Parliament debating law on foreigners

MPs reconvened this morning to debate amendments to the draft law on foreigners, but spent the first two hours discussing the price of gas. The issue was raised at the beginning of today’s session by Liberal Democratic Party (LDP) MPs, who asked Energy Minister Petar Skundric why Serbia had a broker for gas purchasing, who had been taking 5 percent commission on each acquisition since 2004. Parliament debating law on foreigners LDP’s MPs wanted to know who had issued a license to Jurogas to broker gas distribution, emphasizing that no other country had such a broker. They wanted to know who had enabled Gazprom to purchase a stake of more than 75 percent in Jurogas, blaming Vojislav Kostunica’s government for this alleged negligence. LDP leader Cedomir Jovanovic said that it was an important issue for his party, because “the enormous rise in gas prices is a consequence of this country’s irresponsible policy over the last few years.” He said that the LDP wanted to see the government’s reaction and what kind of measures it would take, pointing out that the first step should be to scrap brokerage. LDP MPs said that the broker’s commission was included in the price of gas, as was the servicing of old debts. Serb Radical Party (SRS), Democratic Party of Serbia (DSS) and New Serbia MPs also called on the government to reconsider the price of gas, adding that customers would not be able to afford such high prices. Interior Minister Ivica Dacic, who is attending today’s session because several of the Interior Ministry’s laws are on today’s agenda, said that criminal charges would be filed against those responsible, providing there was proof. Parliament is due today to resume its debate on amendments to the draft law on foreigners governing conditions for the entry, movements and stay of foreigners. 41 amendments have been submitted to the draft law. MPs began debating the law on Saturday. The law envisions the powers and tasks of public administration organs in terms of entry, movement and stay. A new element will be the kinds of visa—airport transit visas, transit visas, short-stay visas, and temporary stay visas. The adoption of this law, the law on state borders, and the data protection law are conditions for visa regime liberalization. Parliament (FoNet, archive)

Parliament debating law on foreigners

LDP’s MPs wanted to know who had issued a license to Jurogas to broker gas distribution, emphasizing that no other country had such a broker.

They wanted to know who had enabled Gazprom to purchase a stake of more than 75 percent in Jurogas, blaming Vojislav Koštunica’s government for this alleged negligence.

LDP leader Čedomir Jovanović said that it was an important issue for his party, because “the enormous rise in gas prices is a consequence of this country’s irresponsible policy over the last few years.”

He said that the LDP wanted to see the government’s reaction and what kind of measures it would take, pointing out that the first step should be to scrap brokerage.

LDP MPs said that the broker’s commission was included in the price of gas, as was the servicing of old debts.

Serb Radical Party (SRS), Democratic Party of Serbia (DSS) and New Serbia MPs also called on the government to reconsider the price of gas, adding that customers would not be able to afford such high prices.

Interior Minister Ivica Dačić, who is attending today’s session because several of the Interior Ministry’s laws are on today’s agenda, said that criminal charges would be filed against those responsible, providing there was proof.

Parliament is due today to resume its debate on amendments to the draft law on foreigners governing conditions for the entry, movements and stay of foreigners.

41 amendments have been submitted to the draft law.

MPs began debating the law on Saturday. The law envisions the powers and tasks of public administration organs in terms of entry, movement and stay.

A new element will be the kinds of visa—airport transit visas, transit visas, short-stay visas, and temporary stay visas.

The adoption of this law, the law on state borders, and the data protection law are conditions for visa regime liberalization.