Zenica, 9 January 2008

The aim of the NATO/PfP Trust Fund Programme (NTF) implemented by International Organization for Migration (IOM) is to facilitate social and economic reintegration of the personnel of the Ministry of Defence of Bosnia and Herzegovina discharged in 2006/2007, as well as those discharged in 2004 in the defence reform process in Bosnia and Herzegovina.

IOM staff provides individual counselling related to the needs and concerns of the beneficiaries and recommends optimal reintegration options vis-à-vis the beneficiaries’ skills and interests. While some beneficiaries request enhancing their marketable skills through training and pursuit of education, a number of beneficiaries expressed interest in agricultural activities as their preferred reintegration option.

To date, 15 persons in the Central Bosnia region requested provision of agricultural machinery, specifically Motocultivator 10HP or 12HP, enabling them to apply more effective and efficient farming techniques. Today, IOM is distributing Motocultivators for these 15 beneficiaries; this is one of the first group consignments in a series of planned deliveries of agricultural machinery and non-agricultural tools and equipment.

The official handing over of the machinery took place on 9 January 2008 with the participation of IOM representatives and a representative of the Transitional Team of the Ministry of Defence, Mr. Hasret Turkovic.

All beneficiaries received also the necessary documentation and instructions on proper use, care, and maintenance, as well as warranty of their respective agricultural mechanisation equipment.

For more information contact:

Mrs. Edita Selimbegovic, IOM Sarajevo, Tel: 387 61 212 259, email: eselimbegovic@iom.int or, Mr. Amr Taha, IOM Sarajevo, Tel: 387 61 215 839, email: ataha@iom.int.