Defence and Security Committee Chairperson Marija Obradovic said she was pleased the 2015 pilot course had been such a hit that 16 MPs and four National Assembly Support Service employees applied for the second one this year. She was also pleased to see an equal representation of both genders among the attendees.

The course is organized to respond to the MPs need to learn more about the security sector, its institutions and procedures, and rules not available to the public, said Marija Obradovic.

Security Services Control Committee Chairman MA Igor Becic also thanked the attendees for the turnout stressing that the course would add to the quality of the work the MPs and the National Assembly Support Service employees do.

Colonel Dr Miroslav Talijan, Head of the Military Academy’s National Defence School, underlined the importance of the cooperation between the National Assembly, its committees and the OSCE Mission in Serbia aimed at making and developing Serbia as a democratic state abiding by the rule of law.

Head of the OSCE Mission to Serbia Democratisation Department Jan Lueneburg said he was glad to see so many people interested in the course, underlining the importance of parliamentary oversight over the security sector. He said that what makes the course especially important and unique is the excellent cooperation between the representatives of the Serbian Armed Forces and the National Assembly. He went on to say he hoped the second course would be as successful as the pilot.