1. Home
2. News

Meetings of Commissioner Cucić and Minister Vulin with the heads of UNHCR and IOM

In the space of a few days, Commissioner Vladimir Cicuć and Minister Aleksandar Vulin held meetings with the heads of UNHCR and IOM on the topic of migration.

On March 29, 2021, the Commissioner for Refugees and Migration, Vladimir Cucić, and the Minister of the Interior, Aleksandar Vulin, talked with the Head of the UNHCR Representation in Serbia, Francesca Bonelli, about the continuation of cooperation in the field of migration management.

The excellent cooperation of the UNHCR with the Ministry of Interior and the Commissariat was emphasized at the meeting.

Bonelli pointed out that Serbia, since the beginning of the migrant crisis in 2015, has shown a responsible approach and humanity and has significantly improved its capacity to manage migration.

Minister Vulin said that the Republic of Serbia has a clear and systematic approach to this problem; that it has provided all the necessary conditions for migrants to live a normal life, and that it is the first country in Europe to provide them with free vaccination against COVID-19.

"By protecting the health of migrants, we are also protecting the health of our citizens "Thanks to the work of President Vučić, Serbia is vaccinating its citizens, but it can also help others," Interior Minister Aleksandar Vulin pointed out.

The Minister thanked UNHCR for its support in strengthening the capacity of the Border Police Directorate, through donated equipment for the Asylum Office, and proposed holding an international conference attended by UN High Commissioner for Refugees Filippo Grandi, where Serbia would present good practice and results in migrations management.

Three days later, on April 1, 2021, Commissioner Cucić and Minister Vulin also talked with the head of the Office of the International Organization for Migration, Lidija Marković, about the continuation of cooperation in the field of migration management.

Minister Vulin pointed out that he especially appreciated the support provided by the Office of the International Organization for Migration to the Republic of Serbia during the migrant crisis, and that the organization had always lent an ear to the needs of the Ministry of the Interior.

As he emphasized, Serbia would continue to manage the migrant crisis in a responsible and humane way.

The Minister said that he expects that the future cooperation between the Ministry of the Interior and the Office of the International Organization for Migration would ensure strengthening of material and technical capacities in migration management.

Ms Markovic presented the planned projects and emphasized the excellent cooperation of this organization with the Ministry of Internal Affairs.

She pointed out that the Ministry of Interior would have the full support of this organization for its planned activities, while respecting the needs of the Ministry of the Interior.