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The Government of the Republic of Serbia

In the service of citizens

Strategy and action plan for reform of judiciary almost complete

Belgrade, 9 February 2006

Serbian Minister of Economy Predrag Bubalo said that State Secretary of Justice Branislav Bjelica informed the government at its session today that the drafting of the strategy and action plan for reforms of the judiciary is drawing to a close.

Predrag Bubalo

At a press conference following the government session, Bubalo pointed out that the strategy will finally be made public on February 14 and also publicly debated. He added that the government has been working on the document for some time.

He specified that the strategy and action plan will offer several modes and methods to overcome the problems that keep arising in all transition states regarding the judiciary, which is a serious problem obstructing Serbia's further implementation of the reform process.

Bubalo stressed that in line with the adopted Resolution, the Serbian government is thinking of scheduling a parliament session immediately prior to or after the beginning of talks on Kosovo's future status, which are likely to begin on February 20.

He pointed out that the reason behind this decision can only be the imminence of talks and not a statement by any state official of any country.

Bubalo said that among other things, the government was given further details at today's session concerning the positive decision of the International Monetary Fund's (IMF) Board of Directors to conclude the three-year arrangement with Serbia-Montenegro.

The IMF's decision is perhaps the best indicator that the Serbian government is a reformist government and reports from 2005 are further confirmation of the government's success, said Bubalo.

He recalled that the most evident reforms were those in the banking, real and public companies sectors.

According to Bubalo, the IMF's decision is a good sign for foreign investors, it will considerable help lessen Serbia's foreign debt and domestic businessmen will also benefit from it a lot.

Bubalo pointed out once again that the greatest credit for everything that has been done lies with a certain number of invididuals, but greater credit lies with the government as a whole, for it has been passing important reform decisions.

The activities of the Serbian parliament are also significant. Many important laws have been passed, and all citizens of Serbia have contributed to a successful realisation of the three-year arrangement, stressed Bubalo. This represents a joint success of the Serbian government, the Serbian parliament and the Serbian people.

Bajram Omeragic

The chairman of the government's council for balanced regional development and capital investment Bajram Omeragic said that the government at its session today appointed members of this body. The members are President of the Bosilegrad municipality Vladimir Zahariev, President of the Bujanovac municipality Nagip Arifi, acting director of the Institute for Urbanism in the Subotica municipality Kristijan Bartos, head of the Jablanica district Aleksandar Pejcic and representative of the Kursumlija municipality Mira Koprivica.

Omeragic announced that at one of the following sessions of the council, an expert team will be formed as advisory body. The team will be comprised of experts for evenly balanced regional development, whose task will be to draw a strategy for balancing regional development.

Slobodan Vuksanovic

Serbian Minister of Education and Sport Slobodan Vuksanovic said that the ministry has started a campaign themed "Where is your child now". As part of the campaign, he sent letters to all elementary and secondary school principals asking them to call parental meetings at which they would discuss how and to what extent parents should participate in the work of schools and education of their children.

Vuksanovic stressed that some highly positive results have been achieved in the reduction of violence and objectionable behaviour inside schools, but warned that this news has its negative side as well, since objectionable behaviour has spread beyond school buildings and school yards. That is the reason why the Serbian Ministry of Education and Sport has initiated this campaign.

"We are combating negative behaviour in the same way all other world countries do", said Vuksanovic and added that even the richest countries, the leaders in education, face similar problems. That is why they intensively work on educating parents urging them to take a more active part in combating objectionable behaviour. State institutions and non-governmental organisations will also take part in the joint effort.

Vuksanovic said that the Ministry of Education received further international recognition for its beneficial work. On that occasion, on March 2nd, the ministry's delegation will visit Brussels, where they will meet with the EU chief commissioner for education and sport.