The Easter press conference held by the Chairman of the National Assembly, Predrag Markovic, marked the end of refurbishment of part of the National Assembly building that took from 24 February to 19 April 2006. The refurbishment of the Press Room and the News Centre was announced by Mr Markovic on two occasions; the deadline given was before the Easter holidays. In total, 500.11 square metres have been reconstructed: new equipment has been installed for journalists covering Assembly sittings, a room for press conferences has been set up, and a piece of the Assembly’s history has been put on public display.

Nikola Pasic’s Cabinet, a painting by Ivan Tisov, has been given as a long-term display loan to the Assembly by the National Museum. The painting, dating from 1922, and measuring 314 x 182 centimetres, was kept in the Museum’s vault since the end of World War II, and has never been exhibited. According to National Museum curator Ljubica Miljkovic, the painting shows then-Prime Minister Nikola Pasic and members of his cabinet Milos Vasic, Petar Pesic, Dr Hamdija Karamehmedovic, Velimir Vukcevic, Dervis Omerovic, Dr Mehmed Spaho, Osman Vilovic, Dr Voja Marinkovic, Dr Kosta Kumanudi, and Kosta Timotijevic. The painting was restored by a National Museum team headed by Radoslav Piljak and supervised by Svetlana Misa, and made up of volunteer painter-restorers from the Serbian Orthodox Church’s Academy of Art and Conservation, Aleksandar Cvijetinovic, Ivana Glodjaic, Nevena Djorovic, and Ana Vujic. The National Museum waived the restoration charge for another three paintings now hanging at the entrance to the News Centre and Press Room, Majda Kurnik’s Studenica, Mihailo Petrovic-Petrov’s Old Assembly, and Liza Krizanic’s Assembly.

Mr Markovic announced that the old Press Room would henceforth be named Nikola Pasic Room, after the painting now hanging outside it. Both the Press Room and the News Centre will become operational on 3 May 2006.