Report from the forum regarding the announcement of the reintroduction of military service

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Network of Academic Solidarity and Engagement (MASS) organized a forum on the recently updated topic of mandatory military service. Namely, the topic is recognized as legitimate and significant for the academic community as well, which can offer new and more comprehensive approaches when determining priorities and specific development goals of a society and state. For the development of long-term plans, policies and opportunities, the analyzes and research results of scientific institutes, faculties, expert teams, as well as the involvement of the wider public, are very important, in order to more clearly and precisely determine all potential problems and obstacles that indicate limited opportunities to carry out the announced changes, that is, presented the benefits and opportunities for the realization to be successful.

The segment that was less talked about in public, and is important for the topic of mandatory military service, includes part of the realization of the recruitment process itself. In its structure, this process implies the fulfillment of numerous criteria, which through standard procedures exclude a significant part of potential recruits, because they require minimum mental, medical and physical standards, educational and moral requirements, age limits, the issue of security checks and the like. For this reason, it was important for the public to hear the words of experts from various scientific and professional bodies and institutions in the fields of medicine (psychiatry, public health), education, security, physical culture and education, economics and many others, which we partially managed to provide to the interlocutors who responded to our call.

The tribune was held in Tuesday, 21.6.2022. year at 6 p.m. in Club Polet (Cetinjska 15, Belgrade).

The speakers were:

 

  1. Jovan Mirić, prof. of the Faculty of Philosophy in retirement (Department of Developmental Psychology)
  2. Svetlana Stanarevic, associate professor, Faculty of Security, UB
  3. Dr. Miroslav Marković, Institute for the Improvement of Education and Training, President of the Serbian Association of Physical Education and Sports Teachers
  4. Slobodan Spasic, psychologist, PhD student (Faculty of Philosophy)

 

After an introductory presentation on the chronology of initiatives on the reactivation of mandatory military service from 2011 to the present day, the political, media and professional discourse in the said period was briefly presented. It was pointed out the last advertisement of the competent minister, with the statement that several models designed in the Ministry of Defense are ready, which will be sent to the president, and then a wider public discussion will be opened. While we are waiting for that moment, MASA has organized a forum, in order to listen to the thoughts of the academic public and the community on the issue and open up space for engagement in future public discussions. There were talks about moral behavior and moral governance of young people, patriotism, theoretical insights into those concepts, but also the importance of connecting with the subject of mandatory military service. Meeting physical standards during the recruitment process requires certain physical characteristics and readiness of potential recruits. Based on recent research on the physical and motor skills of children and young people and very worrying results (increased obesity, diabetes, various forms of spinal deviation, etc.), the potential of the future recruitment contingent can be questioned. In addition to the importance of meeting physical criteria and standards, it is very important to take into account the psychological and mental state of the young population, especially in the process of psychological assessment and selection for military service, the characteristics of psychometric instruments, weaknesses and strengths, as well as the possibilities to adapt to gender requirements in in the event that both women and men are recruited, the different experiences of foreign armies when it comes to mixed or unisex military units, and more. Based on the content of the speaker's presentation, we can say that the need for an important role of the academic community has been confirmed, which is increasingly showing its willingness to engage in public discussion regarding issues that represent the strategic determinations of our society and the state in the sphere of security, but also beyond. It is necessary to determine what are the capacities and significant research endeavors, which can result in a greater contribution in fulfilling normative, political, strategic and operational requirements, so that life takes place in conditions of greater safety, security and better quality. Also, it is important that public policy planning is carried out in an integrated way, whereby greater attention must be paid to the balance between responding to security needs and other essential needs of the population (such as education, health, employment, access to clean water, food, access energy, etc.). Representatives of the academic community and educational institutions at all levels, with their different specializations, represent a set of expertise that can contribute to improving the state's response to the multidimensional (security) needs of citizens, but also support public decision makers by analyzing needs, analyzing opportunities, independent evaluation of existing policies and formulating proposals for future work.

