The Speaker of the National Assembly of the Republic of Serbia, Prof. Dr Slavica Djukic-Dejanovic, currently in a one-day official visit to Berlin, talked to the President of the German Bundestag Prof. Dr Norbert Lammert. The meeting was also attended by NARS Deputy Speakers Nikola Novakovic (G17 Plus), Bozidar Delic (SNS) and Judita Popovic (LDP), members of the delegation of the NARS Children’s Rights Working Group visiting the Bundestag at the invitation of its Commission for Children’s Concerns.

The NARS Speaker thanked the officials for organising the meeting between the Serbian parliamentarians and the Bundestag representatives in charge of children’s concerns.

In the meeting, the two parliament heads declared the relations between Serbia and Germany very good, particularly in the economic and financial sphere.

Djukic-Dejanovic and Lammert discussed the further steps in expanding mutual parliamentary cooperation and agreed that both sides wish to operationalise it. Both sides noted that this could be aided by cooperation between committees, friendship groups, exchange of officers between the parliaments, adding that the heads themselves would do all in their power to effect the expansion of said cooperation. The Serbian Parliament Speaker pointed out the training of the NARS European Integration Department officers at the German Bundestag as an example of good cooperation.

The NARS Speaker emphasised that the National Assembly sees the German Bundestag as the classroom of parliamentarism, adding that the German Bundestag’s control role provides the National Assembly with a model of how to influence the executive power in practice. Parliamentary cooperation between Serbia and Germany has been intensified in the past two years during which 12 reciprocal visits between Serbian and German parliamentarians have been realised.

Lammert stressed that even though the integration process takes time, Serbia’s European perspective is not brought into question, adding that in the process countries should not rely on historical affiliation and good will, but dedicate themselves to fulfilling the EU accession conditions.

Djukic-Dejanovic added that the effects of meeting these conditions in the EU accession process are far more important than the actual date of Serbia’s accession into the EU. She added that Serbia still expects Germany’s understanding and support both regarding the ratification of the SAA by the German Bundestag, as well as regarding the green light for Serbia’s candidacy at the EU Council of Ministers in Luxemburg in October this year.

“2010 has proved most successful as regards cooperation in the sphere of internal affairs between Serbian and Germany. We consider the creation of the conditions for a safer life for our citizens an imperative and in this respect I would like to highlight the fight against international terrorism, trafficking in humans and illegal narcotics, as well as the fight against corruption”, said the NARS Speaker.

She thanked the German authorities for their promised return of the Honourable Cross from Zica Monastery which was removed during World War Two. The exchange will take place between the representatives of the two churches on 19 October 2010 at the Serbian Embassy in Berlin.

The NARS Speaker invited the German Bundestag President to visit Serbia.