Public statement

Two years from establishing independent bodies

Today is two years anniversary since National Assembly appointed Commissioner for Information of Public Importance and ninth member of Republic Board for Resolving Conflict of Interests. One of the preconditions for beginning of implementation of two important anticorruption Laws is accomplished in that way. Unfortunately, Assembly during its mandate didn’t fulfill similar obligation in regards to election of Ombudsman and Council of State Audit Institution, because of which control of legality of administration organs’ actions and control of suitability and legality of spending the budget assets is still in unsatisfactory level.

Practice in past two years showed that election of independent bodies is necessary but insufficient condition to implement the laws. National Assembly, which receives reports of this bodies (e.g. Commissioner, Committee) did almost nothing to resolve problems from those reports. Even bigger problem represents attitude of executive power towards independent bodies: Adequate premises for work still haven’t been provided to Commissioner and Board got them just recently; Government didn’t do anything to secure executing of Commissioner’s final decisions and bringing of misdemeanor procedures against those who violated the Law on Free Access to Information; Executive authority officials relativize Commissioner’s decisions and Board decisions if they are suitable politicians bring them as argument, instead of proceeding according to them.  

In days of election campaign we often hear advocacy of ruling parties and opposition for respecting of rule of law, fight against corruption and efficient control of authority organs’ and state officials’ work. Relation towards independent bodies, their problems and decisions will be one of the criteria for assessment on how future Assembly and Government implement those promises in practice.

Transparency – Serbia

Press Office

Belgrade December 22nd 2006.