Lawyers reject ministry's offer, strike continues

Lawyers reject ministry's offer, strike continues

BELGRADE -- The Bar Association of Serbia (AKS) rejected on Monday a proposal of the Justice Ministry meant to resolve a dispute and end the strike of lawyers.

The ministry's offer concerned amendments to the Law on Notaries Public and regulation of the issue of arbitrary taxation.

AKS President Dragoljub Đorđević told a news conference that after the lengthy talks, AKS Administrative Board decided to reject the Ministry's proposition because, as he said, it does not serve the interests of citizens, rule of law and protection of human rights.

The offer was rejected because it does not constitute a progress in the talks, Đorđević said.

He noted that some 20 days ago, lawyers sent to the Justice Ministry the proposition concerning the amendments to the Law on Notaries Public which they find acceptable, and he expressed the hope that the Ministry would re-examine the proposals.

According to him, lawyers are ready to continue the talks with a view to finding the best possible solution.

The Justice Ministry offered amendments to the Law which would be adopted in the parliament within 14 days would revoke the exclusiveness of powers for notaries public when it comes to drafting real estate sale contracts as is the case now, and lawyers would be authorized to draw up contracts on the sale of property too, while notaries would verify them.

When it comes to taxes, lawyers want the fiscal obligations for lawyers in Serbia to remain on the level of not above ten percent for the entire year of 2014 compared to the tax obligations established for the year of 2013.

Belgrade lawyers launched their strike on September 10 and...