Public statement

REC delivered part of demanded reports on campaign financing

Organization Transparency – Serbia informs the public that Republic Election Commission on 23. June 2008 acted upon instruction of Commissioner for Information from April 22 nd 2008 and delivered copies of financial reports of participants in presidential election campaign. In that way these reports, which REC received already on February 22 nd for the first time officially become available to public.

Besides that submitted reports on campaign financing can not be changed, as well as the fact that Law on Financing of Political Parties (2003) and Law on Free Access to Information (2004) prescribe their publishing, REC firstly denied its duty to introduce public with content of this documents „while procedure of data verification still lasts“. Mentioned reports aren't delivered at our demand even after legal deadline out of 3 months for publishing of verification data (May 22 nd 2008) expired. We emphasize that TS filled a complaint to Commissioner for information which in appeal procedure brought resolution and determined that denial of access to information was legally ungrounded. REC proceeded by Commissioners resolution, but only a month and a half after expiration of deadline which is determined by resolution.

After finishing of presidential elections in Serbia , parliamentary, provincial and local elections were held and citizens who voted in those elections – and which as tax payers financed part of election campaign, didn't have complete knowledge on financial assets with which election participants disposed. Transparency Serbia expects that REC won't make same omission and that after parliamentary, provincial and local election held citizens will be in legal deadline introduced with assets with which election participants financed the campaign.

We emphasize that it is only the first step towards greater trust of citizens into rule of law and functioning of democratic system in Serbia . Above all that, we think that it is necessary to conduct control of accuracy and completeness of reports on campaign financing and eventually bring procedures for the purpose of sanctioning of those who broke the rules.

Transparency – Serbia

Belgrade June 26 th 2008.