Kosovska Mitrovica, Shtrpce, Kosovska Kamenica, April 8, 2010 – Assistant Minister for Sustainable Return and Subsistence in the Ministry for Kosovo and Metohija Branislav Ristic, visited Kosovska Mitrovica, Shtrpce and Kosovska Kamenica where he met with the heads of Serbian Municipalities and returnee families in order to evaluate the options for the intensification of the return process.

In Kosovska Mitrovica, Branislav Ristic visited the Social Welfare Center, where he discussed available funds for social welfare and one-time assistance for the returnees, in order to help the exiled Kosovo Serbs return and remain in their homes.

In the Municipality of Shtrpce, Assistant Minister Branislav Ristic, together with the President of the Serbian Municipality of Shtrpce Zvonko Mihajlovic, attended the opening of a returnee site and housing of Serbian families who have returned to this municipality.

The President of the Red Cross Vanja Puzic informed Assistant Minister Branislav Ristic about the distribution of food packages, provided by the Ministry for Kosovo and Metohija for the returnees.

Also, Assistant Minister Branislav Ristic visited a Collective Center “Lahore” which houses returnees, and the center’s manager Dragisa Kuzmanovic introduced him to the living conditions of people placed in this center.

In Kosovska Kamenica, Branislav Ristic, together with the President of the Municipality Boban Jeftic, visited the returnee sites and Serbian families that have returned to the territory of the Municipality of Kamenica.

On this occasion, Assistant Minister Branislav Ristic said that the aim of this visit to the returnee sites in Kosovo and Metohija is to intensify the presence of the Serbian state in this part of its territory. He also emphasized that the Ministry for Kosovo and Metohija will provide every possible assistance to the exiled Serbs so that they could return to their abandoned homes as soon as possible and create conditions for their sustainable subsistence in Kosovo and Metohija.

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