Stefanovic: Donor conference for normal life in Serbia

BELGRADE - Serbia's Interior Minister Nebojsa Stefanovic attended the European Ministerial Meeting on Disaster Risk Reduction in Milan and expressed hope that the donor conference scheduled for July 16 in Brussels and the EU Solidarity Fund will provide financial aid to Serbia, which was hit by severe flooding in May.

At the one-day meeting on 'Building the Resilience of Nations and Communities to Disasters', organized by the UN and the 2014 Italian Presidency of the Council of the European Union, Stefanovic thanked the EU for its unreserved and timely support during the devastating floods in Serbia.

The EU Civil Protection Mechanism was activated and numerous Member States offered their assistance, showing the solidarity and support of the European family, said Stefanovic, pointing to the importance of joint efforts in resolving crisis situations, the Serbian Interior Ministry stated in a release.

The strong support we received from our neighbors, and the relief workers and equipment they deployed to Serbia, are a proof of our good relations, which we will strive to improve further. Serbia will make every effort to address the problems caused by the disaster and continue to promote international cooperation in this area, stressed Stefanovic.

On the fringes of the meeting, Minister Stefanovic conferred with Germany's Federal Minister of the Interior Thomas de Maiziere, Slovenian Interior Minister Gregor Virant and European Commissioner for International Cooperation, Humanitarian Aid and Crisis Response Kristalina Georgieva, states the release.

Photo Tanjug, S. Radovanovic (Archive)