The National Assembly adopted the following agenda for the Fourth Sitting of its First Regular Session, convened by its Chairman, Predrag Markovic, for 10 a.m. on 8 May:

- Proposal of the Decision Establishing the National Judiciary Reform Strategy, proposed by the Government;

- Code on Criminal Proceedings Bill, proposed by the Government;

- Bill on Training of Judges, Public Attorneys, Assistant Public Prosecutors, and Judges’ and Prosecutors’ Assistants, proposed by the Government;

- Bill Amending and Modifying the Act on Ordering of Courts, proposed by the Government;

- Arbitration Bill, proposed by the Government;

- Bill on Special Powers to Efficiently Protect Intellectual Property Rights, proposed by the Government;

- Bill on the Market in Securities and Other Financial Instruments, proposed by the Government;

- Investment Funds Bill;

- Bill on the Assumption of Joint-Stock Companies, proposed by the Government;

- Accounting and Auditing Bill, proposed by the Government;

- Public Ski Resorts Bill, proposed by the Government;

- Bill Amending and Modifying the Privatisation Act, proposed by a group of 545,208 registered voters;

- Bill on the Establishment of NIS-Kapital Joint-Stock Company, proposed by a group of 545,564 registered voters;

- Bill on the Establishment of EPS-Kapital Joint-Stock Company, proposed by a group of 542,592 registered voters;

- Bill on the Establishment of PTT-Kapital Joint-Stock Company, proposed by a group of 546,921 registered voters;

- Bill on Restitution of Property to Churches and Religious Communities, proposed by the Government, and

- Election of Members of the Programming Board of the Serbian Broadcasting Institution from among Persons Nominated by the Culture and Information Committee of the National Assembly of the Republic of Serbia and the Republic Broadcasting Agency.

At the start of the first day’s work, having been informed that Miroljub Labus had resigned as Deputy Prime Minister, the National Assembly noted the termination of office of Deputy Prime Minister Miroljub Labus.

At the start of discussion in principle on the Proposal of the Decision Establishing the National Judiciary Reform Strategy the deputies were addressed by the Minister of Justice, Zoran Stojkovic. He emphasised that the Strategy was founded on principles of independence, transparency, responsibility and efficiency, and added that its aim would be attained only if these four principles were upheld, which would, in turn, establish the rule of law and security for all members of the public, as the basic presuppositions for a return of confidence in courts. Mr Stojkovic said that only the passage of a new constitution would ensure the full implementation of the Strategy, and outlined several solutions contained in it.

The National Assembly completed discussion of the Proposal of the Decision Establishing the National Judiciary Reform Strategy by the end of the first day of the sitting.

Fourth Sitting of the First Regular Session of the National Assembly of the Republic of Serbia in 2006

On the second day of the sitting (9 May), the National Assembly concluded joint discussion in principle on the Code on Criminal Proceedings Bill, the Bill on Training of Judges, Public Attorneys, Assistant Public Prosecutors, and Judges’ and Prosecutors’ Assistants, and the Bill Amending and Modifying the Act on Ordering of Courts.

At the start of the third day of the sitting (10 May), the deputies were informed about the importance of passing the Arbitration Bill and the Bill on Special Powers to Efficiently Protect Intellectual Property Rights by the Minister of International Economic Relations, Dr Milan Parivodic.

By the end of the day’s work the National Assembly had completed joint discussion in principle on the Arbitration Bill and the Bill on Special Powers to Efficiently Protect Intellectual Property Rights.

On the fourth day of the sitting (11 May), the National Assembly completed joint discussion in principle on the Bill on the Market in Securities and Other Financial Instruments, the Investment Funds Bill, the Bill on the Assumption of Joint-Stock Companies, and the Accounting and Auditing Bill. The Minister of Finance, Mladjan Dinkic, as representative of the proposer, presented each bill, outlining specific solutions of the four key systemic pieces of legislation.

During the morning part of the fifth day of the sitting (12 May), the National Assembly completed joint discussion in principle on the Bill Amending and Modifying the Privatisation Act, the Bill on the Establishment of NIS-Kapital Joint-Stock Company, the Bill on the Establishment of EPS-Kapital Joint-Stock Company, and the Bill on the Establishment of PTT-Kapital Joint-Stock Company. The discussion was taken part in by proposers’ representatives – Branko Pavlovic, Veljko Milosevic, Miroslav Velickovic, Zoran Mrvaljevic, Relja Popovic, and Dusan Uzelac.

After the mid-day recess, the National Assembly completed discussion in principle on the Bill on Restitution of Property to Churches and Religious Communities. At the start of the debate the deputies were addressed by the Minister of International Economic Relations, Dr Milan Parivodic, who spoke of the importance of passing the Bill and presented solutions contained in it.

On the sixth day of the sitting (16 May), before continuing discussion of items from the agenda, the National Assembly noted that the mandates of deputies Goran Paunovic and Ksenija Milivojevic, elected from the G17 Plus – Miroljub Labus Electoral List, had terminated before the expiry of the term to which they had been elected. Based on the Republic Electoral Commission’s Report and at the proposal of the Administrative Committee, the Assembly noted the confirmation of mandates of deputies Momcilo Spasic and Zoran Suboticki, also elected from the G17 Plus – Miroljub Labus Electoral List.

The Assembly then moved on to hold joint discussion in principle on the election of members of the Programming Board of the Serbian Broadcasting Institution.

