Wednesday, 27 March 2002

The First Session of the First Regular Sitting of the National Assembly of the Republic of Serbia in 2002

The First Session of the First Regular Sitting of the National Assembly of the Republic of Serbia in 2002 commenced on 27 March 2002.At the start of the session, the Chairperson of the National Assembly of the Republic of Serbia Nataša Micic informed those present that the session would be attended by representatives of CeSID, the Permanent Conference of Cities and Municipalities of Yugoslavia, the Students' Union of Serbia, the Students' Association of Belgrade, and the students of Constitutional Law at the Faculty of Law in Belgrade.


The First Session of the First Regular Sitting of the National Assembly of the Republic of Serbia in 2002 commenced on 27 March 2002.

At the start of the session, the Chairperson of the National Assembly of the Republic of Serbia Nataša Micic informed those present that the session would be attended by representatives of CeSID, the Permanent Conference of Cities and Municipalities of Yugoslavia, the Students' Union of Serbia, the Students' Association of Belgrade, and the students of Constitutional Law at the Faculty of Law in Belgrade.

At a request of the Administrative Committee, the National Assembly noted that the mandates of Deputy Dr Zoran Radovanovic, elected on the Socialist Party of Serbia electoral list, Dr Jovan Deretic and Zoran Novakovic, elected on the Party of Serb Unity - Professor Borislav Pelevic electoral list, had terminated before the expiry of the term of office to which they had been elected.

The National Assembly also noted, without discussion, that Momcilo Perišic had resigned the office of Deputy Prime Minister of the Government of the Republic of Serbia.

Before establishing the session's agenda, the Deputies voted on motions to include acts in the agenda under urgent procedure, as well as on motions to amend and modify the proposed agenda.

The National Assembly adopted motions submitted by the Government of the Republic of Serbia that the following bills should be included in the agenda under urgent procedure: the Bill on Financial Support to Families with Children, Bills Modifying and Amending the Health Insurance and Health Protection Bills, as well as the Guidelines for the Redefinition of Relations Between Serbia and Montenegro.

Not accepted were motions to include the following in the agenda: Proposal of a Decision on the Formation of a National Assembly Board of Inquiry to Establish Circumstances and Facts Connected to the Role of State Institutions and Individual Politicians in the Destruction of the `Jugoskandik` Company, submitted by a group of 23 Deputies of the Serbian Radical Party Deputies' Group, and the Bill Modifying the Court Fees Act, submitted by Deputy Dejan Mihajlov.

The National Assembly accepted a motion made by Deputy Cedomir Jovanovic to erase from the agenda the Motion for a Vote of No Confidence in the Government of the Republic of Serbia, submitted by a group of 23 Deputies of the Serbian Radical Party Deputies' Group. Deputy Jovanovic's motion to erase from the agenda the Bill Annulling the Decision of the Government of the People's Republic of Serbia Abolishing the Theological Faculty of the University of Belgrade as a State Institution, submitted by a group of 37 Deputies from the DOS - Dr Vojislav Koštunica - Democratic Party of Serbia Deputies' Group, was not accepted.

The proposed agenda of the First Sitting was also widened to include the Bill Modifying the Bill on Seats and Areas of Jurisdiction of Courts and Public Prosecutors' Offices, submitted by Deputy Rajko Baralic; a motion by Deputy Cedomir Jovanovic for a joint debate to be held on the Bills Modifying and Amending the Health Insurance and Health Protection Bills, was also accepted.

The National Assembly adopted the following agenda for this session:

1. Bill on the Extent of Assets and the Participation of Municipalities and Cities in Salaries' and Turnover Tax in 2002, submitted by the Government of the Republic of Serbia;

2. Bill on Financial Support to Families with Children, submitted by the Government of the Republic of Serbia;

3. Guidelines for the Redefinition of Relations between Serbia and Montenegro, submitted by the Government of the Republic of Serbia;

4. Bill Modifying and Amending the Health Insurance Act, submitted by the Government of the Republic of Serbia;

5. Bill Modifying and Amending the Health Protection Act, submitted by the Government of the Republic of Serbia;

6. University Bill, submitted by the Government of the Republic of Serbia;

7. Bill Modifying and Amending the Elementary School Act, submitted by the Government of the Republic of Serbia;

8. Bill Modifying and Amending the Secondary School Act, submitted by the Government of the Republic of Serbia;

9. Bill Modifying and Amending the Act on State Survey and Land Registry and Registration of Real Estate Titles, submitted by the Government of the Republic of Serbia;

