OSCE Mission in Belgrade helps students learn about work of parliament

BELGRADE, 27 May 2004 - The Assembly of Serbia and Montenegro will hold a special session for some 60 students to help them understand the structure, role and procedures of parliament, as well as to experience a simulation of parliamentary decision-making.

The two-day event, Model Parliament 2004, was organized by the OSCE Mission to Serbia and Montenegro together with the Assembly of Serbia and Montenegro, the Serbian Ministry of Education and Sport and the Montenegrin Ministry of Education and Science.

"Youth parliaments are common practice in more developed democracies and are a unique opportunity for young people to gain a deeper insight into the role of parliament in a democracy," said Ambassador Maurizio Massari, Head of the OSCE Mission to Serbia and Montenegro. "This event will contribute positively to democratic education in Serbia and Montenegro."

The Model Parliament session will be opened by Zoran Sami, Speaker of the Assembly of Serbia and Montenegro and the fictitious Constitutive Plenary Session will be chaired by the Deputy Speaker of the Assembly of Serbia and Montenegro, Milorad Drljevic.

Ambassador Massari will lecture on European democracy and the role of Parliament.

Media representatives are invited to Model Parliament 2004, which will take place in the Assembly of Serbia and Montenegro on 28 and 29 May.

A news conference will be held in the Assembly on 28 May at 9.45.