At the invitation of the Belgrade Fund for Political Excellence and the Balkan Democracy Fund, the Chairman of the National Assembly of the Republic of Serbia, Predrag Markovic, attended the Serbia – Five Years On international conference, devoted to events of 5 October. Mr Markovic addressed the participants of the discussion panel on Serbia in democratic transition – challenges in building the state and society, presenting a speech on Legislative framework of democratic change.

Speaking of the day that came between 4 and 6 October 2000, five years on, Mr Markovic underlined that 5 October 2000 saw the creation of conditions for lawful and wide-ranging systemic change in Serbia. Reflecting on the role of the National Assembly in post-2000 changes, Mr Markovic stressed that the National Assembly has since 2001 passed a total of 313 laws, and particularly drew attention to the fact that the present convocation of the Assembly had adopted the largest number of laws in the history of Serbian parliamentarianism – as many as 171. Mr Markovic warned that the legislative framework of change would not be complete until the highest piece of legislation – the Constitution – was passed. This was one of the first promises made after the events of 5 October, but it remains unfulfilled to this day, because of a lack of political will in Serbia. Concluding his address, Mr Markovic said: “Let us reflect back. When we ask questions about the day that came between 4 and 6 October 2000, it is about today that we really ask them. And it is too early for us to testify about it. It is still in progress. And will continue until the obligation contained in the first sentence said about the first day of work of the new Assembly. And it is no coincidence that it speaks of the first, the foremost and the most crucial piece of legislation. And no-one can fulfil that obligation instead of us.”

The Serbia – Five Years On international conference was organised on 4 and 5 October 2005 by the Belgrade Fund for Political Excellence and the Belgrade-based Balkan Democracy Fund.