Belgrade, 9 March 2005

The launching Conference of the ‘Settlement and Integration of Refugees Programme’ in Serbia was held on Wednesday 9 March 2005 at the National Library in Belgrade, in the presence of Mr. Velimir Ilic, Minister for Capital Investments, H.E. Antonio Zanardi Landi, the Ambassador of Italy in Belgrade, and Mr. Jean-Yves Barcelo, representative of UN-HABITAT headquarters. The 15 million programme is funded by the Italian Government and jointly implemented by Ministry for Capital Investments, 7 Cities/Municipalities and UN-HABITAT.

SIRP Programme aims to provide some 670 new housing units for 3,000 refugees and other vulnerable groups and to develop sustainable institutions and instruments for the social housing sector, associated with planning for local development and socio-economic projects. The seven concerned Municipalities are Cacak, Kragujevac, Kraljevo, Nis, Pancevo, Stara Pazova and Valjevo. In 2005, 280 housing units will be contracted through Municipal Housing Agencies. The first building sites are expected to open in May in two Municipalities.

UN-HABITAT congratulated the Government of Serbia for this Programme and for the ongoing reform process in the sectors of social housing and local development. UN-HABITAT also congratulated the Italian Government for committing crucial financial support in this sector that will help the operationalization of the reforms. H.E. Antonio Zanardi Landi, the Ambassador of Italy in Belgrade, also congratulated the Government of Serbia for its efforts to boost the resettlement of refugees and to set up sustainable instruments and legislation.

Minister Ilic informed the audience about the ongoing national reforms in the housing sector and the important role of Municipalities for the coordination in the delivery of social housing units for vulnerable groups. He expressed the gratitude of the Government of Serbia to the Government of Italy for its assistance. He also thanked UN-HABITAT for its technical support. The Minister then declared the Programme officially open and called for the good cooperation of all partners for the quick delivery of the housing units to the refugee families and other needy groups, such as the war invalids. Memorandums of Understanding were signed between UN-HABITAT and each Municipality, in the presence of Minister Ilic and Ambassador Zanardi Landi, to define respective responsibilities for the implementation of the activities.