ASSEMBLY ACTIVITIES

11.3.2010. | COMMITTEE ACTIVITY
SEVENTEENTH SITTING OF THE YOUTH AND SPORTS COMMITTEE

The Youth and Sports Committee held its seventeenth sitting on 11 March. The sitting was chaired by the Committee Chairman Milan Vuckovic.

The Committee members debated and unanimously adopted the Youth and Sports Committee 2010 Activity Plan.

At the request of the Ministry of Youth and Sport, the Committee went on to endorse the proposal that deputy and Youth and Sports Committee member Sladjan Mijaljevic be made member of the Organising Committee of the 20^th World Karate Championship in 2010.

The Committee also launched an initiative to organise a charity indoor football tournament between deputy groups.

TWENTY-EIGHTH SITTING OF THE COMMITTEE ON HEALTH AND THE FAMILY

The Committee on Health and the Family held its twenty-eighth sitting on 9 March 2010. The sitting was chaired by the Committee Chairman, Dr Paja Momcilov and attended by State Secretary at the Ministry of Health Dr Perisa Simonovic, Assistant Minister of Health Zorica Pavlovic, Chairman of the Serbian Health Council Prof. Dr Dragan Delic, as well as the members of the Serbian Health Council.

The Committee members considered the information on the Serbian Health Council’s (ZSS) work and activities.

TWENTIETH SITTING OF THE COMMITTEE ON DEFENSE AND SECURITY

At the twentieth sitting of the Committee on Defense and Security, held on 10 March, Minister of Interior Ivica Dacic and Police Chief Milorad Veljovic briefed the Committee members on the murder of police officer Zeljko Zecevic.

Following a discussion, the Committee members unanimously concluded:

The Committee severely condemns the murder of police officer Zeljko Zecevic who lost his life in the line of duty.

The Committee requests that the judicial authorities pronounce the strictest legal measures for criminal offenses such as attack on police officers in the line of duty...

SEVENTEENTH SITTING OF THE ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION COMMITTEE

The Environmental Protection Committee held its seventeenth sitting on 9 March. The sitting was chaired by Cedomir Jovanovic, Committee Chairman, and attended by deputy and Chairman of the Velika Plana Municipal Assembly Dusan Maric.

The Committee members discussed and considered the Conclusion of the Velika Plana Municipal Assembly regarding the temporary storage of hazardous waste on site in Krnjevo, on the territory of Velika Plana Municipality.

EIGHTEENTH SITTING OF THE EDUCATION COMMITTEE

At the sitting held on 9 March, the Education Committee discussed the particulars of the Bill on Pre-School Upbringing and Education and the Bill on Pupil and Student Standard.

The sitting was chaired by Dr Zoran Sami, Committee Chairman.

On the behalf of the submitters - the Ministry of Education, Minister of Education Zarko Obradovic said that out of the 40 amendments submitted to the Bill on Pre-School Upbringing and Education the Government accepted nine. At the sitting, the Committee also formulated four amendments of its own aimed at improving the text of the Bill...

FOURTEENTH SITTING OF THE COMMITTEE ON TRANSPORTATION AND COMMUNICATIONS

At the sitting held on 8 March, the Committee on Transportation and Communications discussed three Bills on the agenda for the First Sitting of the First Regular Session: the Bill amending and modifying the Law on International Road Transport, with amendments, as well as the Bills on the Confirmation of the Agreement between the Government of the Republic of Serbia and the Government of the Kingdom of Spain on reciprocal recognition and exchange of national driver’s licenses, and on the Confirmation of the Agreement between Serbia and Montenegro and Bosnia and Herzegovina on borderland transport...

NINETEENTH SITTING OF THE COMMITTEE ON DEFENSE AND SECURITY

At the sitting held on 4 March, the Committee on Defense and Security considered the Bills on the confirmation of nine international agreements submitted by the Government and included in the agenda for the First Sitting of the First Regular Session of the National Assembly of the Republic of Serbia in 2010.

SEVENTY-NINTH SITTING OF THE LEGISLATIVE COMMITTEE

At the sitting held on 4 March, the Legislative Committee discussed in principle nine Bills submitted by the Government and included in the agenda for the First Sitting of the First Regular Session of the National Assembly of the Republic of Serbia in 2010.

SIXTH SITTING OF THE COMMITTEE ON URBAN PLANNING AND CONSTRUCTION

At the sitting held on 4 March, the members of the Committee on Urban Planning and Construction considered in principle the Bill amending and modifying the Law on State Land Survey and Cadastre, submitted by the Government of the Republic of Serbia.

The sitting was chaired by Jovan Nesovic, Committee Chairman, and attended by representatives of the Ministry of Environment and Spatial Planning and Republic Geodetic Institute.

The Bill amending and modifying the Law on State Land Survey and Cadastre extends the deadline for complaints from eighth to fifteen days and harmonises the law with other domestic legislation. It also extends the deadline for the completion of a new systematisation at the Republic Geodetic Institute and exempts this institution from the legal document on cut-backs in number of public administration employees...

