October 17^th

City of Nis officials today talked about protection of citizens with Ombudsman of Serbia Zoran Pasalić about the state of human rights and ways to improve the exercise of citizens’ rights in the territory of the City of Nis. According to the Deputy Mayor Milos Bandjur the City of Nis is different from other cities in Serbia because the Mayor, together with his associates, meets the citizens every Monday to discuss their problems.  So far, the Mayor has spoken to more than 1,000 fellow citizens and many of their problems have been solved. Ombudsman Pasalic thanked the city management for the cooperation so far and pointed out that, in many areas, Nis is leading local self-government compared to other cities in Serbia He pointed out that City of Nis was the leader in solving social issues concerning the people with disabilities, elderly citizens, the inclusion of minority groups, and that the problems that citizens most often complain about were property issues and the inefficient administration in solving many issues. Nis City Ombudsman Sanja Stojancic pointed out on this occasion that the citizens complained mainly in regard to the bills for communal services. The Office of Nis City Ombudsman has processed over 620 cases since the beginning of this year.

October 17^th

The Third Forum of Advanced Technologies has been opened in Nis today. The Forum was officially opened by Nis City Mayor Darko Bulatovic while the Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign and Internal Trade and IT Mr. Rasim Ljajic addressed the audience gathered for the opening. The general aim of the Forum has been to present Nis as the regional center of advanced technologies based on existing economic, scientific, educational and institutional resources in the field of advanced technologies, as well as to present those resources to the competent ministries, research and development institutions, donor and diplomatic community, domestic and foreign companies operating on EU markets and wider. The mapping of insufficiently promoted potentials of Nis City and its resources in the field of economy, science and education and the synergy of all the participants of the Forum, should contribute to the sustainable economic development, attracting new investments and promotion of Nis City and the region.