Foreign donations fund outpatient clinic, recycling centre

NOVI PAZAR - The ambassadors of the United Nations and Japan to Serbia, Irena Vojackova-Solorano and Masafumi Kuroki, have opened an outpatient clinic in Blazevo, near Novi Pazar, and visited the construction site of a recycling centre.

The two facilities are a result of the UN project titled Improving Human Security in Southwest Serbia, mostly funded by the Japanese government.

Ambassador Vojackova-Solorano said Wednesday that the UN will continue to work on promoting and improving human security and promoting values such as tolerance and respect.

Novi Pazar is an example of understanding and inter-ethnic tolerance and we want to continue to support such projects and keep the city the way it is, the UN ambassador noted.

Ambassador Kuroki said that the human security project is one of the major projects supported by the Japanese government.

I hope that this project will help empower and strengthen some of the minorities in Sandzak, the Japanese ambassador said.

Novi Pazar Mayor Meho Mahmutovic said that the project is very significant as it contributes to security.

The outpatient clinic in the Blazevo settlement - home to internally displaced Roma - will provide health care services to the 6,000 residents.

Over EUR 60,000 were invested in renovation and equipment.

The recycling centre is still under construction. The City of Novi Pazar provided the location, the infrastructure and all permits required, while the construction works and equipment are funded from donations totalling over EUR 450,000.

The facility, which should be completed by the end of November, will initially provide jobs for 15 people.