The Speaker of the National Assembly of the Republic of Serbia, Prof. Dr Slavica Djukic-Dejanovic and the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) Mission Director, Michael Harvey signed today a Memorandum of Understanding between the National Assembly and USAID Regarding the Cooperation on the Separation of Powers Program in Serbia.

The Memorandum signing ceremony was attended by the USA Ambassador to Serbia, Cameron Munter and members of the Advisory Committee which will, on the behalf of the National Assembly, together with the USAID representatives in Serbia monitor and guide the realisation of the Program. It comprises the National Assembly Deputy Speaker and Committee Co-Chairperson Judita Popovic, Administrative Committee Chairman Nenad Konstantinovic, Finance Committee Deputy Chairperson Branka Ljiljak and Assistant Secretary of the National Assembly, Mirjana Radakovic.

The National Assembly Speaker Prof. Dr Slavica Djukic-Dejanovic and USA Ambassador to Serbia Cameron Munter spoke at the Memorandum signing ceremony.

The National Assembly Speaker stated that the cooperation with USAID will help strengthen Serbian institutions, in particular, improve the functioning of the National Assembly. The experts of the New York East-West Management Institute who will participate in the realisation of the project are the guarantee of its success.

Assembly Speaker Djukic-Dejanovic stressed that the Program will provide training for the deputies and employees so as to increase the efficiency of adopting laws and strengthen the Parliament’s supervisory and representative role.

USA Ambassador to Serbia Cameron Munter pointed out that the cooperation between USAID and the National Assembly will help enhance the transparency of the institution’s work. He also said that the realization of the program should help the institutions regain the trust of the citizens.

The Memorandum of Understanding establishes the framework for the cooperation between the National Assembly and USAID on developing the Assembly’s capacities, aiming to improve its ability to better command the budget and other resources in line with European Union standards, as well as enable its fiscal independence. The cooperation on the project will last until August 2011.