The Speaker of the National Assembly of the Republic of Serbia, Prof. Dr Slavica Djukic-Dejanovic, convened the First Sitting of the Second Regular Session of the National Assembly of the Republic of Serbia in 2009 for Tuesday, 6 October 2009, starting at 10 a.m.

The National Assembly set the following agenda:

1. The Proposal of the Decision on the Adoption of the Strategy of National
Security of the Republic of Serbia, submitted by the Government;

2. The Proposal of the Decision on the Adoption of the Defense Strategy
of the Republic of Serbia, submitted by the Government;

3. The Bill amending and modifying the Defense Law, submitted by th
Government;

4. The Bill amending and modifying the Law on the Serbian Military,
submitted by the Government;

5. The Bill on Military, Labour and Material Duty, submitted by the
Government;

6. The Bill on Civil Service, submitted by the Government;

7. The Bill on the Participation of the Serbian Army and other defense
forces in multinational operations outside the borders of the Republic of
Serbia, submitted by the Government;

8. The Bill on Decorations of the Republic of Serbia, submitted by the
Government;

9. The Bill on the Diaspora and Serbs in the Region, submitted by the
Government;

10. The Proposal of the Decision on the Election of the Council of the
Republic Agency for Postal Services, submitted by the Government;

11. The Candidate List for Member of the Council of the Republic
Broadcasting Agency, submitted by the Government;

12. The Proposals of Decisions on termination of judicial office, submitted
by the Justice and Administration Committee;

13. The Proposal for the election of elective member of the First
Composition of the High Judicial Council from the ranks of attorneys at
law, submitted by the Serbian Bar Association;

14. The Proposal for the election of elective member of the First
Composition of the State Prosecutors’ Council from the ranks of
attorneys at law, submitted by the Serbian Bar Association;

15. The Proposal of the Decision amending the Decision on the Election of
Committee members of the National Assembly of the Republic of Serbia,
submitted by the Serbian Radical Party Deputy Group;

16. The Bill on the Military Security Agency and Military Intelligence Agency;

17. The Bill on the regulation of obligations of the Republic of Serbia toward
the International Monetary Fund under allocation of special drawing rights granted by Board of Governors resolutions no. 63-4 and no. 52-4, submitted by the Government.

At the beginning of the session, the heads i.e. authorised representatives of the Deputy Groups, Slobodan Samardzic, Miroslav Markicevic, Gordana Pop-Lazic, Tomislav Nikolic, Vladan Batic and Cedomir Jovanovic, exercised their right under article 235 of the Rules of Procedure to request information and/or explanation, and posed various questions to the Government of the Republic of Serbia and National Assembly Speaker.

The National Assembly adopted the Government’s proposal that the Bills be included into the agenda for the session under urgent procedure.

Also, the National Assembly accepted the proposal to conduct a joint discussion in principle on the first two items on the agenda, a joint discussion in principle on items 3, 4, 5, 6, 7 and 16 on the agenda and a joint discussion in principle on items 10, 11, 12, 13, 15 and 15 on the agenda.

Elaborating the Strategy of National Security and Defense Strategy of the Republic of Serbia, Defense Minister Dragan Sutanovac stressed the importance of these strategic documents for the reform of defense and security, adding that they are aimed at ensuring the protection of vital national interests of the state and its citizens. He specified that the Strategy of National Security sets the foundation of security policy for the protection of national interests of the Republic of Serbia adding that the document’s basic tenets are sovereignty and territorial integrity, economic prosperity, social stability and pro-European orientation of the foreign policy. According to him, the strategy is aimed at developing democracy and rule of law, respecting human and minority rights and furthering cooperation with the most influential subjects of the international community and states in the region. The Defense Minister pointed out that the Defense Strategy lists as Serbia’s vital defense interests, preservation of its sovereignty, independence and territorial integrity and protection of its security. The Minister repeated that membership in European and other structures represents a confirmation of Serbia’s political and civilisational maturity, and stressed that active participation in the actions of international organisations is in the state’s national interest.

