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The Government of the Republic of Serbia

In the service of citizens

Construction of 670 apartments for refugees and the underprivileged

Belgrade, 9 March 2005

The mayors of seven Serbian municipalities signed today a Memorandum on cooperation with UN Habitat, marking the beginning of the realisation of a programme of housing and social integration of refugees, financed by the Italian government with €15 million.

In the presence of Italian Ambassador to Serbia-Montenegro Antonio Zanardi Lardi and Serbian Minister of Capital Investment Velimir Ilic, the Memorandum with UN Habitat was signed by mayors of Cacak, Kragujevac, Kraljevo, Nis, Pancevo, Stara Pazova and Valjevo.

The programme of housing and social integration of refugees envisages the construction of 670 apartments, 80 percent of which is intended for refugees and 20 percent for the underprivileged who live in these municipalities.

The programme will be carried out in association with the Ministry of Public Administration and Local Self-Government and the Ministry for Capital Investment and should secure housing and social integration for approximately 3,000 refugees as well as others from the underprivileged population.

Speaking at a press conference held at the Serbian National Library, Minister Ilic said that the government prepared a law on social housing that will allow for quicker resolution of housing needs of refugees. He added that such support to these projects is the only way to help those who cannot afford a home and reiterated that a very large number of refugees live in Serbia.

Serbian Minister of Public Administration and Local Self-Government Zoran Loncar said that the government's strategic goal, apart from full European integration, is the decentralisation of power, which is done by strengthening the local self-government. With respect to that, the UN Habitat's programme satisfies both developmental and social aims by strengthening local self-rule and by entailing for full integration of refugees.

The head of the UN Habitat Programme to Belgrade said that 96 apartments will be built in each of seven municipalities, and that out of the total sum of €15 million, funds will be set aside for the realisation of 24 pilot projects for social integration of refugees.