National Assembly of the Republic of Serbia / Activities / Activity details
Monday, 16 June 2014
Third Sitting of the Committee on the Diaspora and Serbs in the Region
At the sitting held on 16 June, the Committee on the Diaspora and Serbs in the Region discussed the Report on the relief collected by the diaspora for the areas of Serbia affected by floods, presented by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs Secretary General Veljko Odalovic.
He said that, according to the Serbian diplomatic and consular representative offices, 1300 associations from abroad have sent relief for the flooded areas. Via the local media, the ambassadors and consuls appealed to the public to take part in collecting relief material for those endangered by the floods in Serbia, said Odalovic adding that, for the purpose, a PayPal account had been opened for foreign donations. So far the diaspora had collected 824,000 EUR of assistance for Serbia. By 13 June, 20-million EUR of assistance in goods had also arrived from the diaspora and Serbs in the region.
The Committee members had questions about how the medicines and medical materials sent as relief are handled, underlining the need to follow standard regulations for said material.
After a short discussion the Committee unanimously adopted the following conclusions:
1. The Committee appeals to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs to act in accordance with the conclusion the Committee had adopted at the previous sitting. The Committee asks the diplomatic and consular representative offices to prepare reports on the engagement of the diplomatic and consular representative offices of the Republic of Serbia abroad in the collection of relief for flood-stricken areas.
2. The Committee asks the Ministry of Health to provide clear and precise instructions as regards foreign humanitarian aid in medical and sanitary material so as to prevent the delivery of sub-standard material.
3. The Committee appeals to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the other ministries to take additional efforts to inform the diaspora and Serbs in the region about the scale of the flooding in Serbia and how to offer assistance to the affected populace. The Committee endorses the activities of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs on presenting films and other creative material from Serbia in the countries which send relief.
4. The Committee asks the Ministry of Foreign Affairs to motivate the local population via its diplomatic and consular representative offices to collect relief for those affected by the floods.
In the continuation, Ministry of Foreign Affairs Secretary General Veljko Odalovic informed the Committee members about the activities on the establishment of a Directorate for cooperation with the diaspora and Serbs in the region, and the Committee members agreed that said Directorate should be set up as soon as possible.
As regards this item on the agenda the Committee adopted the following conclusion:
1. The Committee appeals to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the Government to set up a Directorate for cooperation with the diaspora and Serbs in the region, pursuant to the Law on Ministries, which would provide a complete legal framework for cooperation with the diaspora and Serbs in the region. The Committee also appeals for the establishment of an Office for cooperation with the Diaspora in Drvar and for additional discussion on the need to set up other offices in the region at the next Committee sitting.
The Committee also adopted the conclusion stating that the Committee members should take part in the aid campaign for the collection of relief for the flood-stricken population.
The sitting was chaired by Dr Janko Veselinovic, Committee Chairman.
The Committee members had questions about how the medicines and medical materials sent as relief are handled, underlining the need to follow standard regulations for said material.
After a short discussion the Committee unanimously adopted the following conclusions:
1. The Committee appeals to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs to act in accordance with the conclusion the Committee had adopted at the previous sitting. The Committee asks the diplomatic and consular representative offices to prepare reports on the engagement of the diplomatic and consular representative offices of the Republic of Serbia abroad in the collection of relief for flood-stricken areas.
2. The Committee asks the Ministry of Health to provide clear and precise instructions as regards foreign humanitarian aid in medical and sanitary material so as to prevent the delivery of sub-standard material.
3. The Committee appeals to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the other ministries to take additional efforts to inform the diaspora and Serbs in the region about the scale of the flooding in Serbia and how to offer assistance to the affected populace. The Committee endorses the activities of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs on presenting films and other creative material from Serbia in the countries which send relief.
4. The Committee asks the Ministry of Foreign Affairs to motivate the local population via its diplomatic and consular representative offices to collect relief for those affected by the floods.
In the continuation, Ministry of Foreign Affairs Secretary General Veljko Odalovic informed the Committee members about the activities on the establishment of a Directorate for cooperation with the diaspora and Serbs in the region, and the Committee members agreed that said Directorate should be set up as soon as possible.
As regards this item on the agenda the Committee adopted the following conclusion:
1. The Committee appeals to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the Government to set up a Directorate for cooperation with the diaspora and Serbs in the region, pursuant to the Law on Ministries, which would provide a complete legal framework for cooperation with the diaspora and Serbs in the region. The Committee also appeals for the establishment of an Office for cooperation with the Diaspora in Drvar and for additional discussion on the need to set up other offices in the region at the next Committee sitting.
The Committee also adopted the conclusion stating that the Committee members should take part in the aid campaign for the collection of relief for the flood-stricken population.
The sitting was chaired by Dr Janko Veselinovic, Committee Chairman.