Back to the english site
Tillbaka till hemsidan
May
- KOSOVSKA MITROVICA: Displaced Roma from southern Mitrovica have authorized Serb representatives from Kosovo in the Belgrade delegation to represent their interests in Wienna on May 4th and 5th and demand that a Roma municipality, with majority Roma population, be formed in southern Mitrovica.
"Glas javnosti", 3. 5. 2006.
- BELGRADE; More than 70% of students from 4 universities in Serbia have never been abroad, show the results of the latest research by the Students Union of Serbia. The research included around 1.000 students from 4 universities.
"Glas javnosti", 3. 5. 2006.
- PRISTINA: UNMIK chief, Soren Jessen Petersen, has ratified a law providing institutional benefits for the families of more than 20.000 UCK members thus recognizing their contribution to the "freedom of Kosovo", reported Pristina news media in Albanian. Petersen stressed that it was hard to heal the wounds from the war but "the law recognizes the contribution that the martyrs of the war made for the freedom of Kosovo".
"Glas javnosti", 4. 5. 2006.
- BELGRADE: An opinion poll conducted last year among children aged up to 16 (the poll was conducted by the European Reconstruction and Development Bank and financed by the EU) showed that 1/4 of the boys and girls in Serbia get drunk for the first time at the age of 14.
"Glas javnosti", 4. 5. 2006.
- BELGRADE: There are 42 private faculties with legal work permits in Serbia at the moment.
"Glas javnosti", 5. 5. 2006.
- PODGORICA: In the last couple of days, nationalistic graffiti appeared in Spuz and along the Adriatic Highway that caused disquiet among the citizens, confirmed the Montenegran Police Department.
For example in the Shopping Center in Spuz, graffiti appeared reading "Montenegro and Albania will be one family" and "Long live Greater Albania, UCK". The population of Spuz is mostly made up of Montenegrans and Serbs.
"Glas javnosti", 3. 5. 2006.
- BELGRADE: According to the records of the World Bank, 200.000 children in Serbia are poor, and the results of a research by the EU show that 650.000 of the two million children in Serbia live in poverty.
It says in the Poverty Reduction Strategy that the categories most exposed to poverty are the unschooled, unemployed, those engaged in the grey economy, households with 5 or more members, old families of 2 and farmers living on pension. Those with incomplete elementary education are at the greatest risk of being poverty stricken, showing that it is necessary to invest into education as one of the most important ways out of poverty. The best illustration is that only 2% of the population with university education in Serbia is destitute. Compared to other vulnerable groups, Roma are the most destitute.
The social benefits that exist in Serbia are - the MOP (public assistance family allowance), humanitarian aid, municipal aid and child allowance. 18% of the households in Serbia receive at least one of these benefits and the most common is child allowance which is 1.400 dinars per child per month. Despite the large number of destitute households, only 1% receive the MOP. Only 13% of the destitute population receive social benefits, if we exclude child allowance whose function isn't purely social. As many as 40% of the destitute persons are not included in any of the existing social programs. The problem is that the destitute households don't apply for assistance. It means that the state authorities, i.e. the local authorities don't function properly, because it is their duty to inform the destitute that they have a possibility to apply and get social assistance.
"Danas", 2. 5. 2006.
- IGALO: Every 3rd woman in Montenegro is a victim of domestic violence and in more than 90% of the cases the abuser is either the husband, or the lover, or unmarried partner - this was said at a seminar on "Woman, victim of domestic violence" held in Igalo in the last two days. In some cases, mothers physically or psychologically abusing their children also appear as maltreaters, especially among the Roma population in refugee camps. Men have also started appearing lately as victims of their female partners.
The participants of the seminar warned that neither the institutions of the system nor the current legal regulations have any effect in preventing domestic violence.
"Danas", 4. 5. 2006.
- PODGORICA: Graffiti "Move out Serbs, this is Montenegro" has appeared on the family house of Radisav Karadzic, brother of the Hague fugitive Radovan Karadzic, in the settlement of Stari Aerodrom in Podgorica.
