Skopje, 16 May 2023 (MIA) – Most often natural disasters don’t depend on us, very rarely can we, especially the smaller countries, try to affect them. But, together we all have the responsibility to build a system of measures which will make our countries and local communities more resilient to the consequences, said Minister of Local Self-Government Risto Penov at Tuesday’s regional conference organized by the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) on “Earthquake Preparedness and Urban Resilience”.

Minister Penov underlined that “since we can’t affect the cause, surely we can work to minimize the consequences, but,” he said, “this can only be done through a system of measures which would unconditionally be respected by everyone.”

The Minister reminded that 60 years ago, on October 14, 1963, the UN General Assembly unanimously adopted the Resolution on providing aid for the reconstruction of Skopje, which was then completely ruined.

“After the UN Resolution, 85 nations provided direct aid for the reconstruction of Skopje. Therefore, Skopje is appropriately referred to as the ‘city of international solidary’. Skopje does not forget, which is why we have streets and buildings named in honor of the countries that helped,” said Penov.

The Mayor of the City of Skopje, Danela Arsovska, said that safety and security will mark the direction in which the city needs to move in the next 60 years.

“This is why, I think, the most important strategic document we have to draft for Skopje right now is the General Urban Plan, which is supposed to detect the ways in which we establish the outlines for a safer and more secure city for all of us, but also a city which will be more resilient and offer humane living,” said Arvoska.

The Deputy Director of the UNDP Regional Bureau for Europe and the CIS, Marina Walter, referring to the recent earthquakes in Turkey and Syria, but also in Albania, Croatia, Uzbekistan, Armenia, said that they remind us of the importance of investing in urban resilience and the fight with disaster risks.

The Executive Coordinator of the United Nations Volunteers programme, Toily Kurbanov, said that with streets named after numerous cities throughout the world, Skopje is a UN symbol, and it carries the legacy of the Organization and of the volunteers who were first to respond to the consequences of the 1963 earthquake.

Over 30 regional experts in the field of urban planning, architecture, as well professionals from the field of disaster prevention, are participating in the UNDP-organized conference.

Photo: MIA