Wilhelm: Germany ready to offer long-term assistance

BELGRADE - German Ambassador to Serbia Heinz Wilhelm stated on Thursday that Germany, which has already donated a short-term aid of one million euros for the flood-affected areas in Serbia, is ready to offer long-term assistance to Serbia in the forthcoming months and years.

German Chancellor Angela Merkel will have a telephone conversation with Serbian Prime Minister Aleksandar Vucic about what Germany can do in the forthcoming months to help Serbia's flood relief efforts, the ambassador said.

Wilhelm told a news briefing following a meeting of the prime minister, government members and donors that German Foreign Minister Frank-Walter Steinmeier has already offered aid to Serbian Foreign Minister Ivica Dacic.

The German ambassador said that he is overwhelmed by the scale of damage, but also impressed by the solidarity shown at the international and national level, adding that his country reacted quickly sending a team of 35 experts, who are being engaged in the region of the thermal power plant in Kostolac.

Many of the German companies operating in Serbia donated money and humanitarian aid, Wilhelm said, adding that for example Hemofarn donated medicines and medical supplies worth 400,000 euros.
Jadranka Joksimovic, Serbian minister without portfolio in charge of the EU integration, underlined that Germany has been the largest bilateral donor in Serbia over the past seven years.

Photo Tanjug/S. Ilic, archive