PM Đukanović: Montenegro makes extensive efforts in addressing refugee issue

Podgorica, Montenegro (20 June 2013) -- “In its efforts to accept enormous refugee waves and resolve their status, Montenegro is among the countries that have demonstrated a high level of responsibility and raised the threshold for the vulnerable population, thus receiving high ratings and recognitions from major international factors,” PM Đukanović said Wednesday on occasion of the World Refugee Day.

Montenegro has adopted a set of strategic documents regulating mechanisms and conditions for resolving status of displaced and internally displaced persons. It also established cooperation with Serbia, Croatia, and Bosnia and Herzegovina through the declaration signed at the ministerial conference in Belgrade in November 2011, PM Đukanović pointed out.

The project worth EUR 3 million, of which IPA funds provides EUR 2.5 million, and co-financed by the Montenegrin Government, envisages the construction of 90 housing units and multipurpose centres, as well as the social integration, technical assistance and support for voluntary return. In addition, the National Housing Programme envisages the construction of 907 housing units for the most vulnerable persons (6.063), Prime Minister Đukanović pointed out.

According to PM Đukanović, the issue of Roma population in the refugee camps Konik I and II will soon be resolved in a satisfactory manner. The project of reconstruction and modernisation of the settlement envisages the construction of 120 housing units worth EUR 5.700.000.00, of which 3.990.000.00 are grants. The most significant support in this project was provided by the German Government through the NGO Help, the Swiss Government through the Agency for Development and Cooperation, the UNHCR and the European Union.

According to the official data, there are 3.493 displaced persons from Bosnia and Herzegovina, and Croatia in Montenegro, and 8.084 from Kosovo. Of these, 9.066 persons filed applications for permanent residence, and 5.430 of them were resolved, and 365 persons applied for temporary residence, and 103 applications were resolved, PM Đukanović concluded.