By Andrea Saula

Hello and Welcome. This is UNMIK on Air

The Montenegro government, UNMIK and UNHCR signed a co-operation memorandum, for the voluntary return to Kosovo of displaced people.

A Montenegrin delegation visited Kosovo last week, at the invitation of UNMIK’s Office for Returns and Kosovo’s Ministry of Local Government.

This visit comes just a month after UNMIK officials and members of the Kosovo government went to Montenegro, where they discussed the possible return of Kosovans currently living as refugees in Montenegro.

The Montenegrin Delegation visited the Municipalities of Klina/Kline and Pec/Peje where they discussed the returns-issue with local representatives.

Snezana Mijuskovic, deputy minister of Labor and Social Welfare from Montenegro, headed the delegation. She said the aim of the visit was to see what has been done so far for the return of the IDP’s and to assess the future perspectives for the displaced ones they return home.

Actuality: We hope that in near future we’ll succeed to resolve their problems and to return them to their homes. Of course, we expect that the International community is going to give support just like both Governments that are very much interested in return.

Some 18 500 internally displaced persons are estimated to live in Montenegro. The biggest number of them originates from the region of Pec/Peje. After the meeting with the Montenegrin delegation, the mayor of Pec/Peje Ali Lajci underlined that there are obstacles for return but that every person has the right to come back.

Actuality: That will be a process, which is linked with economy as well because without a strong economy we won’t have employment but anyway people have the right to return and to be free and we are working to create necessary climate for that.

The delegation also paid a visit to the village of Vidanje in Klina Municipality. The return to this village started last September. Until the end of coming August the reconstruction of 25 Serbian, 4 Albanian and one Ashkali house is planned to be finished.

Milorad Sarkovic is one the Serbs that returned eight months ago.

Actuality: Houses are equipped with all necessary items. We were given beds, chairs, tables, and fridge, depending on the need of a beneficiary, what does he need, how big is his family etc. (edit to) We have also water and electricity supply.

A large part of the IDP’s in Montenegro is Roma. According to the Montenegrin delegation the return of Roma people tops their agenda.

That would be all for today’s edition of UNMIK on air.

Stay tuned for tomorrow’s show as we’ll bring you and interview with general Agim Ceku, head of TMK.

Good day.