SIXTY-FIRST SITTING OF THE ADMINISTRATIVE COMMITTEE

At the sitting held on 4 March, the Administrative Committee considered the Republic Electoral Commission Report for the purpose of filling a vacant deputy seat.

The Committee noted that the termination of the term of office of deputy Momcilo Spasic, elected from the For European Serbia – Boris Tadic electoral list, left a vacant deputy seat at the National Assembly. The Committee ascertained the existence of sufficient grounds for the verification of the term of office of deputy Vladimir Ilic and proposed that the National Assembly note the verification of the deputy’s term of office...

SEVENTEENTH SITTING OF THE PRIVATISATION COMMITTEE

At the sitting held on 4 March, the Privatisation Committee considered the Ministry of Economy and Regional Development Report on the Activities of the Privatisation Agency for December 2009 and January 2010. They also discussed the Privatisation Agency’s 2009 Activity Report and the Privatisation Agency’s Work Programme for January and February 2010.

The agenda for the sitting also included the Ministry of Economy and Regional Development Report on the Activities of the Republic of Serbia Share Fund for December 2009 and January 2010...

TWENTY-THIRD SITTING OF THE CULTURE AND INFORMATION COMMITTEE

At the sitting held on 4 March, the Culture and Information Committee discussed the Proposal for the Election of Deputy Commissioner for Information of Public Importance and Personal Data Protection. The Proposal was elaborated by the Commissioner for Information of Public Importance and Personal Data Protection Rodoljub Sabic who said that, under the Law on Personal Data Protection, he nominates Aleksandar Resanovic, Bachelor of Law from Belgrade, as his deputy.

The Culture and Information Committee concluded that the legal conditions have been met to elect Aleksandar Resanovic as Deputy Commissioner for Information of Public Importance and Personal Data Protection, at the Commissioner’s proposal. The Committee shall forward the Proposal to the National Assembly in order to implement the election process...

EIGHTH SITTING OF THE CHILDREN’S RIGHTS WORKING GROUP

At a sitting chaired by National Assembly Speaker and Working Group Chairperson Prof. Dr Slavica Djukic-Dejanovic, the Children’s Rights Working Group discussed its 2010 Activity Plan. The Head of the UNICEF Serbia Office Judita Reichenberg took part in the proceedings.

At the beginning of the sitting, the National Assembly Speaker estimated that the Working Group’s activities so far have justified its creation adding that due to the relevance and importance of the issues it deals with, with the drafting of the new National Assembly Rules of Procedure it should be transformed into an assembly committee.

TWENTY-SECOND SITTING OF THE AGRICULTURE COMMITTEE

At the sitting held on 3 March, the members of the Agriculture Committee discussed in principle the Bill on Wild Game and Hunting, submitted by the Government of the Republic of Serbia and the Republic Hydrometeorological Institute’s Information on the conditions and problems of anti-hail protection.

The sitting was attended by Dragan Injac, State Secretary at the Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Water Management and associates, representatives of the Hunting Association of Serbia and Milan Dacic, Director of the Serbian Republic Hydrometeorological Institute.

FIRST SITTING OF THE FIRST REGULAR SESSION OF THE NATIONAL ASSEMBLY OF THE REPUBLIC OF SERBIA IN 2010

The Speaker of the National Assembly of the Republic of Serbia, Prof. Dr Slavica Djukic-Dejanovic, convened the First Sitting of the First Regular Session of the National Assembly of the Republic of Serbia in 2010, for Tuesday, 2 March 2010, starting at 10 a.m.

Before moving on to the agenda, deputies Cedomir Jovanovic, Slobodan Samardzic, Velimir Ilic, Jorgovanka Tabakovic, Jovan Damjanovic and Dragan Todorovic exercised their right under article 235 of the Rules of Procedure and requested information and/or explanations from governmental institutions.

The National Assembly adopted the following agenda:

1.        The Customs Bill, submitted by the Government of the Republic of Serbia;

2.        The Bill amending and modifying the Corporate Income Tax Law, submitted by the Government of the Republic of Serbia;

3.        The Bill amending and modifying the Personal Income Tax Law, submitted by the Government of the Republic of Serbia;

4.        The Bill on the indebtedness of the Republic of Serbia at Erste GCIB Finance I.B.V. Amsterdam, with Erste Bank a.d. Novi Sad as agent, Marfin Bank a.d. Belgrade and Vojvodjanska Banka a.d. Novi Sad, submitted by the Government of the Republic of Serbia;

5.        The Bill granting guarantee by the Republic of Serbia in favour of Banca Intesa a.d. Belgrade under the debt of Public Enterprise Srbijagas Novi Sad, submitted by the Government of the Republic of Serbia;

6.        The Bill on Pre-School Upbringing and Education, submitted by the Government of the Republic of Serbia;

7.        The Bill on Pupil and Student Standard, submitted by the Government of the Republic of Serbia;

8.        The Bill on Wild Game and Hunting, submitted by the Government of the Republic of Serbia;

9.        The Bill amending and modifying the Law on Scientific and Research Activities, submitted by the Government of the Republic of Serbia...