The Karadzic family built the house 18 years ago and they never had any problems until now.
Police are gathering information on the persons suspected of painting the nationalistic graffiti.
"Danas", 5. 5. 2006.
- TIVAT (Montenegro): In a fire that caught the settlement of "7h of July" in Bonici near Tivat yesterday, eight families with 40 members were left without a roof over their heads. No one was hurt in the fire but 1/3 of the settlement was destroyed. Mostly Egyptians from Kosovo live in the settlement. The cause of the fire was probably bad electric installations.
"Blic", 9. 5. 2006.
- RIJEKA: Unknown persons set fire to the apartment of the Radojevic family in Split on Sunday, and painted threatening nationalistic graffiti next to the entrance, reports the Rijeka "Novi list" daily paper. Only the front door was destroyed in the fire. At that moment six persons, including a baby of 7 months, were in the apartment.
"Blic", 9. 5. 2006.
- KOSOVSKA MITROVICA: Due to the lack of safety, freedom of movement and other basic living conditions, Serbs don't return to their home towns and villages in Kosovo, not even to their houses reconstructed more than 2 years ago. So more than 300 reconstructed Serbs' houses all over Kosovo are empty. For example, more than 80 reconstructed Serbs' houses are empty in Obilic, a town from which all Serbs were expelled on March 17th. "Albanians have moved into some of the houses in agreement with the UN Habitat, but many of the houses are robbed. In Obilic, Albanian and Serb houses are so mixed together that this closeness makes Serbs too afraid to go back", says Slavko Todorovic who lives in the refugee settlement in Zvecan.
According to UNHCR records, 12.500 people have returned to Kosovo so far, among them 5.500 Serbs. According to the official Serb sources, the total number of Serb returnees is around 1.200 and they have only returned to 23 villages and to the town of Klina.
"Blic", 9. 5. 2006.
- KOSOVSKA MITROVICA: A bus transporting Serbs from Osojane to Kosovska Mitrovica was stoned yesteday morning in the Albanian settlement of Rudnik in the north of Kosovo, but no other damage was caused except for property damage - two side windows were crushed. The incident took place near the local elementary school, during a break, when there are usually lots of children but also grownups near the road, said the bus driver, Aca Trajkovic. He said that the bus with a visible UN marking had 60 passengers onboard, among them a large number of children and older people. ("Glas javnosti", 10. 5. 2006.)
KOSOVSKA MITROVICA: Yesterday in the village of Rudnik near Srbica, a larger group of boys stoned the bus transporting Serbs from Osojane to Mitrovica and back every Tuesday. Serb sources in Kosovo have reported that none of the passengers were injured, but considerable property damage was caused on the bus which had visible UN markings. The same source reported that the windows on the bus had been crushed and added that this bus is stoned every time it passes through this Albanian village. The attackers are mostly minors stoning the bus in the presence of grownups, reported the same source. The source said that Serbs from Osojane are getting more and more worried over similar incidents and this bus is their only means of transportation to Mitrovica. ("Danas", 10. 5. 2006.)
- VUKOVAR: A new sports field was opened yesterday in the yard of the Fourth Elementary School in Vukovar. Its construction was financed with the funds raised by the General Consulate of Serbia&Montenegro and with the support from Serbia's Ministry of Culture.
"Glas javnosti", 10. 5. 2006.
- KOSOVSKA MITROVICA: In the village of Rudnik near Srbica, a large group of children stoned a bus transporting Serbs from Osojane this morning. No one was injured, but a considerable property damage was caused on the bus with UN markings and with armed escort.
It was the second stoning this week.
Police investigation is underway.
"Glas javnosti", 13. 5. 2006.
- BELGRADE: On May 18th, the Government will pass a new regulation to abolish the regulation that caused the recent invalids' protests, but it will also abolish the additional personal and family welfare for invalid persons!
"Glas javnosti", 13. 5. 2006.
- CZECH REPUBLIC: The Czechs still like neighboring Slovakia the best, and they are the most antipathetic towards Serbia, Russia, Ukrain and China, shows a regular poll by the STEM Agency.
