Tanjug

BELGRADE - Serbian companies have signed their first preliminary contracts with companies from the United Arab Emirates (UAE), Serbia's Trade Minister Rasim Ljajic has said.

Ljajic met on Monday with officials of 20 companies from the UAE, of which some have already opened and others have said that they would open their offices in Serbia.

WHO expert: Situation in Serbia "tragic"

BELGRADE -- The World Health Organization is assessing the current situation in Serbia primarily when it comes to the supply of drinking water and sanitary conditions.

The organization is doing so as to propose measures for public health prevention, WHO senior official Oliver Schmoll said in a statement to Tanjug.

BELGRADE - The epidemiological situation in Serbia is under control, and is being constantly monitored, doctor Bojana Grgic, an epidemiologist at the Belgrade-based Public Health Institute Milan Jovanovic Batut, told Tanjug on Monday.

BELGRADE - Serbian President Tomislav Nikolic sent a convoy of humanitarian aid collected at his appeal to the most endangered places across Serbia on Monday and said that the country is facing a tough job of reconstructing the endangered regions.

BELGRADE - Greek Ambassador to Serbia Constantine Economides has said that a rescue team from Greece will arrive in Serbia on Monday to provide assistance in areas hit by floods.

"Special 8 man rescue team from Thessaloniki arriving tomorrow to help Serbian friends in flooded areas," he posted via twitter.com.

President sends aid to town in western Serbia

BELGRADE -- Serbian President Tomislav Nikolić on Monday sent a convoy of humanitarian aid to the places in Serbia most affected by the severe flooding.

Companies across the country responded to an appeal by the president and took part in a campaign to collect aid.

Author and former FRY president Dobrica Ćosić dies

BELGRADE -- Serbian President Tomislav Nikolić sent a telegram of condolences to the family of late Dobrica Ćosić, Serbian writer and politician.

The 93-year-old member of the Serbian Academy of Sciences and Arts (SANU) passed away on Sunday, his family announced.

EULEX sends one, Belarus two helicopters

Belgrade, Moscow -- A helicopter of the EU mission in Kosovo, EULEX, sent to assist in rescue efforts in flood-hit Serbia landed in Belgrade on Sunday.

The helicopter will assist the police in central Serbia.

BELGRADE - Serbian President Tomislav Nikolic called on companies in Serbia to join the action to gather food for the flood-hit population.

Serbian president's advisor Stanislava Pak Stankovic told Tanjug that a large number of companies already responded to the call.

BELGRADE - Four rescue boats and EUR 200,000 of humanitarian aid for the people in Serbia hit by the floods caused by heavy rains in the region will be sent from Italy, Italian Ambassador to Serbia Giuseppe Manzo has said.