Serbia a factor of regional stability, cooperation
Minister of Foreign Affairs Vuk Jeremic yesterday stated that in 2011 the UN implemented a series of projects in Serbia estimated at over $108 million.
Presenting the UN annual report, Jeremic stressed that considerable results were achieved in all three areas of strategic cooperation, namely good management, improved sustainable development and social inclusion, and increased regional stability and cooperation.
The report, which includes activities from 30 residential and non-residential agencies of the UN team in Serbia, leads to a conclusion that Serbia is increasingly becoming a source of regional stability and cooperation and that in some areas of social reform it serves as a positive example which other states can follow, the Minister said.
He voiced his pleasure at the results achieved in 2011, especially the improvements in the economy, adding that it is very important that over the last two years Serbia was mostly oriented towards programmes dealing with the economy, economic growth, employment and social inclusion.
These are the topics the entire humanity is faced with and UN programmes in Serbia have helped us make a contribution in resolving these problems, he explained.
Jeremic recalled that Serbia is a very active UN member, which was confirmed by his election as President of the UN General Assembly.
UN Resident Coordinator in Serbia William Infante stressed when presenting the report that Belgrade has achieved considerable results in human rights protection, social inclusion and promotion of regional stability, and that a positive example has been given of how the Serbian parliament and human rights organisations should cooperate.
Infante welcomed the efforts that Serbia is making to promote itself as an increasingly strong pillar of security and stability in the region, and stressed the importance of involving women in security process, which was one of the projects carried out in cooperation with the UN.
He expressed his hope that the UN will be able to implement 50% more programmes in Serbia than last year.
Infante also expressed his satisfaction over the fact that the report was made in electronic form, by which UN’s concern for environmental protection has been demonstrated in practice.
In 2011 the UN supported the State Audit Institution and certification of approximately 1,000 employees of the Office for Public Procurement, by which they gave a contribution to accountability, good governance and public administration reform, according to the report presented at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
UN agencies assisted in the process of digitalisation of hundreds of thousands of personal data and registration of hundreds of individuals who had no personal documents, so they now have access to social services, employment opportunities and other benefits that characterise an inclusive society.
Through a multitude of programmes, the UN supported Serbia in creating new jobs, and UN joint programmes, such as “Youth Employment and Migration” or SWIFT, helped to employ thousands of financially vulnerable or excluded people.
In Belgrade, with support from the UN, the South Eastern and Eastern Europe Clearinghouse for the Control of Small Arms and Light Weapons (SEESAC) was established, which helped to collect and destroy thousands of weapons.
The report concludes that the government and the people of Serbia can see in the UN team a dedicated partner of trust and that this partnership will help the country progress on the path that provides a safe, stable and prosperous life for all.
Source Serbia Gov.