"Glas javnosti", 14. 5. 2006.
- "Even though we are Serbs, we get very little aid, everything goes to shiptar Roma, and if there is anything left over we get it", says Nebojsa Saitovic about the troubles of the Roma in Belgrade mahalas.
"Glas javnosti", 16. 5. 2006.
- PODGORICA: The Roma political party Integration - Republican Party in Montenegro supports the State Union of Serbia and Montenegro. The party has 12.640 members.
Vladan Stanojevic, president of the party, says: "There are 17.200 members of Roma nationality living in Montenegro at the moment, and a considerable number of Egyptians. The illiteracy rate among them is more than 47%, most of them are living on the verge of existence. Not even the educated Roma are in a better situation, because the regime doesn't let them get better jobs. There are no Roma employees in the institutions of the system", Stanojevic said.
"Glas javnosti", 17. 5. 2006.
- KOSOVSKA MITROVICA: Regional spokesperson for UNMIK police, Larry Miller, confirmed yesterday that last night at around 3 a.m. a supermarket in Leposavic, owned by Tihomir Belosevic, was hit from a portable missile launcher. According to the preliminary police report, considerable property damage was caused but no one was hurt.
"Glas javnosti", 17. 5. 2006.
- BELGRADE: Although the new authorities promised after October 5th, 2000, to reduce and rationalize the large bureaucratic apparatus guzzling enormous money, around 20.000 new employees were hired in the administration between 2001. and March 2004. The inflation is rising, public spending is too high, and the apparatus is getting larger and larger. According to the official records of the National Employment Service, from January 1st to November 30th, 2004, 5.000 new employees were hired in the state administration.
"Glas javnosti", 18. 5. 2006.
- CACAK: Around 1.500 citizens of Cacak need another's care and assistance, so in cooperation with the relevant authorities, the municipality is about to start the "Help at Home" project for old, paralyzed and sick people who have no one to look after them. This week polls are being conducted in order to form a list of around 300 persons to be included in the project.
"Blic", 16. 5. 2006.
- KRUSEVAC: Radivoje U. (aged 42), Dalibor U. (24) from Jasik near Krusevac and Misko D. (30) from Seliste near Trstenik, have been arrested on suspicion of people trafficking.
According to the report of Krusevac Police Department, Misko D. deceived a 49-year-old woman of Bulgarian nationality and taking advantage of her difficult situation, sold her for a Nokia mobile phone to Radivoje U. and Dalibor U. to use her for sexual exploitation.
The Bulgarian woman, as many of her compatriots, had come to Serbia to stay with her relatives and work on the local farms. In accordance with the Serbian law, she registered her stay with the local police.
The three suspects in people trafficking already have criminal records, only for other crimes, not for people trafficking.
"Blic", 24. 5. 2006.
- KOSOVO: At the beginning of May, the first group of 11 Serbs returned to the town of Istok from which all Serbs were expelled in June 1999. Eleven Serbs are staying in the so-called "transition house" (the first Serb house reconstructed) and every day they go to their destroyed homes to remove the remains because, according to the promises of the international representatives, their houses will be rebuilt soon. Another 15 Serbs are staying in the transition house in the settlement of Djurakovac at the moment.
The whole project includes the reconstruction of a total of 50 houses and another 25 houses will be reconstructed in the settlement of Djurakovac.
"Glas javnosti", 22. 5. 2006.
- BELGRADE: Serbia's Government has adopted the Draft law on changes to the Law on refugees. Of the 537.000 refugees in 1996, there are still 1/5 left officially. It is difficult to find a job in Serbia overwhelmed with job cuts, transition and inflation, and it is even more difficult to solve housing problems, so how are the refugees living today, what does the new Law bring, we asked Dragisa Dabetic, Serbia's Commissioner for Refugees.
How many refugees are there in Serbia today?
- In Serbia there are 107.000 people with refugee IDs and another 200.000 who have taken the citizenship. So it is around 300.000 people altogether. Obtaining the documents doesn't automatically solve all your problems, far from it. These people don't have refugee status formally, but their situation hasn't improved much, therefore we have included them as well in the Draft law, referring to them as "refugees".
