To mark the second anniversary of his taking office as Chairman, and the second anniversary of the constituting of the present convocation of the National Assembly, the Chairman, Predrag Markovic, submitted the regular activity report to the public. He underlined that the National Assembly was the highest tier of government, and also the highest legislative and government oversight body, within the mechanisms at its disposal. He reiterated that the National Assembly was highly praised for its work by both European and Serbian institutions; however, he went on to say, others were taking the praise as their own, which was a good thing, since, although neither the Government nor the courts adopted laws, the fact that more laws have been passed by us than at any other time in the history of Serbian parliamentarianism certainly is something for all who took part in proposing and implementing them to be proud of. He stressed the role of the National Assembly in commencing negotiations with the European Union, the Assembly’s contribution in concluding the arrangement with the International Monetary Fund, and the readiness of all responsible individuals to show the responsibility befitting statesmen in these crucial times for the nation.

Mr Markovic reiterated his view that laws should either be implemented or changed, adding that some Serbian laws were not being put into practice, and that the National Assembly was not the proper forum for asking questions about why laws were not being implemented. ‘It is the task of the National Assembly to constantly remind those in charge that laws must be put into practice’, Mr Markovic stressed. He added that the National Assembly had shown, by its example, that laws had to be adhered to, by implementing laws on the prevention of conflicts of interest, on public access to information of public importance, and on prohibition of smoking in public areas. ‘The key priority was to pass laws that would change the nation; still, in parallel with changing the nation, its institutions have to change, too, including the National Assembly’, Mr Markovic said, quoting a number of programmes currently under way to enhance capacities of the Assembly’s support services. He also cited a number of activities showing the Assembly’s ‘openness’ to the public, as well as efforts to improve working conditions and establish European standards at the Assembly building for journalists covering Assembly sittings.

‘The National Assembly passed laws and amended laws; all responsible deputies took part in this. Now the Assembly must oversee the implementation of these laws, and to insist on the passage of a new set of laws, a part of which, unfortunately, is still not in Assembly procedure. In the future we have to show solidarity, establish full control, and explain to people what we are entitled to, what statutory powers there are, and make sure that certain requests are sent to the appropriate places’, Mr Markovic concluded.