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The Roma neighborhood, a successful story

Written by M-Magazine Wednesday, 25 January 2012 14:27

Mitrovica - Reconstruction of the Roma Neighborhood in Mitrovica and the return of the residents there represents the most successful story in terms of return of displaced persons throughout Kosovo.

Therefore on Tuesday was evaluated in a meeting of deputy mayor of Mitrovica, director Riza Haziri Regulation with director of OSCE in desc of the in the U.S. State Department, Susan Ball, which chaired the delegation which is staying in Kosovo these days.
Susan Ball was interested in the situation of refugees, for their economic and social problems. Whereas a special interest shw showed for the residents that have lived in camps in north of Kosovo.
Deputy Mayor, Riza Haziri, said that with the support of the the Government of Kosovo and the international community, in particular the European Commission, the RAE Community situation is radically changed .        

" The municipality has allocated the land, while the European Commission and Government of the Republic of Kosovo helped to rebuild homes for the residents that lived in the camps," said Haziri.

He said it was invested in terms of infrastructure in the neighborhood, where the road is regulated , then a few sports fields etc.. According to him, now are created good conditions for life for those who have returned to start a new life in their neighborhood.

He also reminded also projects of various organizations concerning with the education of RAE children in this neighborhood. He also mentioned the project to measure lead level among returnees. He said that the main issue is the economic situation and the great number of unemployed.

"The citizens of all ethnicities in Mitrovica have major economic problems as a result of high levels of unemployment. The municipality has no opportunity to do a lot on this direction without the support from the donors and investors", said Haziri.
After the meeting in the municipality, the OSCE delegation, accompanied by deputy mayor Haziri visited the Roma neighborhood where they they closely were introduced with the the work that have been done there.
While Susan Ball, director of OSCE in the U.S. State Department, expressed her satisfaction with the created conditions for the returnees and appreciated the work of municipal leaders