2007 Press Releases

USAID Recognizes Eight Municipalities for
Commitment to Community Development and Reintegration

(From the U.S. Office Pristina, United States Agency for International Development - USAID)

Pristina, June 26, 2007 — Eight municipalities were recognized in a ceremony today by the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) and Mercy Corps for their three years of continued work to improve lives of residents and promote returns and reintegration.

The Presidents and Chief Executive Officers from the municipalities that participated in the Municipal Integration and Support Initiative (MISI), phase one, were presented with Certificates of Appreciation. Lipjan/Lipljan municipality received an award as the ‘top-performing municipality’ as they addressed 89% of their “Municipal Action Plan,” a plan which outlines local obstacles to return and reintegration and the actions to be taken to address those obstacles within a set timeframe. They received a $50,000 grant for the implementation of an additional community project. The other municipalities honored were: Fushe Kosove/ Kosovo Polje, Gjilan/ Gnjilane, Istog/ Istok, Kamenice/ Kamenica, Novo Brdo/ Novoberde, Obiliq/ Obilić and Rahovec/ Orahovac. From 2003 to 2006, these municipalities implemented over 41 projects in partnership with community members. The aim of MISI is to support municipalities and communities to actively create an environment conducive to the return and reintegration of minorities.

Presenting certificates to the municipalities for their work were USAID/Kosovo Mission Director Michael Farbman, Minister for Communities and Returns Branislav Grbić and Deputy Minister of Local Government Administration Aziz Lila. Also present were municipal officials from Ferizaj/ Uroševac, Kline/ Klina, Leposavić/ Leposaviq, Pej/ Peć, Štrpce/ Shterpce, Vushtrri/ Vućitrn, and Zvećan/ Zveqan, who are currently participating in the second phase of MISI. Fushe Kosove/ Kosovo Polje and Obiliq/ Obilić are participating in phase two as well.

The U.S. Agency for International Development has provided economic and humanitarian assistance worldwide for more than 40 years.