Today, at the National Assembly House, the Speaker of the National Assembly, Dr Oliver Dulic, called Local and Provincial Elections for 11 May 2008.

In his press release, Speaker Duilic stated:

“Esteemed citizens,

It is my great pleasure to inform you that today I have called Local and Provincial Elections on the territory of the Republic of Serbia for 11 May 2008.

This act is of double importance for our country. By passing a packet of bills regulating local self-government the National Assembly managed to fulfill all of its obligations under the Constitutional Law.

In addition, conducting an election of deputies of territorial autonomy and officials in town and municipal assemblies will complete the process of constitution of state organs in line with the new Constitution of the Republic of Serbia. Let me remind you that the process begun with the election of members of parliament, and was continued by the election of the Government and Constitutional Court judges.

I will take this opportunity to thank the members of parliament for their willingness to pass all the bills necessary for the functioning of state organs, even when it called for round-the-clock efforts. I would also like to thank the Assembly service and journalists for their eagerness to follow the active legislative activities of the parliament.

I would particularly like to stress the atmosphere of negotiation and compromise, not only within the parties of the governing coalition, but in the relations between the governing and opposition parties as well.

It is precisely thanks to that spirit of tolerance and special efforts of the members of parliament that made it possible to pass 71 bills in the past seven months, including two budgetary bills that are a special trial for every government, and a large number of appointments to the most important state institutions was also conducted. In extremely complicated circumstances, this convocation of the National Assembly proved itself as the most efficient one since the introduction of the multi-party system.

It is my hope that the spirit of this convocation of the National Assembly will become the norm in our parliamentary and political life. It is extremely important for our country that the National Assembly maintains this level of efficiency in the upcoming period so that by the bills we pass we may give the highest contribution to the strengthening of democratic institutions, improving the standard of the citizens and European integrations.”