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OSCE organizes study visits to Spain and UK for Serbian and Montenegrin MPs
BELGRADE 4 March 2002
BELGRADE, 4 March 2002 - The OSCE Mission to the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia is organizing this week visits of Parliamentary delegations to Spain and the UK as part of its programme aimed at improving the parliamentary dimension and strengthening the role of institutions that oversee the work of the government.
The first visit concerns a delegation of 12 members of the Parliaments of Serbia and Montenegro, who left today for a study visit to Spain (Madrid and Barcelona). During its visit, which will last until 12 March, the delegation will visit the Ombudsman Institutions in Madrid and Barcelona to obtain a first-hand understanding of the purpose and functioning of the Ombudsperson as a Parliamentary institution, and to study its relationship with the Parliament itself.
The establishment of an Ombudsperson is supported by the OSCE Mission to the FRY, not only as a protection of individuals against acts of maladministration, but as an independent institution that defends and promotes human rights in a general sense. A draft law on the Ombudsperson - commented by the OSCE Mission to FRY and the Council of Europe - was adopted in principle by the Serbian Government in December 2001. The Montenegrin Ministry of Justice has established a working group that will elaborate a draft law on Ombudsman.
In addition to this visit, the OSCE Mission to the FRY has also invited the Speakers of the Serbian and Montenegrin Parliaments, Ms. Natasa Micic and Ms. Vesna Perovic, to take part in a visit to the British and Scottish Parliaments. That visit, due to start on 5 March, is meant to allow the visiting delegation to study different approaches to the modernization of the work of parliaments. In Scotland, a widescale review was carried out of practices to make Parliament more effective and to respond better to the expectations of the electorate. Apart from meeting with their Counterparts in the British and Scottish Parliaments, the delegation will also attend Prime Minister Tony Blair's question time in Parliament in London on 6 March.
The first visit concerns a delegation of 12 members of the Parliaments of Serbia and Montenegro, who left today for a study visit to Spain (Madrid and Barcelona). During its visit, which will last until 12 March, the delegation will visit the Ombudsman Institutions in Madrid and Barcelona to obtain a first-hand understanding of the purpose and functioning of the Ombudsperson as a Parliamentary institution, and to study its relationship with the Parliament itself.
The establishment of an Ombudsperson is supported by the OSCE Mission to the FRY, not only as a protection of individuals against acts of maladministration, but as an independent institution that defends and promotes human rights in a general sense. A draft law on the Ombudsperson - commented by the OSCE Mission to FRY and the Council of Europe - was adopted in principle by the Serbian Government in December 2001. The Montenegrin Ministry of Justice has established a working group that will elaborate a draft law on Ombudsman.
In addition to this visit, the OSCE Mission to the FRY has also invited the Speakers of the Serbian and Montenegrin Parliaments, Ms. Natasa Micic and Ms. Vesna Perovic, to take part in a visit to the British and Scottish Parliaments. That visit, due to start on 5 March, is meant to allow the visiting delegation to study different approaches to the modernization of the work of parliaments. In Scotland, a widescale review was carried out of practices to make Parliament more effective and to respond better to the expectations of the electorate. Apart from meeting with their Counterparts in the British and Scottish Parliaments, the delegation will also attend Prime Minister Tony Blair's question time in Parliament in London on 6 March.