For the remainder of the day the National Assembly conducted a joint discussion in principle on the first two items on the agenda.

On the second day of the session, 7 October, the National Assembly continued with the joint discussion on the Proposal of the Decision on the Adoption of the Strategy of National Security of the Republic of Serbia and the Proposal of the Decision on the Adoption of the Defense Strategy of the Republic of Serbia.

In the morning part of the sitting, National Assembly Deputy Speaker Gordana Comic, who was chairing the sitting, in line with the provisions of the Rules of Procedure, twice reprimanded, and then denied the floor to deputy Elena Bozic-Talijan for disturbing the order at the sitting. The Chairperson informed the National Assembly that representatives of school and student parliaments of the Fourth Belgrade Grammar School and the Belgrade Faculty of Economy shall be following 30 minutes of the sitting form the gallery of the Great Hall of the National Assembly House, and welcomed them on the behalf of the deputies.

By the end of the morning part of the sitting the deputies had completed the joint discussion on the first two items on the agenda.

In the afternoon, the deputies commenced a joint discussion in principle on the Bill amending and modifying the Defense Law, Bill amending and modifying the Law on the Serbian Military, Bill on Military, Labour and Material Duty, Bill on Civil Service, Bill on the Participation of the Serbian Army and other defense forces in multinational operations outside the borders of the Republic of Serbia and Bill on the Military Security Agency and Military Intelligence Agency.

Briefly outlining the proposed legal solutions, the representative of the submitters, Minister of Trade and Services Slobodan Milosavljevic, pointed out that they establish the institutional framework for the regulation and operation of a joint defense system, they set the conditions for a rapid reform of the defense system and professionalisation of the Serbian Military and systematically regulate the sphere of military, labour and material duty, civil service, the participation of the Serbian Army in multinational operations outside the borders of the Republic of Serbia and the work of the intelligence agencies.

For the remainder of the day the deputies conducted a joint discussion in principle on items 3, 4, 5, 6, 7 and 16 on the agenda.

On the third day, 8 October, the National Assembly continued work with a discussion in principle on the Bill on Decorations of the Republic of Serbia.

At the beginning of the proceedings, the heads i.e. authorised representatives of the Deputy Groups, Vladan Batic, Jorgovanka Tabakovic, Milos Aligrudic, Dragan Todorovic, Zlata Djeric and Vuk Dincic requested information and explanations, under article 235 of the Rules of Procedure, and posed several questions to the Serbian Government and National Assembly Speaker.

Minister of Trade and Services Slobodan Milosavljevic provided the explanation of the Bill on Decorations on the behalf of the submitters. He reminded that Serbia has the longest tradition of conferring decorations in the Balkans, adding that the law envisages three types of decoration – orders, medals and memorials. He specified that both citizens and foreigners can be decorated, as well as legal entities and other subjects, and international organisations.

Milosavljevic stressed that the proposed regulations stipulate the conditions under which Serbian citizens may be awarded decorations by the state, with the provision that the Ministry of Foreign Affairs gives its assent beforehand. Decoration by Presidential Ordinance may be revoked from those bearers who compromise Serbia’s reputation, the Minister explained and pointed out that the law has 33 articles which regulate the matter of decorating in a unique manner and very precisely.

The National Assembly completed the discussion in principle on the Bill on Decorations of the Republic of Serbia in the morning.

In the afternoon, the deputies commenced a discussion in principle on the Bill on the Diaspora and Serbs in the Region.

Elaborating the Bill, Minister of the Diaspora Srdjan Sreckovic said that it defined the diaspora as economic and political emigration gone abroad at different times, and Serbs in the region were defined as autochthonous population occupying said territories for centuries.

For the rest of the day, the deputies conducted the discussion in principle on the Bill on the Diaspora and Serbs in the Region.

On the fourth day of work, 9 October, the National Assembly continued the discussion on the Bill on the Diaspora and Serbs in the Region, and by the end of the day completed the discussion in principle on the Bill.

