The Committee on Defence and Security held its sixth sitting on 1 November, chaired by the Committee Chairman, Ivica Dacic. The sitting was attended by the Director of the Security and Information Agency of the Republic of Serbia, Rade Bulatovic and associates.

The Committee considered the Report on the activities of the Security and Information Agency of the Republic of Serbia in the June 2006 to October 2007 period, with the Report on Security Conditions in the Republic of Serbia.

Presenting the Report to the Committee members, Rade Bulatovic, SIA Director, pointed out that the security conditions in the Republic of Serbia, with the exception of Kosovo and Metohija, are stable, but that there are risks that may endanger the stability. This mainly has to do with the actions of extremist groups and organisations in the south of Serbia and the region of Kosovo and Metohija. He added that increased endangerment, armament and propaganda activities of the terrorist organisation ANA had been noticed in the territory of Kosovo and Metohija, which is the main destabilising factor in the region, along with the Albanian extremists establishing a connection with Vehbija movement. SIA Director believes it possible to expect an escalation of violence in Kosovo and Metohija after 10 December, as well as occurrences of violence, disturbances and armed conflicts if a unilateral declaration of the independence of Kosovo is made. In the period in question, the activity of the Vehbija movement in the Raska area was monitored, as well as the activities of religiously motivated extremists and ultra-right organisations, and the security conditions in mixed nationality and multiconfessional areas were considered. SIA also monitored the activities of foreign intelligence structures and estimated the risk to national security.

SIA has established an excellent cooperation with the Ministry of Interior, Ministry of Defence, War Crimes Prosecutor’s Office, as well as the Archives of Serbia. Apart from that, SIA has established an intensive bilateral cooperation with 49 security services in 39 countries, and as far as meeting its international obligations and cooperation with the Hague Tribunal are concerned, it undertook all necessary activities.

During the discussion, the Committee members exchanged opinions on the submitted Report and posed questions to the SIA Director. After the discussion the Committee accepted the Report on the activities of the Security and Information Agency of the Republic of Serbia in the June 2006 to October 2007 period, with the Report on Security Conditions in the Republic of Serbia.