DEPUTIES’ QUESTIONS

On 25 February, at 4 p.m., in line with article 200 paragraph 1 of the National Assembly Rules of Procedure, the deputies called a recess in the debate on the agenda for the First Extraordinary Session of the National Assembly of the Republic of Serbia in 2010, and posed various questions to the Government.

This part of the sitting was attended by the Prime Minister of the Republic of Serbia Mirko Cvetkovic, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Economy and Regional Development Mladjan Dinkic, Minister of Defense Dragan Sutanovac, Minister of Finance Dr Diana Dragutinovic, Minister of Justice Snezana Malovic, Minister of Agriculture, Forestry and Water Management Dr Sasa Dragin, Minister of Energy and Mining Dr Petar Skundric, Minister of Infrastructure Milutin Mrkonjic, Minister of Trade and Services Slobodan Milosavljevic, Minister of Education Zarko Obradovic, Minister of Health Dr Tomica Milosavljevic, Minister of Telecommunication and Information Society Jasna Matic, Minister of Human and Minority Rights Svetozar Ciplic, Minister without Portfolio Sulejman Ugljanin...

FIRST EXTRAORDINARY SESSION OF THE NATIONAL ASSEMBLY OF THE REPUBLIC OF SERBIA IN 2010

The First Extraordinary Session of the National Assembly of the Republic of Serbia in 2010, convened by the Speaker of the National Assembly of the Republic of Serbia, Prof. Dr Slavica Djukic-Dejanovic, at the request of 123 deputies, was held on 23 February 2010, starting at 10 a.m.

The Request to hold the First Extraordinary Session of the National Assembly set the agenda containing one item, the Bill on the National Assembly, submitted by a group of 128 deputies on 17 February 2010.

At the beginning of the session, the heads i.e. authorised representatives of the Deputy Groups, Jorgovanka Tabakovic, Radojko Obradovic, Dragan Todorovic, Cedomir Jovanovic and Miroslav Markicevic requested information and/or explanations, under article 235 of the Rules of Procedure.

Before moving on to the agenda, at the proposal of the Administrative Committee, the National Assembly noted the termination of the term of office, before the end of the term he was elected to, of deputy Goran Cvetanovic, elected from the Serbian Radical Party – Dr Vojislav Seselj Deputy Group...

INFORMATION

NATIONAL ASSEMBLY SPEAKER SENDS TELEGRAM OF CONDOLENCES TO TURKISH PARLIAMENT SPEAKER

National Assembly Speaker Prof. Dr Slavica Djukic-Dejanovic sent a telegram of condolences to the Turkish Parliament Speaker Mehmet Ali Sahin after the disastrous earthquake that struck east Turkey killing at least 51 people.

The telegram states:

“On the behalf of the deputies and myself, accept our deepest sympathies on the tragic deaths of your citizens in the horrible earthquake that struck your country”.

CONGRATULATIONS TO ALL WOMEN OF SERBIA

NARS Speaker Prof. Dr Slavica Djukic-Dejanovic congratulated all women of Serbia on their holiday, 8 March.

“Happy 8 March to all women of Serbia and may this not be the only day you receive special attention. Men should show due appreciation for the position of their mothers, sisters, wives and co-workers, no matter the date thus contributing to gender equality in the society. I am pleased at the fact that an increasing number of women hold high, important and very responsible positions and with their knowledge, understanding and perseverance initiate important social reform”, said the Assembly Speaker.

NATIONAL ASSEMBLY SPEAKER SENDS TELEGRAM OF CONDOLENCES TO FAMILY OF KILLED POLICEMAN

NARS Speaker, Prof. Dr Slavica Djukic-Dejanovic, severely condemned the murder of police officer Zeljko Zecevic from the Police Directorate of Novi Pazar and sent a telegram of condolences to his family and the Police Directorate of Novi Pazar, where he worked.

“Accept the deputies’ and my deepest sympathies on the tragic death of your Zeljko. I was deeply shaken by the news that the member of your family lost his life in the line of duty, keeping public peace and order, and I sympathise with your pain. I am sure that the authorities in charge will bring the perpetrator of this horrible crime to justice as soon as possible. The representatives of the citizens of Serbia severely condemn this and indeed any attack on civil servants that protect the state order, lives and dignity of all of our citizens”, states the telegram of condolences.

NATIONAL ASSEMBLY SPEAKER SENDS TELEGRAM OF CONDOLENCES TO FAMILY OF LATE MOMO KAPOR

The National Assembly Speaker, Prof. Dr Slavica Djukic-Dejanovic, sent a telegram of condolences to the family of the late Momo Kapor. The telegram of condolences states:

“Accept the deputies’ and my deepest sympathies on the death of the doyen of our literary and art scene, Momo Kapor. Great men never leave forever as they leave behind a lasting impression on a whole period of our history. Momo Kapor has left us such a wealth of words and painter’s canvasses as a legacy for future generations.