The legislators voted to extend their normal working hours to discuss the particulars of the Code on Criminal Proceedings; the Minister of Justice, Zoran Stojkovic, also took part in the debate.

On the seventh day of the sitting (17 May), the National Assembly discussed the particulars of the Bill on Training of Judges, Public Attorneys, Assistant Public Prosecutors, and Judges’ and Prosecutors’ Assistants, the Bill Amending and Modifying the Act on Ordering of Courts, and the Arbitration Bill.

After the midday recess at the eighth day of the sitting (18 May), the National Assembly discussed the particulars of the Bill on Special Powers to Efficiently Protect Intellectual Property Rights.

The Assembly then went on to confirm the mandates of deputies Sasa Vitosevic and Vesna Raca Radisavljevic.

Finally, the deputies discussed the particulars of the Bill on the Market in Securities and Other Financial Instruments.

On the ninth day of the sitting (19 May), the National Assembly discussed the particulars of the Investment Funds Bill.

On the tenth day of the sitting (22 May), the National Assembly discussed the particulars of the Takeovers Bill and the Accounting and Auditing Bill.

On the eleventh day of the sitting (23 May), the National Assembly of the Republic of Serbia discussed the particulars of the Public Ski Resorts Bill, the Bill Amending and Modifying the Privatisation Act, the Bill on the Establishment of NIS-Kapital Joint-Stock Company, the Bill on the Establishment of EPS-Kapital Joint-Stock Company, and the Bill on the Establishment of PTT-Kapital Joint-Stock Company.

The National Assembly observed a minute’s silence in honour of deputy Dr Miroslav Nedeljkovic, who was suddenly taken ill on the Assembly floor, and died soon afterwards.

Addressing the public, the Assembly Chairman, Predrag Markovic, said that the 250 legitimately elected individuals together comprise the highest representative body, and thereby bring into being national and political life. ‘Political and national life cannot expire, the process of institution-building and parliamentarianism goes forward; however, sadly, an individual’s life can end’, Markovic told the Assembly. In his words, all deputies who work responsibly 365 days a year are aware of that risk, but the same awareness must extend to their families and the general public. Since the constituting of the present Assembly four deputies have died, having assumed full responsibility and the risk that goes with unceasing work, even at the price of personal sacrifice and loss, Markovic added, expressing his heartfelt condolences to the family of deputy Miroslav Nedeljkovic.

On the twelfth day of the sitting (24 May), before going into recess after the death of Mr Nedeljkovic, the National Assembly noted that the mandate of deputy Srboljub Marinkovic, elected from the Serbian Radical Party – Dr Vojislav Seselj Electoral List, had terminated before the expiry of the term he had been elected to. Mr Marinkovic had previously tendered his resignation.

At the proposal of deputies Miloljub Albijanic and Milos Aligrudic, chairmen respectively of the G17 Plus and Democratic Party of Serbia Deputies’ Groups, the Proposal of the Decision Amending and Modifying the Decision on the Election of Members of Committees of the National Assembly of the Republic of Serbia was included into the agenda under urgent procedure.

The National Assembly commenced discussing the particulars of the Bill on Restitution of Property to Churches and Religious Communities.

Before the midday recess on the thirteenth day of the sitting (25 May), the National Assembly discussed the particulars of the Bill on Restitution of Property to Churches and Religious Communitiesand held joint debate on proposals of decisions amending and modifying the Decision on the Election of Members of Committees of the National Assembly of the Republic of Serbia.

Based on the Report of the Republic Electoral Commission on the election of a deputy to fill a vacant seat at the National Assembly of the Republic of Serbia, and the Report and Proposal of the Administrative Committee, the National Assembly noted the confirmation of the mandate of deputy Zvonko Mihajlovic, elected from the Serbian Radical Party – Dr Vojislav Seselj Electoral List.

As discussion of all items of the sitting’s agenda had finished, the Chairman, Predrag Markovic, called a Voting Day sitting after an one hour’s recess.

At the Voting Day sitting the National Assembly adopted, in their entirety, the Proposal of the Decision Establishing the National Judiciary Reform Strategy, the Code on Criminal Proceedings, the Bill on Training of Judges, Public Attorneys, Assistant Public Prosecutors, and Judges’ and Prosecutors’ Assistants, and the Bill Amending and Modifying the Act on Ordering of Courts.

The Assembly then went on to adopt, in their entirety, the Arbitration Bill, the Bill on Special Powers to Efficiently Protect Intellectual Property Rights, the Bill on the Market in Securities and Other Financial Instruments, the Investment Funds Bill, the Takeovers Bill, the Accounting and Auditing Bill, and the Public Ski Resorts Bill.

The National Assembly did not adopt the Bill Amending and Modifying the Privatisation Act, the Bill on the Establishment of NIS-Kapital Joint-Stock Company, the Bill on the Establishment of EPS-Kapital Joint-Stock Company, or the Bill on the Establishment of PTT-Kapital Joint-Stock Company.

The deputies adopted, in its entirety, the Bill on Restitution of Property to Churches and Religious Communities, and then went on to elect members of the Programming Board of the Serbian Broadcasting Institution and adopt, in their entirety, both proposals of decisions amending and modifying the Decision on the Election of Members of Committees of the Republic of Serbia.

As the National Assembly had finished discussing and voting on all items from the sitting’s agenda, Mr Markovic concluded the Fourth Sitting of the First Regular Session of the National Assembly of the Republic of Serbia in 2006.