The First Sitting of the First Regular Session of the National Assembly of the Republic of Serbia in 2006, convened by the Chairman of the National Assembly, Predrag Markovic, for 20 March, and later postponed for 27 March, was intended to discuss a large number of amendments submitted to items from the proposed agendas of the First and Second Sittings. At the start of the sitting the National Assembly noted the termination of the mandate of deputy Goran Ilic on the date of his resignation.

Deputies who so wished observed a minute’s silence for the chairman of the Socialist Party of Serbia and former president of Yugoslavia and Serbia, Slobodan Milosevic, who died in UN detention at the Hague.

On the second day of the sitting (28 March) the Assembly noted the confirmation of the mandate of deputy Dragoljub Vojinovic, elected from the Democratic Party of Serbia – Vojislav Kostunica Electoral List.

The National Assembly adopted the following agenda:

- Election of judicial officials:

– Proposal of the Decision on the Election of the Presiding Judge of a Court, No. 119-119/06, submitted by the High Judicial Council;

– Proposal of the Decision on the Election of the Judges, No. 119-118/06, submitted by the High Judicial Council;

– Proposal of the Decision on the Election of Presiding Judges, No. 119-184/06, submitted by the High Judicial Council;

– Proposal of the Decision on the Election of the Judges, No. 119-185/06, submitted by the High Judicial Council;

– Proposal of the Decision on the Election of the Judges, No. 119-441/06, submitted by the High Judicial Council, and

– Proposal of the Decision on the Election of Presiding Judges, No. 119-644/06, submitted by the High Judicial Council;

- Election of Members of the National Higher Education Council, based on nominations made by authorised bodies: the Serbian Conference of Universities, the Serbian Conference of College Headmasters, the Government of the Republic of Serbia, and the Executive Council of the Autonomous Province of Vojvodina;

- Dismissal of the Chairman of the National Education Council, and Appointment of a new Chairman;

- Election of Members of the Council of the Competition Protection Commission, based on nominations made by authorised bodies: the Serbian Jurists’ Association, the Scientific Society of Economists, the Government of the Republic of Serbia, and the Serbian Chamber of Commerce and Industry;

- Proposal of the Decision on the Election of a Member of the Council of the National Bank of Serbia, submitted by the Finance Committee, and

- Proposal for the Election of the Deputy Commissioner for Information of Public Importance, submitted by the Commissioner for Information of Public Importance.

Until the end of working hours the Assembly held joint discussion on proposals of decisions on the election of judicial officials.

On the third day of the sitting (29 March 2006) the National Assembly held joint discussion on nominees put forward by authorised bodies for membership on the National Education Council, and then went on to discuss the dismissal of the old and election of a new chairman of the National Education Council, and the election of members of the Council of the Competition Protection Commission.

The Assembly also held joint discussions on the Proposal of the Decision on the Election of a Member of the Council of the National Bank of Serbia and the Proposal for the Election of a Deputy Commissioner for Information of Public Importance.

As the Assembly had finished discussing all items from the agenda, the acting Chairman, Zoran Andjelkovic, Vice-Chairman of the National Assembly, convened a Voting Day sitting for 10 a.m. on 3 April 2006 for all items from the agenda of the First Sitting of the First Regular Session of the National Assembly of the Republic of Serbia in 2006.

Voting Day

On Voting Day (3 April), the National Assembly elected judicial officials as proposed by the High Judicial Council, excepting only one district court judge whose nomination was contested by deputy Zarko Obradovic.

Of the 16 members of the National Higher Education Council elected by the National Assembly nine were from among the ranks of persons defined by legislation as ‘university professors, renowned scientists or artists with internationally recognised reputations or having contributed significantly to national culture’, as nominated by the Serbian Conference of Universities; two are ‘professors of vocational studies’, as nominated by the Conference of Vocational Academies; four are ‘eminent individuals from the ranks of science, culture, education, art, and economy’, of which three were nominated by the Government, and one by the Executive Council of the Autonomous Province of Vojvodina.

The National Assembly went on to dismiss Academician Mihailo Djuric from the office of chairman of the National Education Council and appoint Dr Aleksandar Jovanovic to the same office.

The Assembly elected members of the Council of the Competition Protection Commission and adopted proposals of decisions on the election of members of the Council of the National Bank of Serbia and the Deputy Commissioner for Information of Public Importance.

As the National Assembly had finished discussing and voting on all items from the agenda, the Assembly Chairman, Predrag Markovic, concluded the First Sitting of the First Regular Session of the National Assembly of the Republic of Serbia in 2006.