Parliamentary meeting on new declaration

The Parliament Collegium met today in Belgrade to discuss a new draft declaration, this time condemning crimes committed against Serbs. Parliament Speaker Slavica Djukic-Dejanovic stated that she had drafted the text of the declaration which was distributed today, that it was only an initial version and that a final proposal would be harmonized at the next meeting of the Parliament Collegium. Parliamentary meeting on new declaration Djukic-Dejanovic told reporters that the next meeting would be held after the Easter holidays and that it would then also be agreed when the document would be handed over to MPs. She also said that the Serbian parliament would surely adopt the declaration during its spring session. Djukic-Dejanovic also said that constructive ideas were presented and that it was also discussed whether the crimes committed in Bosnia-Herzegovina, Kosovo and Metohija and Croatia should be listed separately or whether it was enough to just say "all crimes in the territory of the former Yugoslavia.” According to her, one of the dilemmas of today's meeting was whether reference should be made to the earlier declarations adopted by the parliament in regards to the crimes. The government’s idea was to make full circle in its position toward all victims with this declaration, said chief of DS-led parliament group Nada Kolundzija. However, representatives of the opposition, who attended the consultations, expressed doubts as to the government's good intentions. LDP leader Cedomir Jovanovic said that parliament should make a serious step with this declaration "by telling the truth about the reasons for the suffering of the Serbian people and responsibility for it". Serb Radical Party parliamentary group chief Dragan Todorovic said that the draft presented today was inconsistent and that parliament "cannot not make another mistake", speaking in reference of the adoption of the Srebrenica resolution. “Primarily because of the crimes committed against Serbs, those who have committed them make declarations, but how can we ask them to make statements about the crimes when, for example, Croatia celebrates (operations) Storm and Flash, when the biggest ethnic cleansing in Europe was committed after the World War II,” he said, of the 1995 Croatian army and police operations against the country's ethnic Serbs. Opposition New Serbia (NS) MPs left the meeting today early, unhappy with the way it was conducted. NS leader Velimir Ilic said that the draft declaration was unacceptable to his party because concrete crimes are not being mentioned. Opposition Democratic Party of Serbia (DSS) did not attend the consultations. Chief of DSS parliamentary group Milos Aligrudic accused the ruling coalition of “irresponsibly, unnecessarily, immorally and contrary to the interests of the Serb people and the state imposing the adoption of the Srebrenica declaration”. He added that DSS did not want to participate today regarding the adoption of “a consolation, second-class declaration” condemning all crimes against members of the Serb people, " because it was shameful and immoral to separate innocent victims”. Opposition Serb Progressive Party (SNS) was represented by Bozidar Delic, who attended the meeting as parliament’s deputy speaker. (Beta)

Parliamentary meeting on new declaration

Đukić-Dejanović told reporters that the next meeting would be held after the Easter holidays and that it would then also be agreed when the document would be handed over to MPs.

She also said that the Serbian parliament would surely adopt the declaration during its spring session.

Đukić-Dejanović also said that constructive ideas were presented and that it was also discussed whether the crimes committed in Bosnia-Herzegovina, Kosovo and Metohija and Croatia should be listed separately or whether it was enough to just say "all crimes in the territory of the former Yugoslavia.”

According to her, one of the dilemmas of today's meeting was whether reference should be made to the earlier declarations adopted by the parliament in regards to the crimes.

The government’s idea was to make full circle in its position toward all victims with this declaration, said chief of DS-led parliament group Nada Kolundžija.

However, representatives of the opposition, who attended the consultations, expressed doubts as to the government's good intentions.

LDP leader Čedomir Jovanović said that parliament should make a serious step with this declaration "by telling the truth about the reasons for the suffering of the Serbian people and responsibility for it".

Serb Radical Party parliamentary group chief Dragan Todorović said that the draft presented today was inconsistent and that parliament "cannot not make another mistake", speaking in reference of the adoption of the Srebrenica resolution.

“Primarily because of the crimes committed against Serbs, those who have committed them make declarations, but how can we ask them to make statements about the crimes when, for example, Croatia celebrates (operations) Storm and Flash, when the biggest ethnic cleansing in Europe was committed after the World War II,” he said, of the 1995 Croatian army and police operations against the country's ethnic Serbs.

Opposition New Serbia (NS) MPs left the meeting today early, unhappy with the way it was conducted. NS leader Velimir Ilić said that the draft declaration was unacceptable to his party because concrete crimes are not being mentioned.

Opposition Democratic Party of Serbia (DSS) did not attend the consultations. Chief of DSS parliamentary group Miloš Aligrudić accused the ruling coalition of “irresponsibly, unnecessarily, immorally and contrary to the interests of the Serb people and the state imposing the adoption of the Srebrenica declaration”.

He added that DSS did not want to participate today regarding the adoption of “a consolation, second-class declaration” condemning all crimes against members of the Serb people, " because it was shameful and immoral to separate innocent victims”.

Opposition Serb Progressive Party (SNS) was represented by Božidar Delić, who attended the meeting as parliament’s deputy speaker.