The Minister of Public Administration and Local Self-Government, Aleksandar Martinović, PhD, and the Provincial Secretary for Education, Regulations, Administration and National Minorities – National Communities, Szakállas Zsolt, have visited the Municipality of Senta today, where they met with the mayor of the municipality, Rudolf Ceglédi, and his associates. During the visit, the minister has pointed out that Senta is a true example of a multi-ethnic environment, where the majority of Serbs and Hungarians live in peace and harmony.
Martinović has emphasized that the Government of the Republic of Serbia has a firm intention to continue to foster good inter-ethnic relations in the future, as it has done so far, on the territory of the entire AP Vojvodina, and especially to foster brotherly relations between two old, traditional peoples – the Hungarians and the Serbs. He added that in the last few years, Hungary has proven to be our country’s greatest friend in Europe, and that such relations were established and strengthened by the President of the Republic of Serbia, Aleksandar Vučić, and the Hungarian Prime Minister, Viktor Orbán.
Recalling that several large projects have been implemented in the territory of the Municipality of Senta through the joint work and investments of the Ministry and local self-government, the minister has pointed out that this year, the MDULS had also allocated RSD 20 million from the Budget Fund for the Sewerage Construction Project in the Local Community of Kertek, which, as indicated by the president of the municipality, is of great importance for the residents.
During the visit, the minister has also visited the Primary School “Stevan Sremac”, at which the classes are held in Serbian and Hungarian, and which, as he stated, is in need of reconstruction.
“The educational institution, which was named after our renowned man born in this area, was built back in 1974. The said facility is in a very poor condition, while the estimated value of its rehabilitation is around RSD 250 million. I am convinced that the Government of the Republic of Serbia and the Provincial Government will make a joint effort in order to allocate these funds from the budgets of the Republic of Serbia and the AP Vojvodina for the rehabilitation of this primary school building. Our goal is to provide our children with decent conditions for education, but also for life and growing up, because investing in children means investing in the future,” Martinović has pointed out, and added that the tragedy at the Primary School “Vladislav Ribnikar” is a great warning to the State, our society and parents that we must pay much more attention to our children.
Pointing out that Senta has a very long and rich history and that the Battle of Senta, which is very important for our people, took place on its territory, the minister has expressed his belief that in next year, MDULS will be able to allocate funds from the Budget Fund for the third phase of rehabilitation of the tower of the Town Hall, which he visited today, and in which, among other things, there is also a Memorial-Viewpoint of the Battle of Senta.
After visiting the Municipality of Senta, Martinović had also visited the Office forCombating Poverty in Ada, where he discussed possible cooperation between the Ministry and the Office with its director, Vesna Civrić.