MASA organizes a forum on the occasion of the announcement of the reintroduction of military service

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Network of Academic Solidarity and Engagement (MASS) invites you to a forum on the recently updated topic of mandatory military service. MASA recognized the topic as legitimate and significant for the academic public as well, because according to the way it was opened, it indicated the necessity of a more serious and comprehensive approach to determining priorities and specific goals of the development of a society and state. For the development of long-term plans, policies and opportunities, the analyzes and research results of scientific institutes, faculties, expert teams are very important, as well as the involvement of the wider public, in order to more clearly and precisely determine all potential problems and obstacles that indicate limited opportunities to carry out the announced changes, that is, presented the benefits and opportunities for the realization to be successful.

The segment that was less talked about in public, and is important for the topic of mandatory military service, includes part of the realization of the recruitment process itself. In its structure, this process implies the fulfillment of numerous criteria, which through standard procedures exclude a significant part of potential recruits, because they require minimum mental, medical and physical standards, educational and moral requirements, age limits, the issue of security checks and the like. For this reason, it is important for the public to hear the words of experts from various scientific and professional bodies and institutions in the fields of medicine (psychiatry, public health), education, security, physical culture and upbringing, economics and many others.

The forum will be held in Tuesday, 21.6.2022. year at 6 p.m. in Club Polet (Cetinjska 15, Belgrade).

Speakers:

  1. Jovan Mirić, prof. of the Faculty of Philosophy in retirement (Department of Developmental Psychology)
  2. Svetlana Stanarevic, associate professor, Faculty of Security, UB
  3. Slobodan Spasic, psychologist, PhD student
  4. Dr. Miroslav Marković (Institute for the Improvement of Education and Training, President of the Serbian Association of Physical Education and Sports Teachers)

In the background of the issue of mandatory military service, there are also the following issues that we will open:

1) How does our society, that is, representatives of state institutions and decision-makers determine priorities and whether they rely on reliable data and research results when making those decisions; how familiar they are with the importance and understanding of the advantages and limitations of some information and data; how much and in what way the general public is involved, especially when it comes to topics that come from the security sphere and that require ever greater openness and the possibility to realize an appropriate public discussion.

2) To what extent is the academic community ready to engage in public discussion regarding issues that represent the strategic determinations of our society and the state in the sphere of security, but also more broadly; does it have sufficient capacity and significant research endeavors that can result in a greater contribution in meeting normative, political, strategic and operational requirements, so that life can take place in conditions of greater safety, security and better quality.

3) Is the planning of public policies carried out in an integrated way, paying attention to the balance between responding to security needs and other essential needs of the population (such as education, health, employment, access to clean water, food, access to energy, etc.) and why not? Representatives of the academic community and educational institutions at all levels, with their different specializations, represent a set of expertise that can contribute to improving the state's response to the multidimensional (security) needs of citizens, but also support public decision makers by analyzing needs, analyzing opportunities, independent evaluation of existing policies and formulating proposals for future work. Participants of the forum are invited to give their opinion and state their views on the current topic of compulsory military service, which reflects many other important issues in our society, which are looking for satisfactory answers and solutions.

MASA sent a request for clarification of the conditions under which teaching staff at faculties can exercise the right to funding of scientific work

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The Network of Academic Solidarity and Engagement sent a request to the State Secretary for Science, as well as to the assistant ministers from the Science Sector and the Higher Education Sector, for clarification of the conditions under which teaching staff at faculties can exercise the right to funding of scientific work.

Namely, according to News which was published on the website of the Ministry, at the end of 2019, the project funding of the scientific work of employees at faculties ended and "combined funding of the scientific research work of all employees in accredited scientific research organizations (NIOs) was introduced, depending on whether they engage in scientific research through funding according to the annual NIO's work plan, or they are engaged in projects of the Science Fund of the Republic of Serbia for a certain period of time".

However, the combined form of funding does not cover all faculty employees. This type of financial compensation is not received by those who were not engaged in projects during the project financing, as well as those who were employed in NIO after the introduction of the combined form of financing, which, according to an unofficial estimate, includes at least several hundred employees at the faculties. Many tried through the faculties where they are employed to request to be included in the combined financing, but they were rejected without an explanation based on the provisions of the Law on Science and Research ("Official Gazette of RS", No. 49/2019).

