Pre-feasibility study for drafting of sustainable development plan for Rugova Canyon, professional support on revision of Peja MDP, with a special focus on establishing of a new industrial zone and new CIP as a joint co-financed project with Municipality for Informal settlement of “Zatra”, are some of the main points in Memorandum of Understanding signed on Thursday 9^th of February, between the Mayor of Peja/Pec, Ali Berisha, and the Head of UN-Habitat in Kosovo, Mrs. Krystyna Galezia.

As stated by Mr. Berisha, Peja/Pec has a good cooperation experience with UN-Habitat's MuSPP programme, and by signing of this Memorandum, the Municipality would empower further cooperation in the next three upcoming years, especially in the field of protection of the environment and natural resources.  Mr. Berisha pointed out that the mutual cooperation has already contributed to the improvement of public spaces of “Skenderbeu” square in the centre of the city. In the next three upcoming years UN-Habitat will continue its support on spatial arrangement of the city, on the environmental field, and this time with the special focus on the Rugova Canyon, which will make Peja to be identified with it and its mountain tourism.  The development of a potential capital investment project in the Informal Settlements Zatra, the need for awareness rising for protection of Peja/Pec region natural resources, as well as the development of the mountain tourism, was also emphasized by Mrs. Galezia. She also added that UN HABITAT will continue its professional support and feedback in the revision of the Municipal Development Plan as one of the most important topics of this memorandum especially in those parts where is needed.

In the same day the Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) was also exchanged with the Mayor of the Municipality of Junik, Agron Kuci. The document of the MoU contains the areas of cooperation with this municipality which are mainly focused on the support to the implementation of the MDP. Considering that municipality of Junik has recently approved the MDP drafted with the continuous support of MuSPP professional staff, similarly the programme will continue to give on the job assistance on drafting of strategies and studies as defined in the MDP document as well as potential capital investment project deriving from these studies. As discussed in the meeting these studies, and as specified in the MoU, a study will be done on the waste management as well as feasibility study for Moronica Park.  

The third phase of the Municipal Spatial Planning Support Programme has started officially on the 1^st of November 2011, and will continue to give professional support through on the job assistance and supporting its 12 partner municipalities on the planning process as well as small scale Capital Investment Projects  (CIP) deriving from it. The exchange of MoUs has already been done for municipalities of Gjilan/Gnjilane, Mitrovica, Partesh/Partes and a formal ceremony will also be held for other programme partner municipalities. The duration of MuSPP funded by the Swedish Government is scheduled for 3 years, and apart from partner municipalities the Ministry of Environment and Spatial Planning (MESP) will be one of the direct counterparts during this phase.