At the sitting held on 14 November, the Foreign Affairs Committee members discussed the Foreign Affairs Bill. The sitting was chaired by Dr Dragoljub Micunovic.

The Minister of Foreign Affairs, Vuk Jeremic, expounded the Bill, talking to the Committee members for the first time on this occasion. He stressed that, after a long period, Serbia should get a Foreign Affairs Law which will be a modern act aligned with the new Constitution and Laws, as well as confirmed international contracts in the field of diplomatic and consular relations. The law specifies that the Ministry of Foreign Affairs carries out Serbian foreign policy established by the Government at the Ministry’s proposal.

In the discussion, the Committee members voiced several remarks, proposals and suggestions for the improvement of the text of the bill, particularly stressing the need to define the relation between the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the National Assembly more clearly in the act, that is to specify the Ministry’s duties towards the Parliament.

It was also agreed to continue the talks on the finalisation of the composition of deputy friendship groups and determination of their presidents.

Several reports on realised visits and contacts of Serbian parliamentarians and representatives of parliaments of other countries were also endorsed.