Deputy Special Representative of the UN Secretary General in Kosovo Christopher Coleman said in Novobërdë/Novo Brdo that UNMIK supports the return but also building trust among communities in Kosovo, and announced further support in this regard.
Novobërdë/Novo Brdo is the twentieth municipality in Kosovo visited by Christopher Coleman with his delegation. This time, he received first-hand information about the situation in the municipality from the president of this local government, Svetislav Ivanović. They talked about issues of communities, sustainable return, but also problems that citizens and the leadership of this municipality are facing.
-We are grateful to the municipality for supporting projects in the return process. UNMIK has a clear agenda, not only to help the return but to build trust among communities also. We work closely with the UN team for Kosovo through our trust building projects. It is important for us to get people back to their homes with the access to public services and the infrastructure they need. Wherever we can, we will support these processes, said Christopher Coleman for RTK2.
Deputy Head of UNMIK praised the municipal leadership for their efforts to improve relations among the communities in Novobërdë/Novo Brdo, so that they all equally participate in the development of ideas and decision-making at the municipal level.
The biggest problem of the municipality is a small budget, according to Ivanović, which is being made on the basis of a census made in 2011, when a large number of Serbs have boycotted the census. Ivanović also informed Coleman about the problem.
– We tried to solve this problem through many institutions, we were close but some tasks and some guidelines were more of a political nature, therefore we have not solved this problem yet, said Svetislav Ivanović.
Yesterday was the ceremonial opening of the newly built Cultural Center in Zebince. The project was financed by the Municipality of Novobërdë/Novo Brdo, USAID and UNMIK.
– I think that this is one aspect of good and correct cooperation, and the Center will be used by all citizens of the municipality of Novo Brdo. It will serve for cultural events that are more than necessary for a municipality like ours, Ivanović said.
