After the meeting with the First Deputy Prime Minister of the Government of the Republic of Serbia and the Minister of Foreign Affairs, Ivica Dačić, the United Nations Under-Secretary-General and the United Nations Office for Project Services (UNOPS) Executive Director, Grete Faremo, expressed her gratitude for excellent cooperation with the Government and for the donor support for the implementation of the development projects in the country.
“UNOPS is always focussed on successful implementation of the set objectives. We are a specialised agency for project management, infrastructure and procurement. In Serbia, we use international standards and local expertise. This has proven to be a good match. Currently, we are working on six projects worth over 45 million Euros. Looking only at the project to rehabilitate the damage caused by the last May floods, we managed to renovate 19 schools and enabled 12,000 children to return to normal studying conditions in the school. We renovated over 300 private homes,” Grete Faremo said.
“I would like to thank, on behalf of Serbia, UNOPS and the United Nations for the assistance provided, especially during the difficult period of flood rehabilitation. Soon we are expecting the signing of the agreement on the status of UNOPS in Serbia, which will define our long-term cooperation,” Minister Dačić said.
In addition to the European Union Support to Serbia Floods Rehabilitation programme, UNOPS is also implementing the European PROGRES programme, which aims to develop 34 underdeveloped municipalities in the South-East and South-West of the country, as well as the projects encouraging inclusion of vulnerable communities.
Faremo expressed UNOPS resolve to continue to provide support to the Serbian Government in the implementation of reforms during European integrations, with the financial support of the European Union, Swiss Government, France, Norway, Canada and the UK.
“I will always have a special eye and ear for Serbia. Being Norwegian, I have special ties with Serbia, because my father participated in the construction of the Norwegian House in Gornji Milanovac, which is a symbol of friendship between Norway and Serbia,” Faremo said.
During her first official two-day visit to Serbia, Faremo will meet with high Government officials and the donors of the projects implemented in Serbia by UNOPS, and she will also visit High School for Agriculture and Chemistry in Obrenovac, which was renovated after the floods.
