Serbia Today, 97-05-21

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From: Yugoslavia <http://www.yugoslavia.com>

Serbia Today

CONTENTS

[01] SWITCHING TO THE PROPORTIONAL ELECTORAL SYSTEM AND PROTECTION OF THE ELECTORAL RIGHTS

[02] FAMILY PLANING PROGRAM BEING PREPARED

[03] GOVERNMENT DECISION - 37.142 FRESHMEN THIS YEAR

[01] SWITCHING TO THE PROPORTIONAL ELECTORAL SYSTEM AND PROTECTION OF THE ELECTORAL RIGHTS

Borba, 1997-05-21

Not later than this autumn, but more probably this summer - provided that an extraordinary session of the Parliament is called, Serbia will have a new, systematic and harmonized law on local self-government. Issues concerning the functioning of local self-government embodied in municipalities and cities, which were currently regulated by the articles of various laws, have been summed up, reviewed and innovated by Serbian Government authorities and shaped into the draft version of the law having more than 220 articles which might be called "constitution of local self- government".

In an interview for "Politika" (May 21, 1997) Serbian Deputy Prime Minister - Prof. Dr. Ratko Markovic, observed that the formulation and approval of the new law constitutes a major feat. He further remarked that in preparing the draft version the experience acquired through several local elections held in Serbia in order to define more precisely the matter, but also the European Charter on local self-government and the suggestions put forth by the Gonsales Report regarding the simplification of the electoral procedure for municipal councilors and a more effective juridical protection. Professor Markovic stressed that the main quality of the Law consists in the definition of the competencies of local affairs, and of the operation of local self-government - i.e. the differentiation between local and state affairs. The Deputy Premier also underscored the novelty contained in the Draft Law: the structure of the local self-government bodies in multi- ethnic communities. He explained that in the municipalities having a mixed population and where the ethnic minority constitutes the majority, the Municipal Assembly will comprise two chambers.

In an article published by "Borba" (May 21, 1997), Deputy Premier Prof. Ratko Markovic rejected the statements that this year local elections will be staged together with the republican elections made by several opposition leaders. Should the new law on local self-government be approved, it will become effective only after the four year mandate of the current councilors elected in 1996 expires. The Deputy Premier categorically stated that no local elections will be held until the year 2000. Serbian Prime Minister recently invited the parliamentary parties to take part in the debate on the draft law, stressing that this will give the Government a chance to take act of their stands and allow the opposition to partake in the creation of an extremely important law - remarked Prof. Dr. Ratko Markovic. Should the opposition party leaders reject this opportunity, this could mean that they want to maintain their present comfortable role of criticizing all government legal proposals, without investing any effort - remarked Dr. Markovic during the interview published in today's edition of "Borba".

[02] FAMILY PLANING PROGRAM BEING PREPARED

Tanjug, 1997-05-21

Serbian Minister of Family Care and Republican Commissioner for Refugees - Ms. Bratislava Morina, stated yesterday in Smederevo that the Government plans concerning the population and demographic policy will soon be presented to the public, including the family care strategy. The very fact that Serbia has a debt of 1.4 billion dinars for unpaid child support and other social subsidies clearly indicates how serious are the problems we are faced with - said Ms. Morina. "Furthermore, in Serbia there are 700.000 registered refugees and many unregistered displaced persons we have to take care of due to the present international isolation which followed the lifting of the sanctions. It's time for the world to stop punishing us, especially because the most innocent are the prime victims - children and refugees." - remarked Ms. Morina adding that she hopes that the economic- financial difficulties will not last much longer and that child support and social subsidies will be paid more regularly. She also stressed that the people of Serbia should be proud of the fact that 90% of the refugees have been accommodated in families, which is an unprecedented case - she added.

[03] GOVERNMENT DECISION - 37.142 FRESHMEN THIS YEAR

Borba, 1997-05-21

Reacting to a proposal submitted by the Ministry of Education, the Serbian Government decreed that in the school year 1997/98, 37.142 new students will be admitted to the universities. Like the previous years most of them will start their college education at the University of Belgrade - 16.420. This marks a 2% reduction of the number of college students compared to the previous academic year. This restrictive policy reflects the allocation of funds for higher education within the Serbian state budget. In defining the number of students for basic courses, staff, space and technical potential of the various faculties were taken into consideration, so that 60% of the students will receive their education at the expense of the Serbian budget. Depending on the faculty chosen, tuition fees for self-paying students who are Yugoslav citizens, will vary between 1.500 and 7.500 dinars. Foreign students will have to pay a tuition fee of 1000 to 3000 USD depending on the faculty they opt for.

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