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The Government of the Republic of Serbia

In the service of citizens

Southern Serbia priority of government's regional policy

Vranje, 9 February 2005

Head of the Coordinating Centre for southern Serbia Nebojsa Covic said last night that southern Serbia is a priority in the government's regional policy and that the main task of the Coordinating Centre is to prepare a plan for further economic development of that area as soon as possible.

Author: FoNet

The programme of political and security stabilisation and economic and social development of the Coordinating Centre from January 2005 to December 2007, adopted by the Serbian government, created conditions for the realisation of economic programmes of vital importance for the population of this part of Serbia, Covic said at a conference titled "Southern Serbia: The Vision of Progress" held in Vranje.

According to Covic, the Coordinating Centre should work out a plan for further development of southern Serbia as soon as possible, especially in the municipalities of Bujanovac, Presevo and Medvedja.

The plan envisages development of regional infrastructure, optimal use of resources, preparation for the potential dynamics of the labour market, launching an initiative for opening a free trade zone and granting certain privileges to public and private enterprises in southern Serbia, with the aim of increasing the employment rate.

The funds, coming from both domestic and international sources, have been used for projects in the municipalities of Presevo, Medvedja and Bujanovac in the past four years and are worth 3.2 billion dinars.

The conference has also been attended by representatives of the organiser, head of the OSCE Mission to Serbia-Montenegro Maurizio Massari, US Ambassador to Belgrade Michael Polt, Serbia-Montenegrin Minister of Human and Minority Rights Rasim Ljajic, Assistant Minister of International Economic Relations Gordana Lazarevic, Minister of Agriculture, Forestry and Water Management Ivana Dulic-Markovic, as well as representatives of local self-government of all municipalities in the region, NGOs and the private sector.