Responding to the questions of the Committee Chairperson Vesna Marjanovic regarding the Report, Minister of Culture and Media Ivan Tasovac briefed the Committee members on the Ministry’s normative affairs relating to the amendments and modifications to the Law on Culture, activities relating to the protection of cultural heritage and projects of special significance, and the investment into the restoration of Chilandar monastery.

Some Committee members and other attending MPs asked Minister Tasovac for specific information regarding the ownership structure of the media and the Ministry’s activities as regards the protection of media freedom.

At the sitting, the Committee also discussed the Conclusions of the meeting of theatre managers and the implementation of the Budget System Law.

The representatives of the Association of Dramatic Artists of Serbia and the theatre managers appealed to the Committee members and relevant authorities to take into consideration the specificities of theatrical art and the work of other cultural institutions, so that they may be exempt from the Law.

The sitting was attended by State Secretary at the Ministry of Public Administration and Local Self-Government Ivan Bosnjak who announced a new law on maximum number of employees in the public sector, under which the employees of cultural institutions will receive special treatment.

The participants of the sitting also discussed the duties of state institutions and local self-government bodies as regards the problems of cultural institutions, and City Secretary for Culture Vladan Vukosavljevic took part in the debate.

The Committee then proceeded to discuss the information of the Ministry of Culture and Media and the Ministry of Economy on the activities conducted within the sale of Avala Film.

Privatisation Agency Director Ljubomir Subara informed the Committee members about the privatisation process of Avala Film, opining that Republic of Serbia benefits from its sale. He explained that, though the producers’ rights have been sold through the privatisation of Avala Film, the copyright remains inalienable.

Minister of Culture and Media Ivan Tasovac said that the sale of Avala Film, like the previous sales of Centar Film, Dunav Film and Union Film, does not jeopardise the film material. The Minister added that the provisions of the Law on Protection of Cultural Heritage should be implemented, according to which the owner is obligated to keep and maintain the film material.

The sitting was attended by the Director of the Yugoslav Film Archive Radoslav Zelenovic.

Following the address of the Minister of Culture and Media, representatives of the Ministry of Public Administration and Local Self-Government and representatives of cultural institutions, the Committee Concluded that all activities relating to the amendments and modifications of the Budget System Law should be implemented so as to avoid any future detrimental effects on the work of cultural institutions.

The sitting was chaired by Committee Chairperson Vesna Marjanovic and Committee Deputy Chairman Aleksandar Jugovic.