Since in the Law on Science and Research ("Official Gazette of the RS", No. 49/2019) which in Article 135 regulates the combined form of financing, we did not find a basis for such different treatment, and that requests from institutions for financing additional staff were rejected, MASA asked for clarification on what is the condition for teaching staff to be included in the mentioned form of financing scientific research work. If there is no clear legal basis, this kind of practice can be considered discriminatory, which we consider unacceptable treatment of teaching staff.

MASA demands a public apology from TV Happy television, as well as its presenters Aleksandra Brčić and Milomir Marić, for insulting the academic community

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From 100 euros for young people, we reduced it to 1,000 dinars for future members of the academic community. The former was used in the election campaign of the current government, and the latter on one of the numerous television stations with a national frequency that are in the service of that government. In essence, both the humiliating 100 euros and the shameful 1000 dinars are based on the underestimation of young and educated people in a country that is fighting the white plague and that can be "raised" by numerous emigration. This underestimation corresponds not only to the inflation of the cost of living in recent months, but also to the multi-year devaluation of education embodied in plagiarist ministers, unprofessional state staff and dubious retraining of high-ranking officials. The network of academic solidarity and engagement demands a public apology from TV Happy television, as well as its presenters Aleksandra Brcic and Milomir Marić, for insulting the academic community, because it is not a matter of misinterpretation and misunderstanding, as stated in the announcement of this television. At the same time, we ask the Ministry of Education, Science and Technological Development of the Republic of Serbia, all universities in Serbia and student organizations that represent the interests of students to announce themselves on this occasion and defend the honor of students and the reputation of the university. We must respond to every insult from the academic community because silence opens the door to further insults and reprisals. We make a public appeal to stop once and for all insulting the academic community and its future members for the sake of the daily political ambitions of the current government in Serbia.

Report from the forum held in order to start a discussion on the possible reform of legal acts and university regulations

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Network of Academic Solidarity and Engagement (MASS) organized the discussion that took place on Tuesday, 15.3.2022. year, in the Polet gallery. The intention was to initiate a broad academic discussion on the possible reform of legal acts and university regulations that regulate the manner, procedure and minimum conditions for acquiring a title and establishing a working relationship as a teacher at the University of Belgrade. (and other universities in Serbia). The immediate reason for the reform of the procedures and conditions for elections to positions and the establishment of an employment relationship at the University of Belgrade are the increasingly frequent cases of elections in which various irregularities come to light. Many of these cases end up in public and in the courts, which causes damage to both individuals and the University of Belgrade. These problems often arise as a result of the vagueness and even contradictions of the procedures related to the selection to the profession. The goal of the eventual reform would be to reduce vagueness, contradictions, abuses and damage caused to individuals, and thus to the University of Belgrade.

The panel was moderated by prof. Dr. Dušan Pavlović, member of the KO MASA, while the participants were:

Danilo Vuković, associate professor of the Faculty of Law, BU
Vladimir Milić, general secretary of the BU Rectorate
Iva Draškić Vićanović, dean of the Faculty of Philology, BU

In an open and substantive conversation in which the audience took part, several directions for future action in terms of reforming the existing procedures for selecting teachers and establishing a permanent employment relationship were crystallized:

1) It is necessary to initiate procedures for amending the Law on Higher Education and the regulations governing the manner and procedure for obtaining the title of teacher at the University of Belgrade. Some of the proposals that were heard at the panel were related to the introduction of a mandatory individual explanation when voting for the selection of teachers if voting against the proposal of the Election Commission. In addition, some of the participants of the forum proposed the complete exclusion of NNV from the process of making a decision on the selection of teachers, that is, it is sufficient for the selection decision to be made by the University's expert councils, which even now have the final say in the selection of teachers. Another possible amendment to the regulations governing the selection of teachers could refer to ethical and disciplinary responsibility for various abuses of the selection process. For both reforms, there are foundations in the existing regulations and ethical code of the University of Belgrade.

2) It is necessary to continue the discussion on the possibility of establishing a permanent employment relationship for teachers at Universities in Serbia before the election to the title of full professor. This can be arranged either linearly, by lowering the possibility of establishing a permanent employment relationship already at the time of selection to the position of docent or associate professor or by certain segments, for example with general subjects such as foreign languages. In this way, the pressure to advance to the rank of full professor with the basic motive of establishing a permanent employment relationship, which is often accompanied by the absence of the necessary motivation to continue a scientific career, would be reduced. On the other hand, in such circumstances, it would be possible to tighten the conditions for obtaining the highest title since it would be freed from the social component of permanent care for teachers (because this would already be solved with some of the lower titles).

