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UNHSP/03/02
Balkan
authorities commit themselves to inclusive cities
Belgrade 26 February 2002
-- To overcome the divisive and exclusive policies of the
past, local governments and their associations have a key
role to play in making municipalities inclusive so that
everyone, whatever their ethnic or social background, can
enjoy the benefits of economic and social development. This
was one of the main conclusions made by over 70 representatives
from local governments, civil society from Albania, Bosnia
and Herzegovina, Bulgaria, Croatia, Former Yugoslav Republic
of Macedonia, Romania, and the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia.
These housing and local government experts were attending
a regional consultation organized by UN-HABITAT, Council
of Europe and Council of Europe Development Bank, the Ministry
of Urban Planning and Construction, Ministry of International
Economic Relations, the City of Belgrade and the Standing
Conference of Cities and Towns of Yugoslavia, held in Belgrade,
25-26 February 2002.
The meeting sought to tackle key issues in
the field of local governance, housing and security of tenure
across South East Europe. The consultation discussed approaches
to building responsive institutions, management systems
and services compatible with European legal instruments
and EU standards and practives in both housing and local
governance. It was agreed by representatives that the way
forward was to strengthen co-operation between the countries
in the Balkans through expert networks that promote regional
solutions.
A number of concrete steps was agreed in the
field of housing, including:
- A support programme to strengthen housing
institutions.
- A system for consultative networking, and
exchanges on housing issues in the region.
- An initiative to meet housing needs and
rights of refugees, internally displaced persons, women,
the poor and other vulnerable groups.
- An initiative to develop mechanisms for
the maintenance of existing housing stock.
- An initiative to put in place modern housing
finance mechanisms and institutions.
In the field of local governance the representatives
proposed that the following initiatives should be established:
- An initiative to further develop
training capacity in the region focusing on skills development
of local government staff, elected officials and community
leaders in: planning and management, leadership, gender
mainstreaming and partnership.
- An initiative to develop modern systems
of finances, land and property management for development
and urban renewal.
- An initiative to strengthen the role
of the community, especially women, the poor and vulnerable
groups in municipal decision making processes.
- An initiative to develop e-commerce
in the region as a means of increasing public participation
in decision-making, especially of women and their organizations.
Over the past decade, South Eastern
Europe has experienced a high degree of change including
recovering from the many conflicts in the region. Authoritarian
and centralist policies need to be replaced by democratic
reform. The aim of this consultation is to help the local
authorities in the region to achieve good governance, sustainable
economic growth and the respect for and fulfilment of human
rights. In particular there is an urgent need to create
structures of participatory governance, fair and efficient
housing and property markets, recognized housing rights
for all, accountable and equitable public services, and
mechanisms for resolving inter- community issues.
At the conclusion, the organisers of the consultation
committed themselves to support the demands made by the
participants. In particular, UN-HABITAT will continue to
find ways to find multi-lateral donor support to improve
the capacity of the local authorities to make their cities
more inclusive. According to Mr. Farouk Tebbal head of the
UN-HABITAT Shelter Branch: "while the transition process
will continue to pose a number of challenges, the increasing
commitment to provide security of tenure and good local
governance will play a key role in furthering both economic
development and stability across the region."
For
further information, please contact:
For further information, please contact:
Mr. Sharad Shankardass, Spokesperson
or Ms. Zahra A. Hassan
Media & Press Relations Unit
UN-HABITAT
Tel: (254 2) 623153
Fax: (254 2) 624060
E-mail: habitat.press@unhabitat.org
Website: www.unhabitat.org
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