The Speaker of the National Assembly of the Republic of Serbia, Prof. Dr Slavica Djukic-Dejanovic visited the Municipality of Becej at the invitation of the AP Vojvodina Assembly President to the provincial assembly’s event “Open Door Days – Meet the Public”, held in Becej this month.

Djukic-Dejanovic was very pleased to be attending the event held in the over 900 years old town, rich in culture and historical heritage, particularly since Becej received a tolerance award from the Vojvodina Assembly and Executive Council. “If we had met yesterday, on the International Day for Tolerance when Becej received the prestigious award, the message that tolerance is the way to be human, to respect and honour differences, would have been even more effective”, stressed the Speaker.

According to her, the cooperation between the republic and provincial assemblies is excellent and will undoubtedly be more active, she said adding that she expects that Vojvodina’s efforts to raise the citizens’ standard and adopt a system of values conducive to social and economic development, would help speed up Serbia’s European progress which will also be greatly assisted by the opening of Vojvodina Office in Brussels which is not that far in the future.

Talking to the citizens the Speaker stated that “a higher the degree of decentralisation of each region in the state is like wind in Serbia’s back”. The citizens of Becej wanted to know about the amendments to the Vojvodina Statute and fulfillment of the republican obligations as relates to the allocations for the northern province set aside in Serbia’s budget. She expressed her belief that when drafting the Budget Law the Government will be mindful of its obligations.

Before the AP Vojvodina Assembly’s Open Door Days event, the NARS Speaker met with the representatives of the Autonomous Union and “Independence” Union Board who informed her that the Agricultural Industrial Facility Becej has been on strike since 15 November as the agreement signed on 10 September on the frequency of payment of the overdue salaries has not been honoured.

The Speaker promised that she will contact the Minister of Agriculture and Minister of Labour and Social Policy to learn more about the union representatives’ request.

The Provincial Commission formed after the meeting of the AP Vojvodina Executive Council President more than a month ago, comprises representatives of the AP Vojvodina EC, Ministry of Agriculture and the Municipality of Becej. The Commission is tasked with recording the objective state of the AIF Becej business dealings and proposing appropriate measures by the state authorities.

The Speaker stressed that she was sure that the state would not allow the second biggest agricultural facility in Serbia to continue to decline and that it was paramount that the employees’ rights be honoured.