Pace of Integration in South Serbia 'Not Satisfactory'

Shaip Kamberi, mayor of Bujanovac, and Ragmi Mustafa, mayor of Presevo, said that they do not think that Belgrade is investing enough effort to resolve issues in South Serbia, including a strugging economy.

The mayors, who lead two of the main cities in South Serbia, spoke at a BIRN panel discussion entitled Integration - The Way Forward.

The panel is part of BIRN's second international forum on South Serbia entitled Integration: Combining Ethnic and Democratic Principles, held on Wednesday in Belgrade.

The southern Serbia municipalities of Presevo, Bujanovac, and Medvedja are home to the country's largest ethnic Albanian population and are among the least developed in Serbia. High unemployment rates and an average wage lower than the state average of about 350 euros are two of the many challenges facing the area.

In 2000 and 2001, the region was the scene of an armed conflict between state security forces and local ethnic Albanian militants in the Liberation Army of Presevo, Bujanovac and Medvedja.

Representatives from Serbia's state government also participated in Wednesday's forum, along with international organisations and embassies.

Danijela Nenadic from Serbia's Coordination Body for the municipalities of Bujanovac, Presevo and Medvedja told conference participants that "we are facing the problem of donor assistance slowly drying up." She also pointed to the importance of listening to local stakeholders.

Beatrice Meyer, Country Director for the Swiss Cooperation Office, also said that donor aid is decreasing, which is not a positive sign.

"Sometimes we have the feeling that the state is reducing efforts when we are on the ground,” she added.

Graeme Tyndall, Programme Manager for the European Partnership with Municipalities, believes that the Serbian government needs to bring in the private industry to explore ways to improve integration in the region.