Even after so many years, there are still refugees living in collective centers?
- There are around 4.000 people living in collective centers at the moment, and in 2001 they numbered around 22.000. You can say that they are the most vulnerable. According to the 2001 refugee census, there were 377.000 refugees. Only 67.000 or 17% owned a housing unit, 112.000 (29%) were staying with relatives and friends, and 165.000 (43,9%) were staying in rented apartments. Employment is a major problem in Serbia, salaries are low, many people have lost their jobs, and as an economist, I know that the most difficult period of the transition isn't over yet.
How many people have returned to Croatia and Bosnia?
- 60.000 have returned to Croatia, around 70.000 have returned to Bosnia and around 30.000 went to third countries. Another 43.000 people, who were refugees in Serbia, have returned to Bosnia but not to their original place or residence, so now they have IDP status there. It is not a negligible number.
Under the new Law, the refugees who are staying in the apartments will have to buy them because they are owned by the state, although they are mostly built with foreign money. Is it moral to put them in a situation to have to finance their local integration with their modest incomes?
- Let's say we give for free the 2.000 apartments and houses to the 10.000 refugees living in them. Thus other refugees would be left without a chance to solve their problem. When buying the apartments, the refugees will get 50% discount and when it comes to self-construction - 70%. Those who can't afford to buy the apartments, will have a possibility to pay the rent. This money will be used for the integration of refugees, to finance the construction of the apartments for those who don't have other alternative to get a roof over their heads.
The Law doesn't allow the apartments to be put on the market in the next 5 years so there is no manipulation and so someone wouldn't profit from selling an apartment. The money will be under strict control. The goal is to do something for these people, and not to sit around with the arms crossed.
"Glas javnosti", 21. 5. 2006.
- BELGRADE: Around 1,2 million people in Serbia are 65 and more, and 157 municipalities are "old". Serbia's population is among the oldest in the world, and if the current situation continues, in the near future 1/4 of the population will be aged over 80.
A poll conducted by the "Independence" Pensioners Union shows that 1/3 of the pensioners still live with their children and grandchildren, and 48% help their children financially; a large number of pensioners say that they can only afford to buy meat and cookies once a month, and many haven't bought any clothes or shoes for 10 years.
"Glas javnosti", 21. 5. 2006.
- NIS: The Roma settlement of Crvena Zvezda is a black spot on the map of Nis. None of the shelters have water or sanitation system, and they fight against rats every day. Every political party that came into power in the city promised to solve their problem but each concluded in the end that there was no money for the dislocation of the settlement.
One of the families in the settlement is the Uskokovic family with 4 children living in an old car. "We lived in the heating plant building until recently but the guards came and threw us out. We had nowhere to go, so we came here and moved into a car our neighbors dragged here while collecting waste metals. When it's warm, we sleep outside. It is bad when it rains. Then we all have to get into the car. My husband is often angry with me, he hits me and then he forces me to sleep outside", says Badusa Uskovic (aged 49), the mother.
The roof of the wrecked car is covered with planks and pieces of wood so it doesn't leak.
The children are aged 8-16. None of them go to school, and 12-year-old Tamara was born blind. They were taught to beg ever since they were little because the family has no income or allowance from the Social Work Center. "Every morning the children and I go to beg and my husband goes to find some work. If he doesn't get any work, then he goes through garbage containers - it is good when he finds bread and when he doesn't, then we eat the 'soup'. We put everything we have brought into a pot and that's our only meal", Badusa says.
The neighbors understand the problems of the Uskokovic family but they can't help them much because they don't have much themselves. They live in homes made from cardboard, plastic and other waste, and they support themselves by collecting waste iron they find in the streets of Nis. "If there was someone to build a house for them, even just one single room would do, so they could leave the wrecked car", says one of the neighbors.
Badusa suffers from severe myocardiopathy and she is going to the hospital on Friday. When she gets back from hospital, she will be cooking the "soup" again and she will be sleeping in the old car again.
