Report on the activities of the Security and Information Agency (BIA)

The Committee’s twenty-first session of 11 July 2003 was held at the offices of the Security and Information Agency. The Deputies discussed the Information on the current security situation in the Republic of Serbia, as well as the Report on the Activities of the BIA for the period January – June 2003. The session was attended by ten members of the Committee as well as the Director of the BIA, Misa Milicevic, with his associates.

It was unanimously decided at the beginning of the session, by a public vote, to close the session to the public, as well as to allow only members of the Committee to take part. All the Deputies present participated actively in the session, which lasted for about three hours. The participants asked a number of security-related questions, as well as questions on issues dealing with organisation, structure and material and technical equipment of the BIA. Mr. Milicevic offered quite extensive and competent answers to the Deputies, who passed a positive judgment on the Report of the Activities of the BIA and the Information on the security situation in the Republic of Serbia. It was concluded that such sessions should be held more frequently in order to establish a practice of parliamentary control over secret services, ensure that member of the Committee have a better awareness of the security situation, and de-mystify the work of the BIA.