AMBASSADOR MONTGOMERY LAUDS EFFORTS OF COVIC AND PEOPLE OF THE REGION IN BRINGING SUCCESSFUL RECONCILIATION

(Bujanovac, July 27)  At the end of two days of visits to communities in Southern Serbia by Ambassador William Montgomery and Deputy Prime Minister of Serbia Nebojsa Covic, Ambassador Montgomery held a press conference at the Bujanovac Press Center.  Following is the text of his remarks:

I want to thank Dr. Covic for organizing our trip through Southern Serbia over the last two days.  In these two days, I have met with the Mayors of Bujanovac, Medvedja, and Presevo, members of Dr. Covic's Coordinating Committee, and with many people in the region.  I have been able to see problems of infrastructure in the region.  They are enormous --  roads, water supply, sewage canalization, schools, electrification, telephones - and very challenging.  On top of these is the problem of unemployment. 

But the very good news is that the process of reconciliation in Southern Serbia is working and will be successful.  I have met with people who have returned to their homes after two years of absence.  I have seen villages like Veliki Trnovac where, even three months ago, the streets were full of tensions, and now life is returning to normal.  I have had the chance to see the projects that the governments of Yugoslavia and Serbia, along with local governments and communities, are carrying out in order to improve people's lives.  Anyone who goes to these villages will see concrete signs of improvement:  Multiethnic police force, new post office, and new roads.  The point is, the process of reconciliation is working and is the best thing happening in the entire Balkans at this time. 

We also looked at several projects that the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) and the Office of Transition Initiatives (OTI) have completed or are in the process of completing, such as school renovations and providing running water in homes.  The United States Government is here for the long term.  We have committed many millions of dollars to projects in the region and we will contribute many more millions.

Success in the region, however, depends on the people of Yugoslavia.  All of the citizens must contribute, play a role, and provide the support that can help their communities make it.  We appreciate and respect everything that Dr. Covic, the Coordinating Committee, Mayor Halimi, the other mayors and individuals are doing to make the process of reconciliation successful.  If the process is successful, it will be because of what they have done.  To the extent possible, the United States and others in the international community will help.  But credit for success belongs to the great people of this country, and you have my respect.

30. jul, 2001.

SAOPŠTENJE ZA ŠTAMPU

Ambasada Sjedinjenih Američkih Država

POHVALE AMBASADORA MONTGOMERIJA ČOVIĆU I STANOVNIŠTVU JUŽNE SRBIJE ZBOG USPEŠNOG POMIRENJA

(Bujanovac, 27. juli)  Na kraju dvodnevne posete ambasadora Vilijema Montgomerija i potpredsednika vlade Srbije Nebojše Čovića, južnosrpskim opštinama, ambasador Montgomeri održao je konferenciju za štampu u bujanovačkom Pres centru.  Sledi njegova izjava:

Želim da zahvalim dr. Čoviću na organizovanju ovog puta po južnoj Srbiji u protekla dva dana.  Tokom boravka sastao sam se sa gradonačelnicima Bujanovca, Medvedje i Preševa, članovima dr. Čovićevog koordinacionog tela i sa mnogo ljudi iz regiona.  Upoznat sam sa problemima infrastrukture, koji su ogromni - putevi, dotok pijaće vode, kanalizacija, škole, struja, telefoni - ali i jako izazovni za rešavanje.  Povrh svega toga postoji i problem nezaposlenosti.

Jako je dobra vest da proces pomirenja u južnoj Srbiji funkcioniše i da će biti uspešan.  Sastao sam se sa ljudima koji su se vratili kućama posle dve godine.  Video sam sela poput Velikog Trnovca gde su do pre tri meseca ulice bile pune napetosti, a sada se život vraća u normalu.  Imao sam priliku da vidim projekte koje jugoslovenska i srpska vlada zajedno sa opštinskim vlastima i lokalnim zajednicama, sprovodi da bi popravila život ljudi.  Ko god ode u ta sela videće konkretne znake poboljšanja: multietničku policiju, novu poštu, nove puteve.  Suština je da proces pomirenja funkcioniše i da je to u ovom trenutku najbolja stvar koja se dešava na celom Balkanu.

Takodje smo obišli i nekoliko projekata koje su USAID (Američka agencija za medjunarodni razvoj) i OTI (Kancelarija za inicijativu u zemljama u tranziciji) završili, ili privode kraju, kao što je renoviranje škola i obezbedjivanje pijaće vode domaćinstvima. Vlada Sjedinjenih Država će ostati ovde dugi niz godina.  Odvojili smo milione dolara za projekte u ovom regionu a izdvojićemo još mnogo više.

Uspeh u regionu ipak, najviše zavisi od naroda Jugoslavije.  Svi gradjani moraju da daju svoj doprinos, da odigraju svoju ulogu i da obezbede podršku koja će omogućiti lokalnim zajednicama da uspeju.  Cenimo i poštujemo sve što dr. Čović, koordinaciono telo, gradonačelnik Halimi i ostali gradonačelnici čine, da proces pomirenja bude uspešan.  A ako taj proces bude uspešan biće to zbog njihovog angažovanja.  Sjedinjene Države i cela medjunarodna zajednica pomoćiće koliko god mogu.  Ali pohvale za uspeh pripadaju velikim ljudima ove zemlje, i ja vas zbog toga jako cenim.