"Significant progress in democratization"

OSCE Parliamentary Assembly President Joao Soares visited Belgrade on Monday where he met with top Serbian officials. Over the past few years, Serbia has made great progress in democratic standards and it should be proud of that, Soares said. "Significant progress in democratization" "We are here to help you to continue to advance your democratic institutions," Soares told Beta news agency, adding that the OSCE used the term "free and fair election" for the first time to describe one of the earlier elections in Serbia, which he described as a significant step forward. Soares noted that, due to everything that has happened in the past, there is the problem of Serbia's poor image in the world. Speaking about further possible progress in the democratization of institutions, Soares said certain criticism exists concerning the system, in which political parties in Serbia have MP mandates at their disposal. He added, however, that this is part of the internal organization of a political system. Soares further told Beta that the OSCE enjoys very good cooperation with the Serbian MPs who are members of the OSCE Parliamentary Assembly. He added that at meetings with President Boris Tadic and Prime Minister Mirko Cvetkovic, enhancing the OSCE's work in Serbia would be discussed. After meeting with Serbian MPs, Soares told the press the OSCE representatives are closely monitoring the development of democratic institutions in Serbia and expressed the hope that Serbia will pursue that path. Asked whether visa facilitation is possible by the end of the year, Soares replied that he personally supports the initiative. Soares meets with Speaker Slavica Djukic Dejanovic (Beta)

"Significant progress in democratization"

"We are here to help you to continue to advance your democratic institutions," Soares told Beta news agency, adding that the OSCE used the term "free and fair election" for the first time to describe one of the earlier elections in Serbia, which he described as a significant step forward.

Soares noted that, due to everything that has happened in the past, there is the problem of Serbia's poor image in the world.

Speaking about further possible progress in the democratization of institutions, Soares said certain criticism exists concerning the system, in which political parties in Serbia have MP mandates at their disposal. He added, however, that this is part of the internal organization of a political system.

Soares further told Beta that the OSCE enjoys very good cooperation with the Serbian MPs who are members of the OSCE Parliamentary Assembly.

He added that at meetings with President Boris Tadić and Prime Minister Mirko Cvetković, enhancing the OSCE's work in Serbia would be discussed.

After meeting with Serbian MPs, Soares told the press the OSCE representatives are closely monitoring the development of democratic institutions in Serbia and expressed the hope that Serbia will pursue that path.

Asked whether visa facilitation is possible by the end of the year, Soares replied that he personally supports the initiative.