PRISTINA - Representatives of the European Union Office in Kosovo and Kosovo's ministry for communities and return have launched a project worth up to EUR 6 million that should ensure the return of 250 displaced families.
The project will be implemented in seven municipalities - Pec/Peje, Istok/Istog, Klina/Kline, Obilic/Obiliq, Strpce/Shterpce, Suva Reka/Suhareke and Gnjilane/Gjilan over a 30-month period.
A budget proposal was passed after a heated debate at the meeting of the Government of Kosovo on Friday, 25 million euros are reserved for municipalities in northern Kosovo (20 million for capital investment, and five for operative costs).
Three million euros are reserved from the budget for returnees and those who have recently returned to Kosovo and are in need for help.
On the eve of the upcoming regional conference on the return of displaced persons, which should be held in mid-November in Skopje, Minister for Communities and Returns, Dalibor Jevtic, met with representatives of the OSCE and discussed the joint steps. "I expect that this, like the previous conference on the return of displaced, will be successful. Lately, I received the positive signals from the important international actors, as well as governments of certain countries and organizations that are involved in the return process," said Jevtic.
BELGRADE – Head of the Serbian government’s Office for Kosovo-Metohija (KiM) Marko Djuric said Monday that a task force composed of representatives of relevant local and international institutions would be set up to deal with the issue of returns of internally displaced persons (IDPs) to Serbia's southern province.