We, on the political scene, should primarily take care of future generations because, as Momo Kapor noted in his keen style, “time and posterity are waiting around the corner.”

NATIONAL ASSEMBLY SPEAKER VISITS FIRST KRAGUJEVAC GRAMMAR SCHOOL

National Assembly Speaker Prof. Dr Slavica Djukic-Dejanovic attended the special forum of the First Kragujevac Grammar School Parliament, organised in her honour.

The Assembly Speaker answered numerous questions posed by the deputies of the Student Parliament about the activities and functioning of the highest legislative authority in Serbia, as well as her political engagement, student days and personal interests.

Since Djukic-Dejanovic herself was a pupil of this grammar school, she advised the young people that having a clearly defined goal and clearly set demands to strive for was the most important thing.

As part of the forum, an election was organised for the new Prime Minister of the Student Parliament who received a diploma from the Assembly Speaker along with wishes for future success.

The First Kragujevac Grammar School is the oldest in Serbia (177 years old), and the Student Parliament was founded in 2003 in order to improve the high-school students’ school life and hone the skills of pupils active in this type of student organisation.

ASSEMBLY SPEAKER RECEIVES ITALIAN DELEGATION

The Speaker of the National Assembly of the Republic of Serbia, Prof. Dr Slavica Djukic-Dejanovic received today a delegation of the Italian Parliament’s Foreign Affairs Committee, headed by the Committee Chairman Stefano Stefani.

In the meeting with the NARS Speaker, opinions were exchanged on Serbia’s Eurointegration, the current political situation in the Balkans region and further development of overall bilateral relations between Serbia and Italy.

Reiterating that the unilaterally declared independence of Kosovo is the severely violates international law and human rights in general, the Assembly Speaker expressed a belief that the advisory opinion of the International Court of Justice would enable the initiation of talks between Belgrade and Pristina for the final resolution of the status of Serbia’s southern province.

Stefani commended Serbia’s results on the road of speedy integration into the European Union stressing that Serbia can count on Italy’s full support in the continuation of the process. The officials noted that no open issue can be resolved by force or by means outside of the international law framework.

The Italian Parliament’s delegation comprised Italian Members of Parliament, as well as two State Secretaries at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs Roberto Antonione and Piero Fassino.

EUROPEAN INTEGRATIONS COMMITTEE CHAIRMAN LASZLO VARGA TALKS TO CZECH FOREIGN MINISTRY DIRECTOR

Today at the National Assembly House, the Chairman of the European Integrations Committee Laszlo Varga talked to the Director of the South and South Eastern Europe Department of the Czech Republic Ministry of Foreign Affairs Ivana Hlavsova.

Director Hlavsova pointed out that the bilateral relations between the Czech Republic and the Republic of Serbia are on a constant rise which is considerably aided by their intensive interparliamentary cooperation. She wanted to know Serbia’s next steps on the road to the European Union.

Varga deemed that Serbia had taken several big steps towards the European Union last year i.e. visa liberalisation, deblocking of the Transitional Trade Agreement and submission of EU membership candidacy. He is of the opinion that this year too will call for an extensive engagement of the competent institutions, the Government and Parliament, in this sphere. Namely, Serbia decided to fill in the EU questionnaires so that, once it officially received them from the European Commission, it could answer and return them to the Commission as soon as possible.

The Committee Chairman expects the Dutch Parliament will ratify the Stabilisation and Association Agreement between Serbia and the European Union in June.

At the Czech guest’s question how much support there was among the political parties and the public regarding Serbia’s accession to the EU, Varga said that at least two thirds of Serbian citizens, as well as the biggest opposition party support the process. He stressed that the National Assembly passed a large number of laws last year and was among the three most productive parliaments in Europe. He also added that the adoption of the Law on the National Assembly presented a significant step in strengthening the parliament’s role in and influence on Serbia’s approach to the European Union, and that the new Rules of Procedure that should be adopted by the end of the current session would open new perspectives for work on the integrations thus ensuring an even higher efficiency.

SERBIAN AND ITALIAN PARLIAMENTARY DELEGATIONS MEET

A delegation of the Foreign Affairs and European Integrations Committees headed by the Chairmen of the two Committees, Prof. Dr Dragoljub Micunovic and Laszlo Varga, met today at the National Assembly House with a delegation of the Foreign Affairs Committee of the Italian Parliament’s House of Representatives, headed by the Committee Chairman Stefano Stefani.

Stefano Stefani stressed that Italy would continue to support Serbia’s Eurointegration and hoped for Serbia’s speedy accession to the European Union which is, as he said, the wish of the other European countries as well.

The Italian parliamentarians were interested in Serbia’s next steps on the road to the European Union and its relations with other states of the former federation. They were particularly interested in what Serbia was doing to preserve its cultural heritage in Kosovo-Metohija.