The National Assembly then moved on to a joint discussion on items 10, 11, 12, 13, 14 and 15 on the agenda, but the sitting was stopped because there were no representatives of the submitters present.

At the beginning of the proceedings on the fifth day, 13 October, the heads i.e. authorised representatives of the Deputy Groups Riza Halimi, Aleksandra Jankovic, Vladan Batic, Milos Aligrudic, Tomislav Nikolic and Aleksandar Martinovic requested information and explanations, under article 235 of the Rules of Procedure, and posed several questions to the Serbian Government and National Assembly Speaker.

The National Assembly continued work with a joint discussion on the Proposal of the Decision on the Election of the Council of the Republic Agency for Postal Services, Candidate List for Member of the Council of the Republic Broadcasting Agency, Proposals of Decisions on termination of judicial office, Proposal for the election of elective member of the First Composition of the High Judicial Council from the ranks of attorneys at law, Proposal for the election of elective member of the First Composition of the State Prosecutors’ Council from the ranks of attorneys at law and Proposal of the Decision amending the Decision on the Election of Committee members of the National Assembly of the Republic of Serbia.

After the deputies heard the explanations of the authorised submitters of the documents, the National Assembly completed the joint discussion.

The National Assembly went on to complete a discussion in principle on the Bill on the regulation of obligations of the Republic of Serbia toward the International Monetary Fund under allocation of special drawing rights granted by Board of Governors resolutions no. 63-4 and no. 52-4.

The representative of the submitters, Minister of Finance Dr Diana Dragutinovic briefed the deputies on the functioning of the institute and stressed the importance of adopting the law.

On the sixth day, 14 October, the National Assembly continued work with a discussion on the particulars of the third item on the agenda, the Bill amending and modifying the Defense Law.

In the morning part of the proceedings, the deputies completed the discussion on the amendments submitted to the Bill and commenced a discussion on the particulars of the Bill amending and modifying the Law on the Serbian Military.

By the end of the day, the deputies had completed the discussion on the particulars of the Bill amending and modifying the Law on the Serbian Military and commenced a discussion on the particulars of the Bill on Military, Labour and Material Duty.

On the seventh day, 15 October, the National Assembly continued the discussion on the particulars of the Bill on Military, Labour and Material Duty.

Before commencing work according to the agenda, the heads i.e. authorised representatives of the Deputy Groups, Dragan Todorovic, Natasa Jovanovic, Dragan Sormaz, Vladan Batic, Miroslav Markicevic and Milos Radulovic requested information and explanations under article 235 of the Rules of Procedure, and posed several questions to the Serbian Government and National Assembly Speaker.

In the morning part of the proceedings, the National Assembly completed the discussion on the particulars of the Bill on Military, Labour and Material Duty, and in the continuation conducted a discussion on the amendments to the Bill on Civil Service.

On the eighth day of work, 16 October, the National Assembly completed the discussion on the particulars of the Bill on Civil Service.

The National Assembly went on to complete a discussion on the Bill on the Participation of the Serbian Army and other defense forces in multinational operations outside the borders of the Republic of Serbia, in detail.

In the afternoon, the National Assembly commenced a discussion on the particulars of the Bill on the Military Security Agency and Military Intelligence Agency.

By the end of the day, the National Assembly had completed the discussion on the particulars of the Bill on the Military Security Agency and Military Intelligence Agency.

On the ninth day of work, 21 October, the National Assembly commenced a discussion on the particulars of the eighth item on the agenda – Bill on Decorations of the Republic of Serbia. At the end of the discussion, the Minister of Public Administration and Local Self-Government, Milan Markovic gave the closing word on the behalf of the submitters. He commented on the objections the deputies had lodged to the solutions proposed by the Bill and stated the Government’s reasons for this particular approach - proposing a smaller number of orders and medals. Six orders and three medals shall cover all spheres valued as contribution to the state, Markovic sad.

In the afternoon, the National Assembly commenced a discussion on the particulars of the Bill on the Diaspora and Serbs in the Region.

The deputies conducted the discussion on the particulars of the Bill on the Diaspora and Serbs in the Region for the rest of the day.

