Full Coverage: Serbia and Montenegro

28.07.2005 MANS expressed their support to the proposal of new the Law on Preventing Conflict of Interests that, according to them, represents significant improvement to the existing legislation. MANS believes that its implementation will finally bring real results in eliminating conflict of interest and the ongoing campaign against the corruption.

28.07.2005 The Humanitarian Law Centre protests the unacceptable conduct by the Becej, Vojvodina, Police Department and its treatment of Baskim Krueziu, who was harrassed because of his ethnic and religious background.

27.07.2005 From May 20 to June 15, 2005, the Union of High School Students of Serbia and the Centre for Youth Motivation and Activism conducted a survey on the social and economic status of high school students in Belgrade.

26.07.2005 The Kotor Association for Animal and Environmental Protection protested the continued action in Bijelo Polje to eliminate stray dogs from the city, during which over 700 dogs were shot dead.

26.07.2005 The image of Serbia in the European countries and the US is chiefly related to war, poverty and instability, and there is a stereotyping of Serbs as aggressive and war-mongering nation, show the results of a poll conducted by “Exit Team” and “TraNSfer” Club od Psychology Students during the EXIT 05 Music Festival.

26.07.2005 Miljenko Dereta, Executive Director of Civic Initiatives gave an interview for “Kaziprst” (Index Finger) programme of B92 Radio. He spoke on the subject of the tenth anniversary of the genocide in Srebrenica.

25.07.2005 The Youth Initiative for Human Rights launched its Law Initiative legal portal. The aim of the Portal is to provide information to lawyers, law-students, NGO activists and the general public on current domestic and international legal issues.

22.07.2005 Veselin Vuckovic, the Podgorica Public Prosecutor, rejected the criminal charges of abuse of office brought against Minister of Education Slobodan Backovic by MANS.

22.07.2005 The Humanitarian Law Centre (HLC) demands an immediate investigation of the assault on Tatomir Lekovic, a lawyer from Kragujevac. Lekovic was attacked in broad daylight yesterday, July 21, in downtown Kragujevac.

20.07.2005 The Youth Initiative for Human Rights (YIHR) demanded yesterday, July 19, from the state institutions to take action and prevent the expansion of racial, religious and national hatred and intolerance shown at a protest meeting organized by the inhabitants of Doctor Ivan Ribar Street in New Belgrade. Moreover, we demand the Public Prosecutor start proceedings to find out who is responsible for the expansion of racism in New Belgrade.

19.07.2005 Yesterday, July 18, 15 non-governmental organizations from Montenegro wrote a letter to Olli Rehn, the European Commissioner in charge of EU expansion process, demanding from the European Commission to establish and office in Podgorica.

18.07.2005 The Network for Affirmation of Non-Governmental Sector MANS supported last Friday, July 16, the intention of Podgorica Municipality to provide alternative accommodation for the citizens whose houses canÂ’t be legalized under the urban plan.

18.07.2005 The Association of Independent Electronic Media (ANEM) strongly protests the series of attacks and threats aimed at association member RTV B92.

15.07.2005 Seven non-governmental organizations from Montenegro founded the “Green Circle” as a response to the environmental protection and conservation needs, and to counter the inadequate approach to nature, both by individuals and legal entities.

15.07.2005 Slobodan Lalovic, Serbian Minister of Labour, Employment and Social Policies, said in the meeting with representatives of UNDP on the regional gender equality project held on Wednesday, July 13, that the Government of Serbia has had important achievements in the field of gender equality. Lalovic also announced a new corps of legislation designed to improve the standards in the field.

14.07.2005 The United Nations Secretary GeneralÂ’s Special Envoy for Kosovo standard evaluation, Kai Eide, met with Kosovo Coordination Center President Nebojsa Covic today. Eide is not satisfied with the amount of progress being made in Kosovo.

13.07.2005 The Hague Tribunal has decided to merge the trials of all who were indicted for alleged war crimes committed in Kosovo. According to the court council, the seven indictees are all accused of similar crimes committed against Albanian civilians in Kosovo at around the same period of time.

12.07.2005 The European Watch Against Religious Cleansing (EWARC) filed a complaint yesterday to the European Centre against Racism and Intolerance (ECRI), alleging that the Serbian representative of the European Federation of Centres of Research and Information on Sectarianism (FECRIS) was the specialist under Slobodan Milosevic’s regime of mental indoctrination of Serbian soldiers who carried out “ethnic cleansing” in Bosnia, Croatia and Kosovo. The new findings come two days before the Council of Europe is expected to decide whether to grant FECRIS’ application for consultative status.

11.07.2005 The Women in Black Belgrade marked the 10th Annyversary of the Srebrenica Genocide, at the Republic Square in Belgrade.

11.07.2005 Provided that there is the necessary political will in Montenegro and Albania, the Skadar Lake could soon enter the UNESCO list of protected areas.