"Glas javnosti", 21. 5. 2006.
- BELGRADE: In accordance with the new powers that the UNMIK administration has transferred to the Kosovo Ministry of Traffic, as of July 1st Serbs will be transported by Albanian buslines and not Serbian and they will no longer have KFOR escort. The safety and movement of Serbs in Kosovo will be even more jeopardized, and around 120 Serb enclaves will be cut from the rest of the world.
The Coordination Center for Kosovo and the Serbian Government have sent a protest note to Soren Jessen Petersen over this decision.
"Glas javnosti", 19. 5. 2006.
- "I believe that Serbs are now capable of seeing realistically that their interests are better represented by Pristina than Belgrade", said Veton Suroi, president of the ORA political party and member of the Kosovo negotiation team.
"Glas javnosti", 20. 5. 2006.
- BELGRADE: For the families who have moved into the houses and apartments for refugees, purchase or rent of these housing units will be enabled at half the market price and for those who participated in the construction of the housing units they are using, the discount will be 70% - provide the Draft changes to the Law on refugees.
The Draft changes announce support from the state for those who have Serbian citizenship, and for those who have applied for citizenship and have had registered residence in one of the municipalities for at least two years, which is the only place where they can apply for support in getting their own roof over their heads.
The Draft changes give a possibility to refugees to buy the housing units in cash and the money will go to the budget for construction of apartments for refugees. They will have to pay full tax (5% of the price).
International organizations and refugee associations were consulted in the preparation of the Draft changes and the decisions on who will obtain housing support will be made by a special commission set up by the Commission for Refugees in accordance with the Government's regulations.
"Danas", 19. 5. 2006.
- BELGRADE: The Supreme Court of Serbia confirmed yesterday the verdict for 4 members of the "Avengers" paramilitary formation who had been found guilty of the war crime in Sjeverin and sentenced to 15-20 years imprisonment.
It was proved during the trial that these four and another five unidentified members of the "Avengers" kidnapped 16 inhabitants of Sjeverin from a bus operating between Pljevlja and Priboj on October 22nd, 1992, took them to the "Vilina vlas" Motel in Visegrad, where they abused them physically and psychologically and then killed them on the bank of the Drina river.
"Danas", 19. 5. 2006.
- NOVI PAZAR: After 14 years of work, the Red Cross soup-kitchen in Novi Pazar had to be closed for a period of 6 months due to the lack of basic foodstuffs. On April 1st, thanks to a donation of the Serbian Government (who provided flour) and the Norwegian Red Cross, the 700 poorest citizens of this town started to get one meal a day again. The local Red Cross now has a new problem - new applications for a free meal in the soup-kitchen arrive every day and now there are more than 1.000 applications.
Ljljana Kostic, secretary of the local Red Cross, says they are now trying to find a possibility to increase the number of soup-kitchen beneficiaries by 200 because 1,2 million dinars are assigned for the soup-kitchen from the municipal budget for this year. The selection of beneficiaries is made in cooperation with the Social Work Center and the Pensioners Association.
The problem is also how to provide support for several thousand refugees and IDPs who have stayed to live in the municipality and for the destitute domicile population.
Last year collaboration was established with the Swedish "Human Bridge" organization who sent 20 tons of aid in clothes, shoes and orthopedic appliances last November. Another 20 tons arrived this March. According to Ljiljana Kostic, several more deliveries are expected by the end of the year. Part of this aid is intended for the Program for the old which has been implemented for 5 years now with the support of the International Red Cross and Red Crescent Federation; 77 old, sick and destitute persons are included in the Program.
"Danas", 20.-21. 5. 2006.
- BELGRADE: The German low-cost "Germanwings" airway will start a service between Belgrade and Köln on September 6th and become the first such air company in the Serbian market. One-way ticket will be 19 euros and there will be 3 flights a week in the beginning. The "Germanwings" has announced service to other cities besides Köln.
"Glas javnosti", 23. 5. 2006.
