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Delegation Reports
Outward Delegation to Serbia
18 to 20 February 2009 Report by Roger Berry MP Delegation Roger Berry MP - Leader, Labour On arrival in Belgrade, our first appointment was with a delegation from the National Assembly. They believed, however, that it was necessary for people to see the results of their pro-EU policies, and that lack of apparent benefits of the changes in policy was leading to a flagging of EU enthusiasm. The absence of a visa waiver scheme with the UK was heavily criticised, given the progress anticipated with the Schengen countries. The following day started with a meeting with our Ambassador, His Excellency Mr Stephen Wordsworth. He and his colleagues gave us a very useful briefing on Serbia. We then met the Speaker of the National Assembly, Dr Slavica Dukic-Dejanovic, with whom we discussed the reforms which are being introduced to enable Parliament to function more effectively, in the face of an unco-operative opposition. Later, met Parliament’s Serbia/UK Friendship Group, where we told that a positive response to Sebia’s EU aspirations now would not affect the final date of membership, but would strengthen domestic support for the pro-European argument. The Minister of Labour and Social Welfare, Mr Rasim Ljajic, who also co-ordinates the government’s policy on ICTY matters, argued that Serbia was doing everything possible to comply fully with the Hague. He also discussed the serious social and economic issues currently facing Serbia, not least as a result of those who have fled Kosovo. A meeting with the State Secretary for Foreign Affairs, Mr Stanimir Vukicevic, focused on Serbia’s desire to “close the file” on the Hague, a settlement on Kosovo, the visa issue and energy/climate change. We had a very interesting meeting with the British Council, discussing in particular their work with the police on diversity. On our final day, following a tour of the impressive Kalemegdan Fortress, we met Sonja Licht, President of the Belgrade Fund for Political Excellence, to discuss the Fund’s work on political education and the role of NGOs in Serbia.
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