Foreign Affairs Committee Chairman Dragoljub Micunovic reminded the officials that Italy has always been one of Serbia’s most important foreign trade partners, as well as of the good cultural cooperation and the Italian cultural influence in the region. He expressed expectation that the two countries would continue to develop friendly relations in all spheres.

Micunovic said that Serbia is constantly faced with vandal demolition of sacral monuments and destruction of Serbian cultural trace in Kosovo-Metohija which escalated in the events of March 2004. Although the Council of Europe Parliamentary Assembly passed a Resolution on the protection of the cultural heritage in Kosovo-Metohija, the international institutions had not reacted adequately to protect that part of the world cultural heritage, Micunovic said. Although the cultural heritage was under KFOR’s protection, Albanian separatists continued to destroy it in the past years.

The National Assembly delegation comprised deputies Gordana Comic, Marina Ragus, Zeljko Ivanji and Nikola Lazic.

NATIONAL ASSEMBLY SPEAKER SENDS TELEGRAM OF CONDOLENCES TO CHILEAN PARLIAMENT SPEAKER

The National Assembly Speaker Prof. Dr Slavica Djukic-Dejanovic sent a telegram of condolences to the Chilean Parliament Speaker Rodrigo Alvarez after the disastrous earthquake that struck Chile killing several hundreds of people. The telegram states:

“Accept the deputies’ and my deepest sympathies on the tragic death of your citizens in the horrific earthquake that struck your country.”

SPANISH CONGRESS PRESIDENT MEETS DELEGATION OF THREE ASSEMBLY COMMITTEES

A delegation of the Foreign Affairs, European Integrations and International Economic Relations Committees, headed by the Chairman of the Foreign Affairs Committee Prof. Dr Dragoljub Micunovic, talked today at the National Assembly House to a delegation of the Congress of the Kingdom of Spain, headed by its President Jose Bono Martines. The delegation also included Jordi Jane I. Guasch, Congress Vice-President and Celia Villalobos Talero, Congress Secretary.

The Spanish Congress President Jose Bono Martines pointed out that Serbia has an ally in Spain that it can rely on in order to quickly accede to the European Union, as well as an ally in the defense of its territorial integrity and sovereignty. The Spanish Parliament and Government do not recognise the illegitimately declared independence of Kosovo-Metohija, Martines stressed.

The Foreign Affairs Committee Chairman Dragoljub Micunovic said that there was a high degree of agreement among the public and the political parties regarding Serbia’s accession to the European Union, as well as the illegality of the self-declared independence of Kosovo-Metohija. He expressed an expectation that the ruling of the International Court of Justice regarding Kosovo-Metohija would be positive for Serbia and that it would be followed by a dialogue between the two sides.

The Spanish Congress President was also greeted by the Chairman of the European Integrations Committee Laszlo Varga who spoke of Serbia’s next steps towards the European Union and pointed out that the EU questionnaires would be filled in in about two months. Momir Markovic, Foreign Affairs Committee member, pointed out The Hague Tribunal’s unequal treatment of Serbs and members of other nations charged with war crimes.

SPANISH CONGRESS PRESIDENT VISITS NATIONAL ASSEMBLY

The Speaker of the National Assembly of the Republic of Serbia, Prof. Dr Slavica Djukic-Dejanovic received today at the National Assembly House a delegation of the Congress of the Kingdom of Spain, headed by the President of the Congress Jose Bono Martines. In addition to Mr. Martines, the delegation comprises Jordi Jane I. Guasch, Congress Vice-President and Celia Villalobos Talero, Congress Secretary.

The Spanish and Serbian Parliament Speakers discussed furthering interparliamentary cooperation, as well as all other forms of cooperation between the two countries. Martines was interested in the activities of the National Assembly of the Republic of Serbia, so he attended part of today’s session of the Serbian Parliament.

The Assembly Speaker said that this was the opportunity to thank her counterpart on the behalf of the parliamentarians, citizens and Serbia for Spain’s official position regarding Serbia’s integrity and for its honest support of Serbia on the road to European integration.

Djukic-Dejanovic stated “We also talked about the deputies’ possible influence on certain economic trends that can and must take place between Spain and Serbia, as well as many other issues, air transport between Belgrade-Barcelona and Belgrade-Madrid, trade, potentials for cooperation in the spheres of defense, civil engineering, science, culture, health”.

Martines stated that he believed the visit deepened the relations between the Serbian and Spanish Parliaments and invited the National Assembly Speaker to visit the Spanish Congress during the country’s presidency of the EU.

NATIONAL ASSEMBLY SPEAKER RECEIVED D.R. CONGO EMBASSY CHARGE D`AFFAIRS

The Speaker of the National Assembly of the Republic of Serbia, Prof. Dr Slavica Djukic-Dejanovic received today the Charge d'Affairs of the Embassy of the Democratic Republic of Congo Paul-Emile Tshinga Ahuka.