- ZAGREB: Representatives of the Croatian judicial system claim to be willing to process the members of the Croatian armed forces responsible for war crimes, despite the opposition coming from some parts of the public who still regard them as the heroes of the Homeland War 1991-1995. Ivo Josipovic, professor of the Law School in Zagreb, says that the number of Croats processed for war crimes was almost zero until the year 2000 and the majority of around 1.418 indictments were brought against Serbs, many of which had no real grounds and were only brought in order to prevent the refugees from returning. According to Josipovic, the renewal of the 2002 process for war crimes against Serb civilians in Lora is a turning point which shows that the Croatian judicial system will process the most responsible for crimes against Serbs.
"Danas", 23. 5. 2006.
- BELGRADE: The return of refugees to Croatia is problematic, the return process in Kosovo doesn't show good results, and refugees are returning to Bosnia&Herzegovina without any obstacles - this was said at yesterday's presentation of the project of the Danish Refugee Council called "The Support for the Repatriation procces of refugees and IDPs currently staying in Serbia, Kosovo, Croatia and Bosnia&Herzegovina".
Grem Tindal, UNHCR representative, said that all the obstacles to the return process must be removed by 2007 and stressed that it will take a long time to remove all the obstacles for IDPs from Kosovo. He said that the current project of the Danish Refugee Council will continue to provide information on IDPs and return process procedures, and to provide support for removing the obstacles to their return and realization of their rights while they are in the situation of internal displacement.
The Danish Refugee Council and its partner organizations continue with their activities directed towards strengthening the participation of IDPs in making decisions on permanent solutions, as well as the connections between IDPs and their associations with the state institutions in Kosovo and Serbia.
Tindal also pointed out that one of the goals of the project is to make IDPs better informed through 8 information centers. This will be achieved through participation in "Go, see and get informed" visits and through participation in municipal working groups. The project also provides individual assistance in making decisions on permament solutions, which requires for IDPs to be informed of their rights and supported in removing the obstacles to the desired permanent solution, especially when it comes to property-legal problems, housing, etc.
"Through the information centers, 14.500 IDPs will be getting information on the situation and the realization of their rights in Kosovo. They will also be provided with information on how they can realize their rights in Serbia proper. The local "Praxis" NGO, who provide free legal aid for IDPs, will obtain 400 documents from Kosovo for 350 IDPs. Also, the Serb Democratic Forum will provide 1.000 documents related with personal, property, education and other issues of the refugees who want to return to Croatia and the Forum will also provide information and assistance for refugees who want to join the Croatian Government's housing program. As for the provision of assistance for returning to Croatia and Bosnia&Herzegovina, information on permanent solutions will be provided for 1.200 refugees", Tindal stressed.
The project is financed by the EU through the European Reconstruction Agency, it is cofinanced by UNHCR and implemented by the Danish Refugee Council and its partners - 8 local NGOs.
"Danas", 23. 5. 2006.
- PEC: The Fatic family are the first three Serb returnees in Pec. They have moved back into their house after 7 years in exile. Twenty days ago they arrived at the nearby village of Belo Polje and waited for the UN Habitat to evict the usurpers out of their house. The UN Habitat repaired the floors and painted the walls and the Danish Refugee Council gave two beds to the family. The Red Cross of Kosovo visited them two days ago and brought them foodstuffs.
Before the war in Kosovo, the Fatics lived in the house with 8 children and their grandsons, and they also own two business locations outside the house which are still used by unknown persons.
"Glas javnosti", 26. 5. 2006.
- SARAJEVO: Yesterday the Ministries Council of Bosnia formed a State Commission to investigate the truth about mass and individual killings and torture of Serbs, Croats, Bosniaks, Jews and others in Sarajevo between 1992 and 1995.
"Glas javnosti", 26. 5. 2006.
- BELGRADE: Last month there were 924.450 registered unemployed persons in Serbia. Long-term unemployment, i.e. those waiting for a job for more than 2 years, is very high and it is 51,6%, whereas the unemployment rate is 23%. The majority of unemployed persons are in the over 50 category, then come young people under 30 and finally those aged 31-40.
