On 17 September, the Anti-Corruption Council forwarded the reports on the sale of the shares and the increase of the capital fund in the company “Jugoremedija”, and privatization of the ‘’Veterinary Institute’’ to the Government, asking the Government to put them on the agenda at the next session. At the same time, we forwarded a short letter to the Government expressing our concern because of the quotes in the press regarding the sojourns of the Ministers at the Olympics and recommended the Government to investigate the matter and inform the public. The Government responded only to the letter regarding the sojourns of the Ministers, initiating, at the same time, a campaign against the President of the Council, trough the PR Office. 

As far as the reports are concern, for weeks we have been unable to obtain the information from the General Secretary of the Government regarding the adoption of the reports on the agenda for the Government’s session.

On Thursday, 7 October, the workers and small shareholders of Jugoremedija and Veterinary Institute protested in front of the Government of Serbia, asking the Government to solve the problems in their companies, emerged trough the violation of the law in the privatization procedure. They asked the Prime Minister to see them, nevertheless, the representative of the Veterinary Institute were received by an officer from the Prime Minister’s Cabinet, while the small shareholders of Jugoremedija spoke with the Deputy to the Director of the Privatization Agency.

In the afternoon, the Council finally found out that our reports are to be reviewed on the next Thursday, and that they had been previously given to the Ministry of Economy for evaluation, which is why they were postponed from the agenda for so long. Instead of production of medicines and protection of the factory they co – own, the shareholders of Jugoremedija spent the night between Thursday and Friday in the Share Fund, demanding the initiation of a legal suit for the cancellation of the contract with ‘’Jaka 80’’ with the foreign trade arbitrage, from the Director Mr. Aleksandar Gracanac, as he was instructed half a year ago by the decision of the Ministry of Economy. Mr. Gracanac locked the Share Fund, and the security threatened the shareholders with the criminal charges if they try to enter a hallway. The Director,then, ran to the Government, where he summoned the shareholders to a meeting on Friday. He made new promises that the legal suit would be initiated, and that the dismissed workers would be returned to work, only if they remove from the stairs.

The Council asked for an urgent reception with the Prime Minister, Mr.Kostunica, President of the Republic, Mr. Tadic, and the Chairman of the National Assembly of the Republic of Serbia, Mr. Predrag Markovic, to inform them of the Council&rsquo position regarding problems with the Veterinary Institute, and Jugoremedija, and propose a suggestion for a solution. It is our belief that these problems are being unnecessary stalled. 

Ms Verica Barac,
President of the Council