10. Bill Modifying and Amending the Act on Public Enterprises and the Performance of Activities of Public Interest, submitted by the Government of the Republic of Serbia;

11. Ministries' Bill, submitted by the Government of the Republic of Serbia;

12. Misdemeanours' and Magistrates' Bill, submitted by the Government of the Republic of Serbia;

13. Bill Modifying the Act on the Execution of Penal Sanctions, submitted by the Government of the Republic of Serbia;

14. Associations' Bill, submitted by the Government of the Republic of Serbia;

15. Bill Amending the Matriculation Registries' Act, submitted by the Government of the Republic of Serbia;

16. Bill on the End-of-Year Balance Sheet of the Budget of the Republic of Serbia, submitted by the Government of the Republic of Serbia;

17. Public Acquisitions' Bill, submitted by the Government of the Republic of Serbia;

18. Bill on Providing Counter-warranties of the Republic of Serbia to the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia for Securing Loans from the European Union, submitted by the Government of the Republic of Serbia;

19. Cultural Heritage Bill, submitted by the Government of the Republic of Serbia;

20. Bill Modifying the Act on the Establishment of the Public Enterprise for the Exploration, Production, Processing of and Trade in Oil and Natural Gas, submitted by the Government of the Republic of Serbia;

21. Proposal of a Decision on the Measures for Animal Health Control in the Republic of Serbia in the Years 2002, 2003 and 2004, submitted by the Government of the Republic of Serbia;

22. Proposal of a Decision Withdrawing Immunity for Deputy Božidar Vucurovic, submitted by the Administrative Committee;

23. Proposal of a Decision on Deputies Permanently Employed by the National Assembly of the Republic of Serbia, submitted by the Administrative Committee;

24. Bill Annulling the Decision of the Government of the People's Republic of Serbia Abolishing the Theological Faculty of the University of Belgrade as a State Institution, submitted by a group of 37 Deputies from the DOS - Dr Vojislav Koštunica - Democratic Party of Serbia Deputies' Group, and

25. Bill Modifying the Bill on Seats and Areas of Jurisdiction of Courts and Public Prosecutors' Offices, submitted by Deputy Rajko Baralic.

A speech by the Minister of Finance and Economy in the Government of the Republic of Serbia Božidar Đelic opened the National Assembly's debate in principle on the Bill on the Extent of Assets and the Participation of Municipalities and Cities in Salaries' and Turnover Tax in 2002.

In the afternoon part of the first and the morning part of the second workday (28 March), the Deputies debated the Bill in principle, and after adopting it in principle went on to debate its particulars and vote on amendments submitted to it. Having concluded the debate, the National Assembly adopted the Bill on the Extent of Assets and the Participation of Municipalities and Cities in Salaries' and Turnover Tax in 2002 as a whole.

Chairperson Nataša Micic informed the Deputies that the Democratic Opposition of Serbia - Democratic Alternative Deputies' Group had been formed in the National Assembly. Nada Kolundžija has been elected chairperson of the group, while the vice-chairman will be Deputy Miloš Radivojcevic.

At the start of the afternoon's work, the National Assembly commenced debate in principle on the Bill on Financial Support to Families with Children.

The Deputies were addressed by the representative of the Bill's submitter, the Minister for Social Issues in the Government of the Republic of Serbia Dr Gordana Matkovic; debate in principle on the Bill then ensued.

On the third day of work (2 April), the National Assembly continued to debate the Bill on Financial Support to Families with Children in principle. Having adopted the Bill in principle during the morning part of the session, the Assembly commenced to discuss the particulars of the Bill and to vote on amendments submitted to it.

At the end of the day's work, the Assembly adopted the Bill on Financial Support to Families with Children as a whole.

Guidelines for the Redefinition of Relations between Serbia and Montenegro

At the beginning of the fourth day of work (3 April), the Chairperson of the National Assembly of the Republic of Serbia Nataša Micic informed the Deputies that the following had been invited to attend the session on occasion of the debate on the Guidelines for the Redefinition of Relations between Serbia and Montenegro: President of the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia, Dr Vojislav Koštunica; Deputy Prime Minister of the Federal Government, Dr Miroljub Labus; Prime Minister of the Government of the Republic of Serbia, Dr Zoran Đindic and ministers in the Government of the Republic of Serbia.

