Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
06BELGRADE1162
2006-07-20 11:44:00
UNCLASSIFIED
Embassy Belgrade
Cable title:  

Launch of the Serbian Social

Tags:  KIRF PREF PGOV PHUM PREL SR 
pdf how-to read a cable
VZCZCXRO6211
RR RUEHAST
DE RUEHBW #1162 2011144
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
R 201144Z JUL 06
FM AMEMBASSY BELGRADE
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC 9040
INFO RUEHZL/EUROPEAN POLITICAL COLLECTIVE
UNCLAS BELGRADE 001162 

SIPDIS

SIPDIS

DEPT FOR PRM AND DRL (MATES)

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: KIRF PREF PGOV PHUM PREL SR
SUBJECT: Launch of the Serbian Social
Vulnerability Report


UNCLAS BELGRADE 001162

SIPDIS

SIPDIS

DEPT FOR PRM AND DRL (MATES)

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: KIRF PREF PGOV PHUM PREL SR
SUBJECT: Launch of the Serbian Social
Vulnerability Report



1. Summary: The UNDP in Serbia organized a
conference on July 18 to discuss the findings of
the Social Vulnerability Report of Roma,
Refugees, and IDPs. The conference brought
together GOS, EU, and UNDP officials as well as
NGO leaders to discuss how programs are/should be
implemented to address the situation. The
publication of the report gives government and
aid workers the chance to finally quantify
something that has been a known problem for some
time. End Summary.


2. According to the report, these groups,
particularly the Roma population, continue to
live in conditions of extreme poverty with
limited access to education and healthcare. More
importantly, while it was acknowledged that some
progress had been made, the report notes that
this has been minimal, and that the situation
remains largely unchanged since aid efforts
began. However, the EU representative and GOS
officials working on EU integration highlighted
that efforts to eliminate poverty and form a more
inclusive society are key initiatives of the EU
for candidate states, and that work in this area
would become increasingly important as Serbia
moves further through the integration process.


3. Many participants emphasized the differences
between the groups, noting that Roma tend to live
in chronic poverty lasting through generations.
Refugee and IDP populations, on the other hand,
are often in situational poverty resulting from
displacement and face better prospects of future
integration and economic advancement. Some
participants criticized the policies of the GOS
towards refugees and IDPs, claiming that the
policies still assume that these groups will
return to their original homes, while the reality
is that many are already in the process of
integration and establishing new lives here in
Serbia. Other participants reminded the group of
the need for policies aimed at the specific
situation for women, especially among the Roma
population. At times, the NGO leaders seemed at
odds with the GOS and UNDP officials, one going
so far as to call their strategies "fairy tales"
far removed from the realities on the ground.


4. Comment: Two incidents occurred during the
conference that are of interest. Svezana
Stojanovic-Plavsic, G-17+ MP representing the
Parliamentary Committee for Poverty, noted during
her opening address that it was sad that "some
parties have not taken part" in the committee,
presumably referencing the DS walkout of
parliament. Later, Dragisa Dabetic, Commissioner
for Refugees in Serbia, responded angrily to one
presenter who had discussed statistics for the
actual number of Roma and Refugees/IDPs, stating
that her numbers for Kosovo would make it seem
that Roma could be the second largest ethnic
group in that region, rather than the Serbs,
which was an idea to which he was very strongly
opposed. End Comment.

MOORE