Third meeting of foreign affairs committees was held today in the National Assembly of the Republic of Serbia, gathering parliamentarians from Montenegro, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Croatia and Serbia. The need for enhanced cooperation and promotion of regional initiatives was emphasised, for the purpose of solving the problems that regional countries had been facing with on their transitional path.

The meeting was conceptualised into two sessions, and marked by constructive debates on the on topics relating to fight against corruption and organised crime respectively position of women in national parliaments, during which representatives of foreign affairs committees stated their opinions from the perspective of their national parliaments. It was assessed that practice showed that learning from examples of neighbouring countries was best, due to the fact that those were dealing with similar problems, thus exchange of views enabled by meetings as that one was so precious.

The first part of the meeting was dedicated to consideration of fight against corruption and organised crime in the region; the participants emphasised the importance of intensifying both regional and international cooperation for the purpose of adequate application of instruments for prevention of corruption.

The position of women in national parliaments was a focus of the second part of the meeting. Women MPs from the four parliaments concluded that small number of women was included in the regional political life and pointed out that their position might be improved by cooperation and togetherness.

MP Vasilije Lalošević spoke on the topic of fight against corruption and organised crime, while Ms Žana Filipović spoke on position of women in national parliaments.

Following the adoption of conclusions, it was agreed at the meeting, the next gathering to be organised in autumn in Montenegro, and MPs would have an opportunity to consider issues of environment protection.

The attendants were also addressed by Mr Nebojša Stefanović, the Speaker of the National Assembly of the Republic of Serbia and Mr Nikola Selaković, Minister of Justice and Public Administration of the Republic of Serbia.

On behalf of the Parliament of Montenegro Ms Žana Filipović, Mr Vasilije Lalošević and Mr Mićo Orlandić attended the meeting.