Head of OSCE Mission in Kosovo visits Strpce/Shterpce
(Lubomir Kotek/OSCE)Head of the OSCE Mission in Kosovo, Pascal Fieschi of France, speaking at a press conference. (Lubomir Kotek/OSCE) Photo details
PRISTINA, 18 July 2003 - Ambassador Pascal Fieschi, Head of the OSCE Mission in Kosovo, today visited the Strpce/Shterpce municipality, where he met Kosovo Albanian returnees and inaugurated the refurbished Municipal Assembly hall.
In the villages of Donja Bitinja/Bitanja e Ulte and Gornja Bitinja/Bitanja e Eperme, Ambassador Fieschi met recent returnees to the municipality to get a first-hand picture of their situation and living conditions.
"Changes cannot be made overnight but we promise we will try to help you and we will continue to work on this," Fieschi said.
Strpce/Shterpce municipality has established a working group on reconstruction, but it is still in its initial phases in working to alleviate the situation. The returnees asked the Ambassador to help accelerate this process - otherwise they would consider leaving their homes again since the area is mountainous and winters come early.
"This is where I spent 70 years of my life," said an old man who was cleaning up of what had once been his house. "I have no other place to go. I would not endure another winter here but still it's home and I belong here," he said, urging municipal authorities to take them into consideration.
Ambassador Fieschi also inaugurated the Municipal Assembly hall in Strpce/Shterpce. In the presence of Sladjan Ilic, President of the Municipal Assembly, and other local and international representatives, he highlighted the importance of inclusive participation and mutual respect.
"Democracy is a never-ending job and we will continue to support you in your efforts," he said. "The OSCE tries to play its role in being a partner in helping you by creating a working environment conducive to democratic practices."
A plaque marking the occasion was unveiled in the Assembly stating that the refurbished facility was completed with the financial support of the Dutch government's Small Investment Minorities Fund (SIMF). The Netherlands holds the OSCE Chairmanship this year.
Yesterday, the Strpce/Shterpce Green Market, another SIMF funded project, re-opened for the first time in over four years. The Green Market serves both the Serbian and Albanian communities and aims to promote progressive inter-community development and local economic activity. This project was an outgrowth of the OSCE's "political empowerment of women" initiative in the municipality.
In the villages of Donja Bitinja/Bitanja e Ulte and Gornja Bitinja/Bitanja e Eperme, Ambassador Fieschi met recent returnees to the municipality to get a first-hand picture of their situation and living conditions.
"Changes cannot be made overnight but we promise we will try to help you and we will continue to work on this," Fieschi said.
Strpce/Shterpce municipality has established a working group on reconstruction, but it is still in its initial phases in working to alleviate the situation. The returnees asked the Ambassador to help accelerate this process - otherwise they would consider leaving their homes again since the area is mountainous and winters come early.
"This is where I spent 70 years of my life," said an old man who was cleaning up of what had once been his house. "I have no other place to go. I would not endure another winter here but still it's home and I belong here," he said, urging municipal authorities to take them into consideration.
Ambassador Fieschi also inaugurated the Municipal Assembly hall in Strpce/Shterpce. In the presence of Sladjan Ilic, President of the Municipal Assembly, and other local and international representatives, he highlighted the importance of inclusive participation and mutual respect.
"Democracy is a never-ending job and we will continue to support you in your efforts," he said. "The OSCE tries to play its role in being a partner in helping you by creating a working environment conducive to democratic practices."
A plaque marking the occasion was unveiled in the Assembly stating that the refurbished facility was completed with the financial support of the Dutch government's Small Investment Minorities Fund (SIMF). The Netherlands holds the OSCE Chairmanship this year.
Yesterday, the Strpce/Shterpce Green Market, another SIMF funded project, re-opened for the first time in over four years. The Green Market serves both the Serbian and Albanian communities and aims to promote progressive inter-community development and local economic activity. This project was an outgrowth of the OSCE's "political empowerment of women" initiative in the municipality.