Serbian Kibbutz in Kosovo (Večernje Novosti)
The impressive returnee settlement “Sunčana Dolina” (Sunny Valley), or as they call it – the first Serbian kibbutz in Kosovo – soon will be built at the foot of the ancient town of Zvečan. The preparation of the field is on-going. In a few weeks, with joint forces of the Serbian Government Office for KiM, the Diocese of Raška and Prizren and Zvečan municipality will start the construction of 225 - 300 typical houses, of 60 to 100 square meters.
As explained from the Office for Kosovo, public buildings including the church and shopping center will be built within the settlement, and certain number of the inhabitants will work in them. In this way, each family which decides to return to Kosovo will be guaranteed one sustainable job and consequently the existence, was said in the Office.
Director of the Serbian government Office for Kosovo, Marko Ɖurić, who created and initiated the project, explained that “Sunčana Dolina” is not an attempt of demographic engineering. However, he said, that the final result should be return to the previous state. Settlement will provide the chance for the return to the province of all people who were expelled and wish to return. According to him, this is the answer on the attempts to discourage Internally Displaced persons and thus permanently keep them in the places of temporary residence in central Serbia.