Forums in the communities Together for resolving problems   Civic forums took place in the municipalities of Gjorce Petrov, Prilep and Kicevo to discuss the actual problems in those communities. Participants of the forums were the citizens and the local administration who mutually concluded that the urban development and improving the local infrastructure are the main two priorities in the municipalities. The citizens offered ideas, knowledge and skills for resolving the problems. Over 100 citizens took part in the forums. The discussions will continue in the next four months. The forums are part of the program “Forums in the communities”, which is financed by the Swiss Agency for Development and Cooperation and implemented by the Foundation Open Society Institute – Macedonia and the Institutional Development Center – CIRa, in cooperation with the municipalities of Gjorce Petrov, Prilep and Kicevo. The program aims to encourage and organize the public participation in resolving the communities’ problems. Besides that, in 2007, the municipalities will get finances for resolving the problems –each of them will get 120.000 euros assistance from the Swiss Agency for Development and Cooperation. The municipalities themselves will participate with additional 25%, and 15% will be provided by the projects’ contractors.   M.I.