Nataša Micic, Chairperson of the National Assembly of the Republic of Serbia, convened the First Extraordinary Sitting of the National Assembly in 2002 for 22 January, at the request of a group of 93 Deputies from the Democratic Opposition of Serbia Deputies' Group.

Before proceeding to the agenda, Nataša Micic reminded the Deputies that the National Assembly had been constituted on the same day one year ago, and congratulated them on a year of successful work.

Ms Micic stressed that, during this period, the National Assembly had held 15 sessions, lasting a total of 95 working days. She also added that six sessions were held of the regular sitting, apart from the constitutive session, lasting a total of 63 days; eight extraordinary sessions also took place, lasting 31 days.

Ninety agenda items were discussed, and 129 acts adopted: 48 laws and 81 decisions and other acts. A total of 2,984 amendments were submitted on various acts discussed; these were dealt with by the appropriate committees.

Summing up the results of the last year's work, the Chairperson of the National Assembly expressed her wishes for even more successful work and better results in the coming period.

Nataša Micic informed the Deputies that the session was also being attended by representatives of the `Otpor` non-governmental organisation; they would follow the Assembly's work from the gallery.

The National Assembly adopted the following agenda:

1. Proposal of a Decision Modifying the Decision on Electing Members of Committees of the National Assembly of the Republic of Serbia, submitted by Deputy Cedomir Jovanovic, President of the Democratic Opposition of Serbia Deputies' Group,

2. Bill on Establishing Certain Competencies of the Autonomous Province, submitted by the Assembly of the Autonomous Province of Vojvodina,

3. Bill on Local Self-government, submitted by the Government of the Republic of Serbia,

4. Bill Amending and Modifying the Act on Court Tariffs, submitted by the Government of the Republic of Serbia,

5. Bill on the Budgetary System, submitted by the Government of the Republic of Serbia,

6. Bill Amending and Modifying the Penal Code of the Republic of Serbia, submitted by the Government of the Republic of Serbia,

7. Proposal of a Decision Repealing the Decision on the Formation of the Temporary Executive Council of the Autonomous Province of Kosovo and Metohija, submitted by the Government of the Republic of Serbia.

After a short debate in principle, the National Assembly adopted the Proposal of the Decision Modifying the Decision on Electing Members of Committees of the National Assembly of the Republic of Serbia.

At the proposal of the Administrative Committee, the National Assembly noted that the mandate of Deputy Dragan Vukšic, elected on the Democratic Opposition of Serbia - Dr Vojislav Koštunica electoral list, had terminated before the expiration of the term of office to which he had been elected. The Assembly confirmed the mandate of Deputy Adam Uroševic, elected on the Party of Serbian Unity - Professor Borislav Pelevic electoral list.

Before debate in principle got underway on the Bill Establishing Certain Competencies of the Autonomous Province, the Deputies were addressed by Chairman of the Assembly of the Autonomous Province of Vojvodina Nenad Canak, as representative of the submitter. He was followed on the floor by Serbian Prime Minister Zoran Đindic and Minister of Justice and Local Self-government Vladan Batic.

Debate in principle on the Bill ensued, lasting until the close of the first day's work (22 January).

On the second day of work (23 January), debate in principle was held on the Bill on Establishing Certain Competencies of the Autonomous Province, and at the end of the day's work the Bill was adopted in principle.

On the third day of work (24 January) the National Assembly debated the particulars of the Bill on Establishing Certain Competencies of the Autonomous Province and voted on amendments submitted to the Bill.

At the beginning of the afternoon part of the session, Chairperson of the National Assembly Nataša Micic informed the Deputies that a new deputies' group had been formed: the DOS - Union of Vojvodina Magyars Deputies' Group. The chairman of the deputies' group is Deputy Anton Biacsi, and the deputy chairman is Deputy Dr Laszlo Torde.