Djukic-Dejanovic highlighted the need to improve interparliamentary relations via special parliamentary bodies that would contribute to the overall cooperation between Serbia and Congo.

The officials agreed that economic cooperation, particularly in the field of energy production, should be raised to a higher level. “All the signed documents aimed at improving Serbia’s economic relations with other countries will be the Serbian Parliament’s priority”, the Assembly Speaker stated adding that “although joining the European Union is the priority of Serbia’s foreign policy, cooperation with countries with which we enjoy traditionally good relations, like Congo, is also an important segment of Serbia’s foreign policy”.

Thanking the Speaker for the interest and constructive conversation, Ahuka added that this meeting marks “a new stage in the development of bilateral relations between Serbia and Congo” and informed her that the Congolese Foreign Minister would be visiting Serbia at the end of March of this year at the invitation of the Minister of Foreign Affairs, Vuk Jeremic.

MACEDONIAN PARLIAMENTARY GREEN LOBBY GROUP TALKS TO ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION COMMITTEE MEMBERS

A delegation of the Macedonian Parliamentary Green Lobby Group talked to the members of the Environmental Protection Committee of the National Assembly of the Republic of Serbia and deputies, members of the Serbian Parliamentary Green Lobby Group.

The members of the Environmental Protection Committee briefed the guests on the National Assembly and Committee’s activities pointing out that in 2009 the National Assembly adopted a set of environmental laws compliant with European legislation. The officials also shared parliamentary experiences and exchanged opinions on the activities that should be jointly implemented in order to improve the environmental situation in this part of Europe.

In the meeting, the representatives of BELLS movement (Balkan Environmental Life Leadership Standard) outlined the plan for future cooperation between the parliaments of the Western Balkans region, part of the two-year project Regional Environmental Advocacy Action and Cohesion in Western Balkans. The project aims to maker the issue of environmental conservation in the region an economic and social policy priority, with the help of the parliaments.

NATIONAL ASSEMBLY SERBIA-CROATIA FRIENDSHIP GROUP VISITS REPUBLIC OF CROATIA

The members of the National Assembly’s Friendship Group with Croatia, headed by Dr Janko Veselinovic, visited Zagreb on 22 - 23 February 2010, where it met with the highest dignitaries of the Republic of Croatia.

In addition to the Serbia-Croatia Friendship Group head, the delegation comprised Nikola Novakovic, National Assembly Deputy Speaker and friendship group member and Petar Kuntic, Radovan Radovanovic, Momo Colakovic and Dr Nebojsa Randjelovic, friendship group members. All the meetings were attended by the Ambassador of the Republic of Serbia to the Republic of Croatia, Stanimir Vukicevic.

On the first day of the visit, the Serbian parliamentarians talked to the members of the Croatian Inter-Parliamentary Friendship Group with Serbia headed by Neven Mimica, Croatian Parliament’s Deputy Speaker and head of the Inter-Parliamentary Group. The officials stressed that this was the first visit of the National Assembly’s Friendship Group with Croatia to the Croatian Parliament (Sabor) and that more frequent meetings between friendship groups, related parliamentary committees, as well as delegations on all levels should become regular practice. Both sides believe that inter-relations should be much better and more comprehensive despite the open issues, adding that Serbia and Croatia should be the engine that propels the other countries in the region to implement reform aimed at a joint European future.

At the Croatian Parliament, the members of the Friendship Group with Croatia met with Prof. Dr Milorad Pupovac, Chairman of the Committee for Inter-Parliamentary Cooperation. Parliamentary diplomacy was emphasised as a means to open the road to better relations on other levels as well. The officials applauded the idea of continued parliamentary meetings where the committees could share experiences on issues from their purview such as minority rights, return of refugees, as well as strengthening cooperation in the fight against corruption and organised crime.

The Chairperson of the National Committee for Monitoring the Accession Negotiations of Croatia to the EU Vesna Pusic briefed the Serbian guests on the Croatian experience in negotiations with the EU. They applauded Croatia’s decision to share the translations of European legal practice to the countries in the region.

On the second day of their visit, the members of the Friendship Group with Croatia were received by the President of the Republic of Croatia Ivo Josipovic. He expressed pleasure at the Serbian delegation’s visit and hope that it would mark the beginning of better cooperation between the two countries, which in their mutual strategic interest. The Serbian Parliamentarians congratulated President Josipovic on the election and conveyed the wish that the relations between the two countries and the two people improve. They thanked the newly-elected Croatian President for the fact that he placed regional politics among his priorities in order to resolve the open refugee issues, their return, the missing and property. President Josipovic and the Serbian guests agreed in the estimate that there were more things uniting than separating the two countries and that the fate of ordinary people, national minorities in particular, should be everyone’s priority.

