UN-HABITAT in Belgrade Ligia Ramirez also thanked the Italian government for the generous donation. She announced a press conference in the second half of March, when the housing project for refugees will be officially opened.