OSCE Mission to Skopje fosters inter-community dialogue through municipal cooperation

SKOPJE, 18 August 2009 - The OSCE Spillover Monitor Mission to Skopje announced today that it had awarded grants to three consortia of multi-ethnic municipalities as part of an initiative to support the units of local self-government during the decentralization process and encourage partnerships between ethnically mixed municipalities.

"Inter-municipal co-operation will not only assist municipalities to jointly implement projects, it will also contribute to social cohesion and fostering co-operation and trust among different ethnic groups," said Marie-Carin von Gumppenberg, the OSCE Mission's Senior Good Governance Officer.

A panel including representatives from the OSCE Mission and the Ministry of Local Self-government, which supported the initiative, selected consortia lead by the municipalities of Tetovo, Kisela Voda and Zajas out of the 18 consortia - representing 43 out of 85 municipalities - that applied for grants.

"Joint activities provide an opportunity for the Local Self-government Units to enter into various forms of inter-municipal co-operation in order to increase their capacities to deliver quality public services and at the same time strengthen inter-ethnic relations," said Rahim Musliu, State Inspector at the Ministry of Local Self-Government.

The winning projects, which received grants of 20,000 euros each, included two local economic development initiatives and one for improving transparency and citizen participation. They will be implemented from September to December 2009.