The members of the Friendship Group with Croatia were received by the Croatian Parliament Speaker Luka Bebic.  In the meeting, both sides expressed expectation that the two parliaments would cooperate better, above all through the exchange of visits by friendship group and committees in charge of Euro-integration and protection of ethnic minorities. They also stressed that Serbia and Croatia as neighbouring countries depend on each other and that their political relations have a wider context. They particularly focused on the importance of protecting the Croatian minority in Serbia and Serbian minority in Croatia who, they said, most often suffer under the two countries’ laboured relations. The Croatian Parliament Speaker reminded all of the Croatian Constitutional Law on the Rights of Ethnic Minorities pointing out that the difficulties in its implementation are mostly material and financial, and do not stem from a lack of political will.

During their stay in Zagreb the Serbian Parliamentarians also met with Prof. Dr Slobodan Uzelac, Deputy Prime Minister and Gordan Jandrokovic, Minister of Foreign Affairs and European Integration. The meetings focused on resolving the open issues in the two countries’ relations, strengthening interparliamentary cooperation, realisation of ethnic minority rights through the implementation of existing laws and Dr Gordan Jandrokovic deemed the cooperation between Serbia and Croatia as greatly important for the South Eastern Europe region which was why Croatia politically and technically supported Serbia’s European perspective.

At the end of the two-day visit, the Friendship Group members talked to the head people of the Serbian National Council, Independent Democratic Serbian party and Serbian organisations in Croatia.

NATIONAL ASSEMBLY SPEAKER SENDS TELEGRAMS OF CONDOLENCES TO PORTUGUESE AND MOROCCAN PARLIAMENT SPEAKERS

On the behalf of the deputies and herself, National Assembly Speaker Prof. Dr Slavica Djukic-Dejanovic sent telegrams of condolences to the Portuguese and Moroccan Parliament Speakers after last weekend’s disasters that struck their citizens with tragic consequences.

On Friday, 19 February, at least 41 people died and over 70 were injured in the sudden collapse of a minaret in Morocco.

Since Saturday, 20 February, at least 32 people have died in the floods and landslides caused by heavy rain on the Portuguese island of Madeira, say the telegrams of condolences.

NATIONAL ASSEMBLY SPEAKER RECEIVES AMERICAN CONGRESSMAN

The National Assembly Speaker, Prof. Dr Slavica Djukic-Dejanovic received United States Congressman Earl Pomeroy at the National Assembly House today.

Stressing that the Congressman’s visit to the Serbian Parliament creates a truly significant bridge of cooperation between Serbia and the United States of America, the officials agreed that an exchange of parliamentary visits was the best way to improve parliamentary cooperation.

Pomeroy stated that the parliament’s role is extremely important for an accelerated process of European integration and emphasised that the US strongly supports Serbia on the road to the EU. Djukic-Dejanovic pointed out Serbia’s excellent cooperation with US international organisations like NDI and USAID.

The US Congressman stated: “I am impressed with the results achieved by the current convocation of the National Assembly, above all I would like to commend You, as Parliament Speaker, for the efforts you put into improving the parliament’s efficiency”.

They also discussed investment in Serbia, particularly in the sphere of agriculture. The Assembly Speaker pointed out that agriculture and applied industry were the only economic branches that had not recorded negative growth last year. In addition to the laws passed so far, the NARS has more laws on its agenda that should create more favourable conditions for investment into Serbia.

COOPERATION BETWEEN SERBIAN AND HUNGARIAN PARLIAMENT

In their meeting, the Speaker of the National Assembly of the Republic of Serbia, Prof. Dr Slavica Djukic-Dejanovic and the Speaker of the National Assembly of the Republic of Hungary Bela Katona announced an intensification of parliamentary cooperation, among other things, on the level of committees in charge of agriculture, environmental protection, economic development and energy production.

The Assembly Speaker briefed her counterpart on the results the NARS had achieved in the current convocation in the sphere of legislation. She particularly focused on the importance of the adoption, among others, of the Law on National Councils of National Minorities, as well as granting consent to the Vojvodina Statute.

Since the Hungarian Parliament has no representatives of the Serbian ethnic minority, Katona announced that the issue of including representatives of ethnic minorities into the Hungarian Parliament would be debated as soon as next week.

Regarding European integration, Djukic-Dejanovic thanked Hungary for its support in tackling the obligations from the EU roadmap. In this regard, Katona stressed that Hungary still offered Serbia all necessary assistance in the process.

“After adopting the Law on the National Assembly, our and the Hungarian Parliament shall concretize both the content and dynamics of all future directions of cooperation”, Djukic-Dejanovic pointed out.

ASSEMBLY SPEAKER DJUKIC-DEJANOVIC TALKS TO US AMBASSADOR

Today, the Speaker of the National Assembly of the Republic of Serbia, Prof. Dr Slavica Djukic-Dejanovic received the newly-appointed Ambassador of the United States of America H.E. Mary Warlick.

Ambassador Warlick congratulated Assembly Speaker Slavica Djukic-Dejanovic on the exceptional legislative results achieved during the current term of office. Warlick wanted to know about the National Assembly’s priorities this year, as well as the current issues that would discussed in the Serbian parliamentary sessions. She emphasised that during her term of office she would concentrate her efforts on furthering the relations between the two countries.

