Support to the process of return in the area of Upper-Drina region will be offered in the future too
Ambassadors and representatives of the Embassies of the countries members of the Organization of Islamic Conference accredited in Sarajevo visited Bosnian-Podrinje canton Gorazde. Beside them, in this delegation were also Director of the Fund for return of refugees within this organization Mr. En-Nur Swar Eddahab, representatives of the Ministry for human rights and refugees at the Council of Ministers of BiH, Mayor of Rudo municipality and representatives of local community Strgacina.
On that occasion, Prime Minister of Bosnian-Podrinje canton Gorazde Salko Obhodjas hosted a reception for them, which was also attended by cantonal Minister of social affairs, health, displaced persons and refugees Nazif Uruci and Mayors of the municipalities within the Canton: Mustafa Kurtovic, Asim Zec and Zijad Kunovac. Prime Minister Obhodjas and Mayors of municipalities Gorazde, Foca-Ustikolina and Pale-Praca used this opportunity to extend their gratitude to the Embassies of OIC and the Fund for return of refugees for their absolute support offered in the process of return of refugees and displaced persons in the area of Upper-Drina region and the entire BiH, expressing their whish that this cooperation continues in the future. Representatives of the countries members of OIC emphasized that they will continue with offering their support to people living in this area.
Visit to Bosnian-Podrinje canton Gorazde was arranged after the visit to municipality of Cajnice and local community Strgacina in municipality of Rudo, where the Ambassadors and representatives of Embassies of OIC, along with other members of the delegation, visited sites where works on reconstruction of houses of returnees are implemented and funded by the Funds for return of refugees.
The purpose of this visit was also to see on the spot what are the real needs for reconstruction in this area. Although the funds from this Fund are exclusively used for financing of reconstruction of houses on a “turn-key basis”, representatives of the above-mentioned municipalities said that there is also a need for reconstruction of infrastructure, electric-power system and roads in the first place. Since the members of the delegation could see that this statement was true and that this local community and Rudo municipality already allocated around 150.000 KM for realization of electrification project in the area of MZ Strgacina, where there is around 35 villages, the Ambassadors and representatives of the Organization of Islamic Conference expressed their willingness to support this project. According to Minster Nazif Uruci, funds necessary for electrification of this area amount to approx. 1.500.000 KM, out of which 550.000 KM refers to construction of high-voltage system.
After the reception, Ambassadors and representatives of the Embassies of the Organization of Islamic Conference said that this was only one of visits that will happen in the future.