Newsroom
OSCE Mission to Skopje supports second phase of decentralization
SKOPJE 16 August 2007
SKOPJE, 16 August 2007 - The OSCE Spillover Monitor Mission to Skopje is supporting preparations for launching the second phase of the decentralization process, scheduled for September.
The process is a key component in implementing the 2001 Ohrid Framework Agreement, which ended the short conflict in the country.
Forty two of the total of 85 municipalities have been deemed by the Government as prepared to enter the second phase, during which the fiscal part of decentralization is strengthened and municipalities become responsible for their own financing.
"We have already done a lot of work in helping the local governments prepare for this phase in terms of training financial officers, assisting in preparing budgets, and other forms of technical assistance," said Ambassador Giorgio Radicati, the Head of the OSCE Mission.
"It is important now to understand why some municipalities did not qualify, and help them meet the criteria as soon as possible. At the same time we will continue supporting those that did make it so they effectively take on their new responsibilities."
The OSCE Mission is directing its assistance according to requests made by the Minister of Local Self Government, Abdiraman Memeti, during this week's meeting with Ambassador Radicati, and the needs expressed by the municipalities in a survey on the decentralization process conducted by the Mission.
The process is a key component in implementing the 2001 Ohrid Framework Agreement, which ended the short conflict in the country.
Forty two of the total of 85 municipalities have been deemed by the Government as prepared to enter the second phase, during which the fiscal part of decentralization is strengthened and municipalities become responsible for their own financing.
"We have already done a lot of work in helping the local governments prepare for this phase in terms of training financial officers, assisting in preparing budgets, and other forms of technical assistance," said Ambassador Giorgio Radicati, the Head of the OSCE Mission.
"It is important now to understand why some municipalities did not qualify, and help them meet the criteria as soon as possible. At the same time we will continue supporting those that did make it so they effectively take on their new responsibilities."
The OSCE Mission is directing its assistance according to requests made by the Minister of Local Self Government, Abdiraman Memeti, during this week's meeting with Ambassador Radicati, and the needs expressed by the municipalities in a survey on the decentralization process conducted by the Mission.