Kosovo: EUR 12mn for return of IDPs

A Kosovo official says that almost EUR 12mn has thus far been invested in return of Serbs and other communities to Kosovo. The return minister in the Kosovo government, Vladimir Grbic, told FoNet on Sunday that 16,500 persons have returned to the province over the past several years. Kosovo: EUR 12mn for return of IDPs He cited a project in the Srpski Babus village as "one of the most important undertakings." “EUR 3mn have been invested in the return in 74 families to Srpski Babus, in the construction of a school, a surgery and a farm,” said Grbic. Stressing that the return of the internally displaced persons to Prizren was planned for 2008, Grbic said that according to the UNHCR records, 16,500 people returned to Kosovo over the past several years. “45 percent are members of the Serb community. The number is rather insignificant compared to more than 200,000 of the Serb IDPs who have not yet come back to the province.” According to him, the return could be boosted by constructing houses and securing economic conditions for a normal life of the returnees. “We do not want to see people come back to Kosovo, stay a while and then return to Serbia or Montenegro since they have not been provided with economic conditions to remain in the province,” Grbic said. Grbic is also the president of New Democracy, one of the Serb parties that have announced participation in the coming Kosovo elections due to take place on November 17. “I see our participation as a political challenge that can enable the Serb community to endure in Kosovo. We should support the return through government’s projects and through securing jobs for the returnees in public enterprises,” explained Grbic.

Kosovo: EUR 12mn for return of IDPs

He cited a project in the Srpski Babuš village as "one of the most important undertakings."

“EUR 3mn have been invested in the return in 74 families to Srpski Babuš, in the construction of a school, a surgery and a farm,” said Grbić.

Stressing that the return of the internally displaced persons to Prizren was planned for 2008, Grbić said that according to the UNHCR records, 16,500 people returned to Kosovo over the past several years.

“45 percent are members of the Serb community. The number is rather insignificant compared to more than 200,000 of the Serb IDPs who have not yet come back to the province.”

According to him, the return could be boosted by constructing houses and securing economic conditions for a normal life of the returnees.

“We do not want to see people come back to Kosovo, stay a while and then return to Serbia or Montenegro since they have not been provided with economic conditions to remain in the province,” Grbić said.

Grbić is also the president of New Democracy, one of the Serb parties that have announced participation in the coming Kosovo elections due to take place on November 17.

“I see our participation as a political challenge that can enable the Serb community to endure in Kosovo. We should support the return through government’s projects and through securing jobs for the returnees in public enterprises,” explained Grbić.