Djukic-Dejanovic expressed a wish to establish an adequate level of parliamentary cooperation, which Warlick agreed with and promised to work towards.

Warlick stressed that the USA would continue to strive to be a strong partner to Serbia in the European integration process. On the issue of NATO membership, she pointed out that the door was open for Serbia, stressing that it was Serbia’s decision to make alone.

ASSEMBLY SPEAKER DJUKIC-DEJANOVIC TALKS TO CUBAN AMBASSADOR

The Speaker of the National Assembly of the Republic of Serbia, Prof. Dr Slavica Djukic-Dejanovic received today the Ambassador of the Republic of Cuba H.E. Mercedes Martinez Valdes.

The meeting between Djukic-Dejanovic and Valdes focused on the repeated invitation Cuban Parliament Speaker Ricardo Alarcon extended to the Serbian Parliament Speaker.

“The honest and friendly relations between the two nations and states obligate us to raise parliamentary cooperation to a higher level”, the Assembly Speaker stressed in the meeting with the Ambassador.

Ambassador Valdes informed the National Assembly Speaker that a lecture on the Republic of Cuba would be held at the beginning of March and that the Serbian parliamentarians, members of the Serbia-Cuba Friendship Group in particular, would be invited to the lecture.

NATIONAL ASSEMBLY SPEAKER SENDS LETTER OF CONDOLENCES TO BELGIAN PARLIAMENT SPEAKER

The Speaker of the National Assembly of the Republic of Serbia, Prof. Dr Slavica Djukic-Dejanovic sent a telegram of condolences to the Speaker of the Belgian House of Representatives Patrick Dewael after the collision between two trains that claimed almost 20 lives.

“I was distressed to hear about the railroad accident and tragic death of your citizens. On the behalf of the deputies and myself, please accept my deepest condolences”, says the telegram.

NATIONAL ASSEMBLY SPEAKER’S ADDRESS ON OCCASION OF SRETENJE

Dear citizens of Serbia,

On the behalf of all the deputies and myself, I congratulate you on the Statehood Day, and to all orthodox believers congratulations on the holiday of Sretenje (Presentation of Jesus at the Temple).

Today, when we celebrate 175 years of the adoption of the first Constitution of modern Serbia, I am sure we all feel the results of our efforts to make Serbia, today an economically and politically stable, unconditionally determined to pursue a European future, respected in the world, a country that employs diplomatic and legal means to keep its integrity and sovereignty and protects and improves the rights of all of its citizens, the guarantor of stability and peace in the whole region and an equal member of the European family of nations.

NARS SPEAKER TALKS TO EGYPTIAN FOREIGN MINISTER

The Speaker of the National Assembly of the Republic of Serbia, Prof. Dr Slavica Djukic-Dejanovic received today at the National Assembly House the Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Arab Republic of Egypt Ahmed Aboul-Gheit, in official visit to Serbia.

The officials agreed that the friendship between Serbia and Egypt, dating far back, provided a good basis for favourable bilateral relations between the two countries and expressed hope that the relations would be even better in future and have a significantly influence the expansion of both parliamentary and economic cooperation.

The NARS Speaker thanked the Egyptian Foreign Minister on the principled support on the issue of Serbia’s territorial integrity and sovereignty over its whole territory within the internationally recognised borders as a UN member.

Djukic-Dejanovic reiterated that she had already invited the Egyptian Parliament Speaker to visit Serbia.

NARS SPEAKER TALKS TO RUSSIAN STATE DUMA DEPUTY SPEAKER

The Speaker of the National Assembly of the Republic of Serbia, Prof. Dr Slavica Djukic-Dejanovic talked today at the National Assembly House to the Deputy Speaker of the State Duma of the Federal Assembly of the Russian Federation,  Alexander Mikhailovich Babakov.

In the meeting, the officials discussed the cooperation between the two parliaments, as well as Serbia’s initiative for cooperation between the female deputies in the Russian and Serbia parliaments, which was strongly endorsed by Babakov.

Repeating that in October 2009 the officials signed an International Cooperation Agreement between the two parliaments, the Serbian Parliament Speaker stressed: “Cooperation between the State Duma and the National Assembly is a need expressed by both countries that has to be raised to a higher level”. Considering the degree of friendship between the two countries, as well as the quality of the relationship enjoyed by the Serbian and Russian Presidents, the officials agreed that in addition to furthering economic cooperation, cooperation in the spheres of health and culture was also a priority, as well as cooperation between parliamentary committees.

Stressing that the 65^th anniversary of victory over fascism is an issue that unites these two countries, which shall receive special attention in May this year in Russia, Babakov invited the Assembly Speaker to take part in the celebration.

The Assembly Speaker repeated that she had already invited the Speaker of the State Duma of the Russian Federation Boris Gryzlov to make a return visit.