Vucic: It would be easier with 10 donors such as Norway

BELGRADE - Serbian Prime Minister Aleksandar Vucic thanked the Kingdom of Norway on Friday for being one of the greatest donors to flood-hit Serbia.
“Serbia will remember what the Kingdom of Norway has done for its people," Vucic said, adding that Norway has always stood by Serbia and offered its generous help.

“Things would be much easier if we had ten donors such as Norway," Vucic told reporters at the residence of the Norwegian ambassador after presentation of grants for 35 projects for the media and civil society in Serbia, Montenegro and Macedonia, which are funded by the Norwegian government.

Norwegian Ambassador Nils Ragnar Kamsvag said on the occasion that his country is impressed by the unity and solidarity of the Serbian citizens at the time of the disaster.
It shows the strength of the Serbian people, which will be important in the difficult period that Serbia is facing, he said.

Kamsvag noted that Norway's advantage is that in emergency situations it can allocate funds faster than the EU, adding that long-term assistance will arrive through the EU.

Norway has so far set aside around three million euros to help the most vulnerable, the ambassador said.

The United Nations sent on Thursday toiletries and generators worth USD 583,000 which, according to the Norwegian ambassador, were financed by his country.

Norway donated to the Serbian government USD 627,000 for water treatment equipment and sent tank trucks worth USD 627,000 dollars, and it stands ready to allocate two million euros for the reconstruction of schools and public institutions once the projects are completed, said Kamsvag.

Norway has also decided to immediately earmark half a million euros for civil...