Cacak, 1 September 2004

Following the recent staging of similar launching ceremonies in Kragujevac and Nis, on Thursday 2 September 2004, a Framework of Cooperation for the implementation of the ‘Settlement and Integration of Refugees Programme in Serbia’ SIRP will be signed in Cacak by the representative of UN-HABITAT Programme Office in Belgrade and the Municipality of Cacak in the presence of H.E. Antonio Zanardi Landi, Ambassador of Italy in Belgrade and the Serbian Minister for Capital Investments, Velimir Ilic.

SIRP aims to provide some 670 new dwellings for 3,000 refugees and vulnerable people, to build institutional capacities for social housing development, to assist the social and economic integration of refugees and displaced people, and to help boost the development capacity of local governments in their development planning and municipal information systems.

The Government of Italy has provided 15 million euro for the Programme which is implemented by UN-HABITAT. At central level, SIRP will be exeuted together with the Ministry for Capital Investments whereas at local level it will be implemented together with the Municipalities of Cacak, Kragujevac, Kraljevo, Nis, Pancevo, Stara Pazova and Valjevo.

The signature ceremony will be held in the City Hall of Cacack (Zupana Stracimira 2) at 12:00. After the ceremony there will be a press conference.