02.10.2009 Deputy Prime Minister for EU integration Bozidar Djelic today stated that the USAID will approve an additional USD 4.3 mln of non-repayable aid for the development of the civil society in Serbia.

At a press conference held at the government building Djelic said that the USA is Serbia’s second largest donor of non-repayable funds, recalling that since 2001 it has granted over EUR 500 mln towards improving Serbia’s administration, the energy system and for other needs of the Serbian citizens and its economy.

He explained that this donation is about improving the activities of the Institute for Sustainable Communities (ISC) which is implementing a USD 14 mln programme through which it has already financed 200 projects implemented by NGOs.

Djelic said that the programme will be additional support to a tolerant Serbia that wants to show that all who come here are welcome, regardless of their political or ethnic affiliation, sexual orientation and other differences.

USAID Mission Director to Serbia Michael Harvey stressed that the additional funds to be approved by the USAID will be put through the Civil Society Advocacy Initiative programme as direct assistance to the people.

Harvey said that this new form of financial support will help Serbian citizens to deal with problems related to environmental protection, poverty reduction, living conditions for the elderly and similar issues.

He said that the USA has been supporting civil society in Serbia since the mid 1990s, stressing that Serbia and the USA should make every effort to make Serbia a member of the EU.

Speaking about the Serbian people’s reaction to the tragic murder of French national Brice Taton, Harvey said that the Serbian government is making admirable efforts to show that violence and intolerance is not the real face of Serbia, adding that Serbia should be proud of the response shown by its people.

Source: Serbian Government