“Changes to NBS law represent defeat of rule of law”

BELGRADE Proposed changes to the law on the National Bank of Serbia (NBS) represent a defeat of the rule of law, says U.S. Ambassador to Serbia Mary Warlick. She added that the changes to the law would diminish the autonomy of the central bank governor. “Changes to NBS law represent defeat of rule of law” “A political pressure on the NBS governor, requesting his resignation and the proposed amendments raise serious questions about the respect of independent institutions and regulatory bodies,” Warlick said. “Serbia is today, as a candidate foe EU membership, is on the road to the full integration with Europe. However, in order to stay on the pathway the new Serbian government needs to strictly stick to its own promise that it will respect the rule of law and strengthen trust in Serbian democratic institutions,” she wrote in an article for daily Politika. Warlick added that the rule of law was a foundation of the social order, equality and justice in democratic societies and that it represented a protection from the arbitrary rule. “Serbia has made significant steps toward strengthening of the rule of law in the last several years but corruption and weak institutions are still serious challenges,” the U.S. ambassador stressed. “Independent institutions that are responsible for monitoring fiscal responsibility, human rights, banks, judges and prosecutors provide a democratic ‘check and balance’ principle in any democratic state and they need to be truly independent,” she explained. “The U.S. remains committed to Serbia’s European future and we are ready to cooperate with Serbia in improvement of the rule of law and development of strong democratic institutions that will enjoy trust and support of the Serbian people. However, new Serbian leaders need to show quickly, especially in the light of this weeks’ events, that their publicly expressed commitment to European integrations and values is followed by appropriate steps that will be a continuation of the achievements reached in the previous years,” Warlick concluded. Mary Warlick (Tanjug, file) Politika Tanjug

“Changes to NBS law represent defeat of rule of law”

“A political pressure on the NBS governor, requesting his resignation and the proposed amendments raise serious questions about the respect of independent institutions and regulatory bodies,” Warlick said.

“Serbia is today, as a candidate foe EU membership, is on the road to the full integration with Europe. However, in order to stay on the pathway the new Serbian government needs to strictly stick to its own promise that it will respect the rule of law and strengthen trust in Serbian democratic institutions,” she wrote in an article for daily Politika.

Warlick added that the rule of law was a foundation of the social order, equality and justice in democratic societies and that it represented a protection from the arbitrary rule.

“Serbia has made significant steps toward strengthening of the rule of law in the last several years but corruption and weak institutions are still serious challenges,” the U.S. ambassador stressed.

“Independent institutions that are responsible for monitoring fiscal responsibility, human rights, banks, judges and prosecutors provide a democratic ‘check and balance’ principle in any democratic state and they need to be truly independent,” she explained.

“The U.S. remains committed to Serbia’s European future and we are ready to cooperate with Serbia in improvement of the rule of law and development of strong democratic institutions that will enjoy trust and support of the Serbian people. However, new Serbian leaders need to show quickly, especially in the light of this weeks’ events, that their publicly expressed commitment to European integrations and values is followed by appropriate steps that will be a continuation of the achievements reached in the previous years,” Warlick concluded.