When the session resumed, the four days of work (28, 29, 30 and 31 January) were devoted to discussing the particulars of and voting on the amendments to the Bill on Establishing Certain Competencies of the Autonomous Province.

At the start of the eighth day of work (4 February), the National Assembly, upon request of the Administrative Committee, verified the mandate of Deputy Dr Tomislav Jovanovic, elected on the Democratic Opposition of Serbia - Dr Vojislav Koštunica electoral list.

This day saw the National Assembly discuss the particulars of the Bill on Establishing Certain Competencies of the Autonomous Province, and voted on amendments submitted to the bill.

At the end of the afternoon part of the session, the Bill was adopted as a whole.

On the ninth day of work (5 February), the National Assembly began debate in principle on the Bill on Local Self-government.

At the start of the debate, the deputies were addressed by the representative of the submitter, Minister of Justice and Local Self-government in the Government of the Republic of Serbia, Vladan Batic. The Assembly then proceeded to discuss the Bill in principle.

On the following day (6 February), the National Assembly continued discussion on the Bill on Local Self-government, adopting the Bill in principle during the afternoon part of the session.

On the eleventh day of work (7 February), the National Assembly discussed the particulars of the Bill on Local Self-government, and voted on amendments submitted to it.

At the beginning of work on 18 February, the National Assembly was addressed by Minister of Finance and Economy in the Government of the Republic of Serbia Božidar Đelic, as representative of the submitter of the Bill on Providing Republic of Serbia Warranties to the Kreditanstalt für Wiederaufbau for a Loan to the `Serbian Electricity Supply Industry` Public Enterprise. Debate in principle on the Bill ensued.

The afternoon part of the session saw the National Assembly adopt the Bill on Providing Republic of Serbia Warranties to the Kreditanstalt für Wiederaufbau for a Loan to the `Serbian Electricity Supply Industry` Public Enterprise as a whole.

At the end of the day's work, debate in principle began on the Bill Amending and Modifying the Act on Court Fees.

On the seventeenth day of work (19 February), the National Assembly continued to debate the Bill in principle. Deputies were addressed by the Minister of Justice and Local Self-government in the Government of the Republic of Serbia, Vladan Batic, as representative of the submitter.

After debate in principle concluded, the National Assembly adopted the Bill Amending and Modifying the Act on Court Fees in principle, and began to debate its particulars and vote on amendments submitted to it.

On the following day (20 February), having completed the debate of the Bill's particulars, the National Assembly adopted the Bill Amending and Modifying the Act on Court Fees as a whole.

When work resumed, the Minister of Finance and the Economy in the Government of the Republic of Serbia held an introductory expose on the Bill on the Budgetary System; the Assembly then went on to debate the Bill in principle.

On the nineteenth day of work (21 February), the Deputies debated the Bill on the Budgetary System, and, having concluded the debate, adopted the Bill in principle. The National Assembly then began to debate the particulars of, and vote on amendments submitted to, the Bill on the Budgetary System.

Amendments to the Penal Code Adopted

Discussion on the Bill Amending and Modifying the Penal Code of the Republic of Serbia commenced on the twentieth day of the National Assembly's work (25 February), with the expose of the submitter's representative, the Minister of Justice and Local Self-government in the Government of the Republic of Serbia Vladan Batic.

The National Assembly debated the Bill in principle on 25 February and, at the close of the morning part of the session on 26 February, adopted the Bill in principle. When work resumed on the same day, the Assembly debated the particulars of the Bill and voted on amendments submitted to it, adopting the Bill Amending and Modifying the Penal Code of the Republic of Serbia as a whole at the end of the day's work.

On the twenty-second day of work (27 February) the National Assembly debated, and, at the close of the day, adopted, the Motion Repealing the Decision on the Formation of the Temporary Executive Council of the Autonomous Province of Kosovo and Metohija.

The adoption of this Motion concludes the First Extraordinary Sitting of the National Assembly of the Republic of Serbia in 2002.