The Chairman of the DOS - Dr Vojislav Koštunica - Democratic Party of Serbia Deputies' Group, Dejan Mihajlov, read the letter of the President of the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia, Dr Vojislav Koštunica, relating the President's reasons for wishing to address the Deputies at the end of the debate on the Guidelines.

The National Assembly then voted not to accept President Koštunica's request to address the Deputies at the end of the debate only, after which Deputies from the DOS - Dr Vojislav Koštunica - Democratic Party of Serbia Deputies' Group left the session.

The National Assembly also adopted a motion calling for the initial debate to last for ten hours, instead of five.

When work resumed, the Prime Minister of the Government of the Republic of Serbia Dr Zoran Đindic stated the reasons for adopting the Guidelines, and stressed the importance of their ratifying.

Minister of Justice and Local Self-government Vladan Batic detailed the reasons for which he had opposed the adoption of the Guidelines, stating that that was his individual opinion.

The Deputy Prime Minister of the Federal Government Dr Miroljub Labus also addressed the Deputies about the Guidelines for the Redefinition of Relations between Serbia and Montenegro.

The National Assembly debated the Guidelines in principle until the end of the day's work.

On the fifth day of work (4 April) the National Assembly debated in principle the Guidelines for the Redefinition of Relations between Serbia and Montenegro.

Debate in principle ended in the morning part of the sixth day of the National Assembly's work (9 April), when the Guidelines for the Redefinition of Relations between Serbia and Montenegro were adopted as a whole.

The afternoon part of the session saw the National Assembly commence the joint debate in principle on the Bill Amending and Modifying the Health Insurance Bill and the Bill Amending and Modifying the Health Protection Bill.

The Deputies were addressed by the representative of the submitter, Deputy Prime Minister of the Government of the Republic of Serbia Dr Žarko Korac.

At the beginning of the seventh day of work (10 April), the Deputies were informed that the DOS - Christian Democratic Party of Serbia Deputies' Group had been formed in the National Assembly of the Republic of Serbia. Professor Dr Predrag Stojanovic was elected chairman of this Deputies' Group, while Deputy Gvozden Jovanovic was elected deputy chairman.

At the request of the Administrative Committee, the National Assembly confirmed the mandate of Deputy Zoran Andelkovic, elected on the Socialist Party of Serbia - Slobodan Miloševic electoral list, as well as the mandates of Deputies Jelena Maslovara and Miloš Todorovic, elected on the Party of Serb Unity - Professor Borislav Pelevic electoral list.

The National Assembly concluded joint debate in principle and in the morning part of the session adopted in principle the Bills Amending and Modifying the Health Protection and Health Insurance Acts.

When work resumed, the Deputies debated the particulars of, and voted on amendments submitted to these Bills, and at the end of the morning part of the session adopted the Bill Amending and Modifying the Health Insurance Act.

During the evening part of the session, the National Assembly debated the particulars of, and voted on amendments submitted to the Bill Modifying and Amending the Health Protection Act, going on to adopt the Bill as a whole.

Education Acts

On the eighth day of work (11 April), the National Assembly commenced debate in principle on the University Bill.

The Deputies were addressed by the representative of the Bill's submitter, the Minister of Education in the Government of the Republic of Serbia, Professor Dr Gašo Kneževic.

Until the end of the day's work, the National Assembly continued the debate in principle, which was continued on 15 April. In the afternoon part of the ninth day of work the National Assembly adopted the University Bill in principle, and began to discuss its particulars and to vote on amendments submitted to the Bill.

On the tenth and eleventh days of work (16 and 17 April), the National Assembly continued to debate the particulars of, and to vote on amendments submitted to, this Bill.

In the morning part of the session, on 18 April, the National Assembly adopted the University Bill as a whole.

Before work commenced according to the agreed agenda, on 22 April, Chairperson Nataša Micic reminded the Deputies that the Assembly was that day going to mark the international ecological holiday, Planet Day. Upon an initiative of the National Assembly's Committee on Environmental Protection, supported by DOS, DSS, SPS and SSJ Deputies' Groups, the Deputies were to, during a recess in the day's session, plant about twenty cedar trees in Belgrade's Tašmajdan park. The seedlings had been bought with a voluntary contribution of one half of each deputy's daily salary. During a recess in the session, the Deputies accomplished this action.

