Government of Japan approved donation of 14 million USD for construction of apartments for war veterans in 11 municipalities in Serbia

For the first time after 20 years, the housing problems of the war veterans in Serbia will be dealt with. With the donation from the Government of Japan in amount of 14m USD, 203 apartments will be built prior to January 1, 2007, for war veterans in 11 municipalities in Serbia.

The long-term goal of that project will be, according to the Serbian Minister of Labour, Employment and Social Policy, Slobodan Lalović, forming of capital fund that will solve the housing problems of all war veterans as the permanent source of financing of such contruction.

Assistant to the Minister of Labour who is in charge of the veteran's-disability allowance, Božidar Simatković, announced that the construction of the first 203 apartments would solve the housing problems of 10% of familiies of war veterans who do not have their own house.

By the way, there are 70,000 war veterans and families of killed soldiers in Serbia. It is estimated that about 2,000 of them do not have where to live.

The construction of the first building with 14 apartments started few days ago in Inđija. Prior to January 1, 2007, both Kikinda and Kragujevac will obtain 16 apartments each, Novi Sad and Niš will get 24 each, 12 apartments will be built in Pančevo, 11 in Smederevo and in Loznica, 15 in Kruševac, 10 in Leskovac and 50 apartments in Belgrade.

The apartments will be rented at prices lower than the market ones. The right to purchase the apartment will be given only to the bearers of the tenancy right.