Foreign Minister Ivan Mrkic speaks for "Danas" about the new Foreign Affairs Law.

Answering the question about the time when the bill providing for a number of changes in the Serbian Foreign Service will be submitted in the parliamentary procedure, Minister Mrkic said: "We hope that the new draft Law on foreign affairs will be before the National Assembly in September. The Law is still undergoing the process of public debate, and all factors which might have an effect on its final shape and form have been familiarized with the draft text."

The present draft Law has been presented to parliamentary groups, all relevant ministries, prominent academics, professional public, some associations and others, and the "the main intent behind the Law is that diplomacy, as the key instrument of the country's foreign policy, gets back and strengthens its position within the state apparatus, especially its leadership."

"Putting it simply, diplomacy should, besides the ministries of power, be one of the pillars of the state. The Law provides for professionalism, creating capable and professional personnel who should represent Serbia abroad in the best possible way and, at the same time, protect most effectively the interests of our citizens, and help people of Serbian origin. The Law also regulates the healthcare of people assigned to the diplomatic and consular missions of Serbia as well as many aspects of the Ministry's operation which have been neglected" - indicated the Serbian Foreign Minister Ivan Mrkic.