The Speaker of the National Assembly of the Republic of Serbia, Prof. Dr Slavica Djukic-Dejanovic received today the representatives of the United Nations Development Programme in Serbia. The delegation included the UNDP Assistant Administrator and Director of the Regional Bureau for Europe and the Commonwealth of Independent States, Kori Udovicki, Assistant Director Dimitri Mariasin and Head for the Western Balkans Cluster Moises Venancio.

They discussed the cooperation between the National Assembly and this international organization, with particular focus on the current projects aided by UNDP.

The National Assembly Speaker pronounced the cooperation with UNDP useful and expressed the belief that the realization of these programmes will contribute to the development of parliamentary democracy in Serbia. She emphasised the importance of strengthening the parliament’s control and supervisory function and mentioned that Serbia recently signed the “Strengthening the Control Function of the Serbian Parliament” project document with the UNDP, aiming to stimulate the improvement of the National Assembly’s capacity and its responsibility towards the Serbian citizens, as well as the parliament’s supervisory function.

In addition, Assembly Speaker Djukic-Dejanovic pointed out the importance of organizing workshops for deputies and employees, which should also help improve the quality and efficiency of the National Assembly’s work.

UNDP high representative Kori Udovicki stressed that she appreciates the cooperation with the National Assembly, adding that this international organization will continue to support activities aimed to improve the National Assembly’s operation.

Both officials believe that the UN Development Programme in Serbia would be an adequate intermediary in the National Assembly’s cooperation with the international organizations, non-government sector and civilian society which strengthen the Assembly’s democratic capacity with their support programme.