November 25, 2015
On Wednesday, November 25, U.S. Ambassador to Montenegro Margaret Ann Uyehara along with Minister of Labor and Social Welfare Zorica Kovacevic and Mayor of Bijelo Polje Aleksandar Zuric officially opened a small group home for children with disabilities in Bijelo Polje. The project will provide care and a life resembling home life and a family upbringing for up to eight children with disabilities who do not have an adequate family environment.
The U.S. European Command (EUCOM) humanitarian assistance program, through the U.S. Embassy and its Office of Defense Cooperation, has provided $483,700 for this project. The Municipality of Bijelo Polje donated the land while the Ministry of Labor and Social Welfare will provide funding for 14 staff members and for the maintenance of the small group home. UNICEF and EU have provided capacity development and technical assistance on this project to the Ministry of Labor and Social Welfare.
Ambassador Uyehara also visited the High Court in Bijelo Polje to deliver a $26,000 donation of audio & video equipment, which will, among other things, contribute to higher transparency, increased capacity to safeguard the identity of protected witnesses, and enable remote testimony. This donation was made possible by the State Department’s Bureau of International Narcotics and Law Enforcement Affairs.
