OSCE Mission Head calls for further efforts to stabilize southern Serbia
Ambassador Maurizio Massari, Head of the OSCE Mission to Serbia and Montenegro. (OSCE) Photo details
BELGRADE, 15 July 2004 - The Head of the OSCE Mission to Serbia and Montenegro, Ambassador Maurizio Massari, called on all local leaders in Serbia on Thursday to remain fully engaged in the stabilization process in the south of the country.
"The process of multi-ethnic stabilization started in 2001 has had many successes, but we must not become complacent," Ambassador Massari said.
The OSCE Mission is one of the main partners of the Serbian government in implementing the peace plan that marked the end of the conflict in southern Serbia in 2001. Together with other international organizations, the Mission has funded a number of projects in the fields of police reform, multi-ethnic media and the judiciary.
Ambassador Massari called on the Serbian government to fulfill its commitments and resolve the funding problems that key infrastructure projects are facing in the southern Serbian municipalities of Presevo, Bujanovac and Medvedja .
"Such projects are vital in stimulating socio-economic development which will help stabilize the region," the Head of Mission said. "We remain fully committed to assisting in this process."
One of the main Mission activities in the past three years has been the training of police officers. The Head of the Mission's Law Enforcement Department, Roger Berg, has just returned from southern Serbia, where the OSCE Mission plans to train an additional 700 police officers in modern police methods and community policing.
"The process of multi-ethnic stabilization started in 2001 has had many successes, but we must not become complacent," Ambassador Massari said.
The OSCE Mission is one of the main partners of the Serbian government in implementing the peace plan that marked the end of the conflict in southern Serbia in 2001. Together with other international organizations, the Mission has funded a number of projects in the fields of police reform, multi-ethnic media and the judiciary.
Ambassador Massari called on the Serbian government to fulfill its commitments and resolve the funding problems that key infrastructure projects are facing in the southern Serbian municipalities of Presevo, Bujanovac and Medvedja .
"Such projects are vital in stimulating socio-economic development which will help stabilize the region," the Head of Mission said. "We remain fully committed to assisting in this process."
One of the main Mission activities in the past three years has been the training of police officers. The Head of the Mission's Law Enforcement Department, Roger Berg, has just returned from southern Serbia, where the OSCE Mission plans to train an additional 700 police officers in modern police methods and community policing.