25 October 2021
The Minister of Foreign Affairs, Nikola Selaković, attended the handing over of contracts for 14 apartments intended for refugee families from Bosnia and Herzegovina and Croatia tonight in the Old Palace, which were purchased within subproject 9 of the Regional Housing Program of Serbia.
"It is my great pleasure and honor to greet you all on behalf of the Government of Serbia, on behalf of the state of Serbia, to thank all donors, especially the EU, which gathered the largest number of donors who are EU member states, but especially the Kingdom of Norway, as one of the largest donors outside the territory of the EU, on the successful completion of the ninth sub-phase of the Regional Housing Program", stated the head of Serbian diplomacy.
Minister Selaković emphasized that the Regional Housing Program has so far enabled more than 6,000 families who fled and were displaced from the former Yugoslavia, mostly from the territory of today's Republic of Croatia and Bosnia and Herzegovina, to get a roof over their heads.
He added that those families found salvation and refuge in Serbia after those life moments that they can probably never erase from their memory when in one day they lost everything that generations of their parents and ancestors gained.
The head of Serbian diplomacy stated that they found themselves in Serbia and started here from scratch.
Minister Selaković said that the donors who helped to form the fund itself and make it work, and the Commissariat for Refugees and Displaced Persons and Migration, with the help of the Council of Europe Bank, UNHCR as a partner, the OSCE, allowed many of those who were displaced to get a roof over their heads.
"At one point, there were about 650,000 refugees in Serbia, and according to the data provided by the Republic Commissioner for Refugees and Migration, nearly 100,000 families of our compatriots have received a roof over their heads through the Commissariat, the state of Serbia and the Serbian Government", said Minister Selaković and reminded that earlier today in Ub, contracts on apartments for 21 families were solemnly handed over.
The head of Serbian diplomacy stated that President Aleksandar Vučić, the Government of Serbia, headed by Prime Minister Ana Brnabić, and he personally, as the Minister of Foreign Affairs, are making maximum efforts to resolve this issue in Serbia in the best possible way.
"Tonight, there are 14 families here which enriched the city of Belgrade. The best part of our people are our people who came from Krajina, either from the territory of today's Croatia or B&H, hardworking, honest, good people. I am happy that tonight we have the opportunity and the possibility to provide 14 such families with permanent housing here in Belgrade", said the head of Serbian diplomacy.
Minister Selaković thanked the donors for their selfless help and efforts, the UNHCR and the OSCE, as well as the City of Belgrade for their kindness.
"Until only a few years ago, the City of Belgrade did not show interest in this activity, that interest came a little more than seven years ago and since then the City of Belgrade has been working in partnership with the Commissariat and donors on the realization of this project", said the head of Serbian diplomacy.
Minister Selaković wished the families who received apartments to record and count only beautiful and good hours and moments in their new homes, and to leave behind what is difficult in their lives.
He wished the older ones to welcome their children and grandchildren and live to a peaceful old age in health in those apartments, and the younger ones to build and raise their families and their children in those apartments and to rejoice in each new great success.
"Thank you for your patience for waiting until this moment and I wish you that in the future everything in your homes will go much easier and much better than it has been so far. Long live Serbia", said Minister Selaković.