Slobodan Lalovic, Minister of Work, Employment and Social Policy, has announced some changes to the Law on taxation against citizens' incomes and paying tax. "It has been agreed that each employer who hires a person under 30, an invalid person, a woman over 45 and a man over 50, has a series of privileges. In this way we hope to stimulate employment of these two categories who are the most numerous among the registered unemployed. These propositions are to be adopted by the Parliament in June", Lalovic said.
"Glas javnosti", 26. 5. 2006.
- CACAK: The Municipal Manager in Cacak announced yesterday that 4 million dinars will be allotted from the municipal budget for the self-employment program aimed to reduce the unemployment (there are around 14.000 unemployed persons in the municipality at the moment). The donation for each project will be 100.000 dinars.
A similar self-employment program has been implemented by the National Employment Service and the "Acdi voca" NGO. 240 citizens have been included in the program and most of them have developed successful businesses. Unlike this program, the new program financed from the municipal budget will only grant funds for manufacturing projects.
"Glas javnosti", 26. 5. 2006.
- VALJEVO: Two years ago several Roma families moved illegally into an apartment building in the settlement of Peti Puk. The building was damaged during the NATO bombing and it can collapse any time. For this reason, it has been planned for demolition so it has been cut from electric and water supplies. The Roma came from the garbage dump of Metva and they don't mind the lack of electricity and water, as long as they have a roof over their heads. How safe the roof is, they don't think about it or they don't have any other choice.
"We don't want these people to be left without a roof over their head, but we don't want someone to get killed either. Another 2-3 earthquakes similar to the ones we had recently, and I don't know what might happen to these people and who would answer for it. There are lots of children in the building and it is about to collapse. On the other hand, the neighbors complain about them. There is no bathroom in the building, electricity and water have been cut, so the tenants go to the toilet all over the surrounding area. At first they did it in the basement or in the apartments. I'm afraid that an epidemic might break out. There is a daycare only 50 meters away and the surrounding buildings are only 30, 50 and 100 meters away", says Vladan Milivojevic, president of the "Krusik" Local Community. None of his appeals to the local authorities, to the Social Work Center or to the "Krusik" factory as the owner of the building, had no results. He says that the local authorities have replied that the tenants have been moved out of the building and it is planned for demolition; the Social Work Center has replied that the problem in question is not their jurisdiction and the "Krusik" factory hasn't replied at all.
In the meantime, the number of Roma families in the building is rising, so no one knows any more how many people are living there. They say they have nowhere else to go. It is the only shelter they have, however it is. They are all social cases but, as Branko Mazic head of all the inspections in Valjevo Municipality says, it doesn't justify them moving illegally into the building. They have been warned several times that the building is planned for demolition and that they have to move out. Still, he says, they will see what to do with those people, and the building has to be pulled down.
According to Milivojevic, there are around 18.000 people living in this part of Valjevo and there are also other problems with infrastructure and the local self-government does nothing to solve them. Among other things, 36 streets are not asphalted and the garbage is not taken away regularly from the settlement.
"Glas javnosti", 25. 5. 2006.
-BELGRADE: Only two collective centers for refugees and IDPs in Serbia were closed in the last year and a half, and the process goes rather slow, said the representatives of the Group 484 yesterday. "The 16 destitute municipalities in Serbia, such as Prijepolje, Raca, Rekovac, Nova Varos etc. cannot provide the necessary support for the integration of refugees so it has to be provided as part of the anti-poverty struggle. So it is necessary to involve the local communities more in order for the process of closing the collective centers is completed successfully", says Vesna Golic, executive director of the Group 484.
At the presentation of the "Stay of Refugees in Serbia" publication, published in cooperation with the Danish Refugee Council, it was aid that there are more than 100 official collective centers housing 5.679 IDPs and 3.700 refugees. In another 52 unofficial collective centers, organized by the people themselves in abandoned or temporary buildings, there are 1.765 IDPs and 1.092 refugees. Between 2001 and October 2005, 303 collective centers were closed housing 7.000 IDPs and around 20.000 refugees.
"Danas", 24. 5. 2006.