Marko Djuric, director of the Serbian government's Office for Kosovo-Metohija (KiM), promised on Thursday that the state will assist citizens of Orahovac and Velika Hoca, the Serb enclaves in south-western KiM, and called on people of goodwill to invest efforts in the preservation of Serb enclaves in KiM.

Djuric said in Orahovac that the socio-economic situation in that town is extremely difficult, noting that citizens of Orahovac are in a kind of isolation. He underlined how important it is that people do not sell their property, but rather be committed to staying in KiM, for which they have the state's support.

“We have a big responsibility to help people, and primarily ensure that schools, healthcare and other public institutions function well, and to work together with local people on finding solutions for the issue of unemployment, as providing a perspective for young people here is a prerequisite for survival,” Djuric said.

He noted that the population of Orahovac has been shaken , so the number of citizens is on the decline, which brings the sustainability of the entire community in question as the nearest Serb community is tens of kilometers away.

“Had it not been for a school or ambulance, it would have been very difficult to stay here,” Djuric said.

“Serbia will help make this a busy town, and we are calling on all our neighbors, regardless of their nationality, to help this community of ours in Orahovac survive, as it adds to the diversity of this entire area, “ Djuric said, adding that all people of goodwill could assist in that.

While touring Velika Hoca, Djuric underlined that the Serb community is facing a major challenge relating to its stay in KiM, and added that the state of Serbia will work on solving the administrative issues with representatives of the Serb people in Velika Hoca in the weeks to come.

It is necessary to resolve the issue of placing the wine from that area on the market of central Serbia, but also to find a solution for unemployment, especially youth one, Djuric noted.