On the tenth day of work, 22 October, the National Assembly continued the discussion on the particulars of the Bill on the Diaspora and Serbs in the Region.

Before moving on to the agenda, the heads i.e. authorised representatives of the Deputy Groups, Aleksandra Jankovic, Milica Vojic-Markovic, Tomislav Nikolic, Dragan Todorovic, Suzana Grubjesic, Kenan Hajdarevic, Vladan Batic and Sasa Dujovic, requested information and/or explanations under article 235 of the Rules of Procedure, and posed several questions to the Serbian Government and the National Assembly Speaker.

Afterwards, the National Assembly discussed the particulars of the Bill on the Diaspora and Serbs in the Region, to which numerous amendments had been submitted. Most of the amendments pertained to the definition of the notion of mother country, election and purpose of the creation of the Assembly of the Diaspora and Serbs in the Region and the foundation of the Council on Relations with Serbs in the Region.

The opposition deputies also pointed out that, at the Government’s proposal, the National Assembly should pass a strategy on the diaspora and improvement of its relations with the mother country.

In the closing address, Minister of Diaspora Srdjan Sreckovic thanked the deputies for their input and expressed the belief that this law sets the groundwork for a new, long-term policy towards the diaspora and Serbs in the region.

By the end of the day, the National Assembly completed a discussion on the particulars of the Bill on the regulation of obligations of the Republic of Serbia toward the International Monetary Fund under allocation of special drawing rights granted by Board of Governors resolutions no. 63-4 and no. 52-4.

Concluding the discussion on all the items on the agenda for the First Sitting of the Second Regular Session of the National Assembly of the Republic of Serbia in 2009, in principle and on the particulars, the Speaker of the National Assembly, Prof. Dr Slavica Djukic-Dejanovic, set Monday, 26 October, as Voting Day, starting at 10 a.m.

Voting Day

On Voting Day, 26 October, the National Assembly voted on the items on the agenda for the First Sitting of the Second Regular Session of the National Assembly of the Republic of Serbia in 2009.

By a majority of votes, the National Assembly adopted the: Proposal of the Decision on the Adoption of the Strategy of National Security of the Republic of Serbia, Proposal of the Decision on the Adoption of the Defense Strategy of the Republic of Serbia, Bill amending and modifying the Defense Law, Bill amending and modifying the Law on the Serbian Military, Bill on Military, Labour and Material Duty, Bill on Civil Service, Bill on the Participation of the Serbian Army and other defense forces in multinational operations outside the borders of the Republic of Serbia, Bill on Decorations of the Republic of Serbia and Bill on the Diaspora and Serbs in the Region, in their entirety.

The National Assembly went on to adopt the Proposal of the Decision on the Election of the Council of the Republic Agency for Postal Services, decision proposals on termination of judicial office, Proposal for the election of elective member of the First Composition of the High Judicial Council from the ranks of attorneys at law and Proposal of the Decision amending the Decision on the Election of Committee members of the National Assembly of the Republic of Serbia.

The National Assembly did not elect any of the candidates from the Candidate List for Member of the Council of the Republic Broadcasting Agency and did not adopt the Proposal for the election of elective member of the First Composition of the State Prosecutors’ Council from the ranks of attorneys at law.

The National Assembly also adopted the Bill on the Military Security Agency and Military Intelligence Agency and the Bill on the regulation of obligations of the Republic of Serbia toward the International Monetary Fund under allocation of special drawing rights granted by Board of Governors resolutions no. 63-4 and no. 52-4, in their entirety.

On Voting Day, the National Assembly also ruled on the violations of the Rules of Procedure the deputies complained of during the sitting and decided that the Rules of Procedure had not been violated in any of the cases.

Since the National Assembly had completed the discussion on all the items on the agenda and ruled on them, the Speaker of the National Assembly, Prof. Dr Slavica Djukic-Dejanovic, concluded the First Sitting of the Second Regular Session of the National Assembly of the Republic of Serbia in 2009.