Press release

BELGRADE, 21 November 2008 - Some fifty students from high schools across Serbia will simulate a parliamentary session at the Serbian National Assembly in Belgrade tomorrow.

The students will play the roles of parliamentarians attempting to amend a bill during the simulation, which was jointly organized by the OSCE Mission to Serbia and the Serbian National Assembly.

Ambassador Hans Ola Urstad, the Head of the OSCE Mission to Serbia, said: "Events like this will increase the transparency of the legislative process and strengthen public trust in it."

The simulation is a part of an OSCE Mission project aimed on enhancing public access to Parliament and State institutions implemented in co-operation with the Serbian National Assembly and the Ministry of Education, financially supported by the German Government.

Until today teachers from all of Serbia's 19 school districts have been trained to conduct this programme in their communities, and that to date 500 students have had the opportunity to participate.