The National Assembly continued its work with a joint debate in principle on the Bills Amending and Modifying the Elementary School Act and the Secondary School Act. At the beginning of the debate, the Deputies were addressed by the representative of the submitter, the Minister of Education and Sports in the Government of the Republic of Serbia, Professor Dr Gašo Kneževic.

Until the end of this, as well as the following (23 April) working day, debate in principle was held on these two Bills.

During the afternoon part of the day's session, the National Assembly adopted in principle the Bill Modifying and Amending the Elementary School Act and the Bill Modifying and Amending the Secondary School Act.

When work resumed, the Assembly began to debate the particulars of the two Bills, and then proceeded to vote on amendments submitted to them.

On the fifteenth day of the sitting (24 April), the National Assembly discussed the particulars of, and voted on amendments submitted to the Bill Modifying and Amending the Elementary School Act, adopting the Bill as a whole on the sixteenth day of the sitting (25 April).

On the seventeenth day of work (8 May), before debate commenced, the Chairperson of the National Assembly Nataša Micic informed the Deputies that she had, prior to the start of the session, held talks with the Speaker of the Bundestag of the Federal Republic of Germany Wolfgang Thierse, and conveyed his greetings and support for the Assembly's work.

Upon the request of the Committee on Justice and Administration, the National Assembly, under urgent procedure, added to the agenda of this sitting the discussion of a Proposal of Candidates for the Election of One Permanent Member of the High Judicial Council Elected by the National Assembly of Serbia, proposing that it should be discussed after the eighth item on the session's agenda, the Bill Modifying and Amending the Secondary School Act.

Until the end of the working day, and in the morning part of the sitting on 9 May, the National Assembly discussed the particulars of the Bill Modifying and Amending the Secondary School Act and voted on amendments submitted to it. After discussion ended, the Assembly adopted the Bill as a whole.

At the start of the day's work on 9 May, Chairperson Nataša Micic acquainted the Deputies with her meeting with the Speaker of the Parliament of the Kingdom of Norway Jorgen Kosmo, and conveyed his support to the efforts for the democratic reform of our society.

When work resumed, the National Assembly elected Dr Zoran Tomic, Professor at the Faculty of Law in Belgrade, Permanent Member of the High Judicial Council Elected by the National Assembly.

On the nineteenth day of work (13 May), at the start of the debate in principle on the Bill Modifying and Amending the Act on State Survey and Land Registry and the Registration of Real Estate Titles, the National Assembly was addressed by the Minister of Urban Planning and Construction in the Government of the Republic of Serbia, Professor Dr Dragoslav Sumarac, acting as the representative of the submitter.

When work continued, the National Assembly proceeded to debate the Bill in principle.

The National Assembly concluded the debate in principle on 14 May, adopting the Bill in principle. Having finished debating the particulars and voting on amendments submitted to the Bill, the National Assembly went on to adopt the Bill Modifying and Amending the Act on State Survey and Land Registry and the Registration of Real Estate Titles as a whole.

When work resumed, the Deputies were addressed by the Minister of Trade, Tourism and Services in the Government of the Republic of Serbia Slobodan Milosavljevic. He spoke as the representative of the submitter of the Bill Modifying and Amending the Act on Public Enterprises and the Performance of Activities of Public Interest.

During the afternoon part of the session, the National Assembly commenced to debate the Bill in principle. During the morning part of the session on 15 May, having concluded debate in principle and consideration of the particulars of the Bill, the National Assembly adopted the Bill Modifying and Amending the Act on Public Enterprises and the Performance of Activities of Public Interest as a whole.

On 21 May, the National Assembly adopted the Bill in principle without debating it, and began to discuss its particulars and to vote on amendments submitted to it.

When work resumed on 22 May, the Deputies, having concluded debate in principle and voting on amendments, went on to adopt the Ministries' Bill as a whole.

The Chairperson of the National Assembly of the Republic of Serbia Natasa Micic informed the Deputies in writing that, given that the ninetieth day workday of the First Regular Sitting of the National Assembly in 2002 would expire on 29 May at midnight, there were no conditions for the continuation of the First Session of the First Regular Sitting, and that this session would thus be considered terminated on 29 May 2002 at midnight.



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friday, 29 march
  • 9.00 - the National Assembly Speaker meets with the Head of the EU Delegation to Serbia (National Assembly House, 13 Nikola Pasic Square, Speaker’s Cabinet)

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