BOSNIAN STATE COMMISSION FOR REFUGEES ALLOCATED FUNDS FOR RECONSTRUCTION PROJECTS

BANJA LUKA, Bosnia (November 29,2007) – The Bosnian State Commission for Refugees and Displaced Persons passed a decision on allocation of the remaining funds aimed for the use in the projects of reconstruction in the last year and the funds approved for solving the problems of refugees in the amount of about 11 million Bosnian Marks for this year.

The Commission will ask the Bosnian Council of Ministers and the Bosnian Presidency to ensure the funds collected through the value added tax (VAT) for the reconstruction of devastated houses. The amount of money needed for that purpose is 600 million Bosnian Marks. Additional 400 million Bosnian Marks is needed for the purpose of ensuring a sustainable return.

President of the Commission Slavko Marin stated at a press conference after the session held in the northern Bosnian city of Banja Luka that the implementation of projects worth about 54.800.000 Bosnian Marks has been planned and that the total of 49,495,000 Bosnian Marks has been invested into the reconstruction of 2.199 homes.

Marin stated that a decision has been made on allocating the amount of 3,7 million Bosnian Marks for ensuring the reconstruction of homes for 150 families. The Development Bank partly supported the project aimed to solve the issues of families living in alternative centres.

The decisions adopted will become operative next week.