Representatives of the Ministry of Labour, Employment, Veteran and Social Affairs elaborated the Bill stressing that its adoption would put an end to the existing legislation passed during the time of SFRY. The new law would clearly define the duties concerning memorials, the outdated legislation would be replaced by new, the terminology would be harmonised and the area would be regulated according to the tenets of modern civil society with respect for human rights. Dragan Petrovic, State Secretary at the Ministry, said it was important to delineate the duties regarding the funding of the regular upkeep and management of memorials between the relevant Ministry and the local self-government unit where the memorial is located. He pointed out that unresolved issues of this kind cause confusion and prevent the efficient control of spending of the funds the Republic Serbia allocates for the purpose in its budget.

The new law specifies the duties of the local self-government units as regards the memorials on their territory i.e. clearly delineates the authority of the Republic of Serbia and the local self-government units as regards the regular upkeep of the memorials in the country, said Dragan Petrovic.

The goals achieved by the law on memorials are clear definition of duties, strengthening accountability, rationality and efficiency of the local self-government and the institutions.

The Committee members unanimously proposed that the National Assembly accept the Bill on Memorials in principle.

The Committee members then proceeded to unanimously adopt the Report of the Working Group for the processing of civic petitions.

The sitting was chaired by Dr Vesna Rakonjac, Committee Chairperson.