BOSNIAN MINISTER OF HUMAN RIGHTS AND REFUGEES SAFET HALILOVIĆ MET WITH UNDP DELEGATION

SARAJEVO, Bosnia (November 13,2007) – “We should focus our future cooperation to a more efficient work which will benefit the Bosnian citizens”, the Bosnian Minister of Human Rights and Refugees Safet Halilovic stated at a meeting in Sarajevo with representatives of the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP).

There are possibilities for expansion of cooperation in at least four priority sectors – the mine disposal, refugee return, electrification and Srebrenica development sectors. The activities should also focus on strengthening the Gender Equality Agency.

The issue of electrification of the refugee settlements has been especially emphasized. About 4.000 returnees in Bosnia are living without electricity. The Bosnian government passed decision recently in accordance with Halilovic’s proposal to ensure 10 million Bosnian Marks in the following three years to solve the problem.

UNDP representatives promised to provide help in the process of solving the electrification issue in the returnee areas.

Projects are currently realized in cooperation between the UNDP and the Bosnian Ministry of Refugees and displaced Persons in over 120 municipalities in Bosnia.

Kori Udovicki, UNDP Regional Representative for Europe, was a member of the delegation which met with Minsiter Halilovic, as well as the UNDP Resident Representative for Bosnia Christine McNab and her deputy Stefan Priesner.