Also, the possibility of permanent employment earlier would motivate high-quality students to stay at the university, since we are now increasingly in a situation, especially at technical faculties, that the best students go to the labor market, where they get far more favorable conditions when establishing an employment relationship, both in terms of finances and and in terms of establishing a permanent employment relationship.

In the end, establishing a permanent employment relationship in the late forties or fifties leads to a kind of infantilization of those who are in positions lower than regular professor, which seriously violates their dignity and labor rights.

Comparative analysis of the procedure for advancement to higher positions and the establishment of an employment relationship at Universities in Croatia and Serbia

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The Network of Academic Solidarity and Engagement (MASA) initiated the development of a comparative analysis of the procedure for promotion to higher positions and the establishment of an employment relationship at Universities in Croatia and Serbia. 

The goal of this report, authored by Dejana Nešić, is to guide us in the procedure for advancing to higher positions and establishing an employment relationship at Universities in the Republic of Serbia and the Republic of Croatia. In the final part of the report, the method and procedure of obtaining the title and establishing the employment relationship of the teachers of the University of Belgrade and the University of Zagreb are comparatively analyzed through answers to the key questions:

1) How is the initiative for teacher advancement launched?

2) Who is responsible for making a decision within the selection procedure? (within this part of the analysis, both procedures are described in more detail and parallels are made in Croatian and Serbian legislation)

3) Does the teacher, upon receiving the title, base the employment relationship on a fixed or indefinite period?

You can find the report at the following link.

MASA is organizing a forum with the aim of starting a discussion on the possible reform of legal acts and university regulations

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Networks of academic solidarity and engagement (MASS) invites you to the forum on the occasion of our intention to start a broad discussion on the possible reform of legal acts and university regulations that regulate the manner, procedure and minimum conditions for obtaining a title and establishing a working relationship as a teacher at the University of Belgrade (and other universities in Serbia). The immediate reason for the reform of the procedures and conditions for elections to positions and the establishment of an employment relationship at the University of Belgrade are the increasingly frequent cases of elections in which various irregularities come to light. Many of these cases end up in public and in the courts, which causes damage to both individuals and the University of Belgrade. These problems often arise as a result of the vagueness and even contradictions of the procedures related to the selection to the profession. The goal of the possible reform would be to reduce vagueness, contradictions, abuses and damage caused to individuals, and thus to the University of Belgrade.

The forum will be held in Tuesday, 15.3.2022. year at 6 p.m. in Club Polet (Cetinjska 15, Belgrade).

Mountaineers:

  • Danilo Vuković, associate professor of the Faculty of Law
  • Vladimir Mikić, General Secretary of the BU Rectorate
  • Iva Draškić Vićanović, Dean of the Faculty of Philology

We will discuss the following topics:

1) Amendment of the Law on Higher Education and the rulebook regulating the method and procedure for obtaining the title of teacher at the University of Belgrade (key change - Ethical and disciplinary responsibility for the abuse of the selection process; mandatory explanation of the decisions of all participants (decision-makers) in the selection process in the profession), etc..

2) Amendment of the Law on Higher Education and the rulebook regulating the procedure for establishing a teacher's employment relationship at the University of Belgrade (key change - establishing a permanent employment relationship with the acquisition of a (first) teaching title)

3) Amendment of the rulebook regulating the minimum conditions for selection into teaching positions (key change – International recognition as a condition for promotion)

 

Support for Goran Marković

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Mreža akademske solidarnosti i angažovanosti (MASA) najoštrije osuđuje napade predstavnika aktuelne vlasti u Srbiji na našeg proslavljenog režisera, profesora emeritus Gorana Markovića. Kao predstavnici akademske zajednice posebno smo zgroženi nad činjenicom da je ovaj brutalni verbalni napad potekao od članice Univerziteta u Beogradu, profesorke Darije Kisić Tepavčević, trenutno na poziciji ministarke za rad, zapošljavanje, boračka i socijalna pitanja. Upravo ona bi morala da zna da kolegijalnost predstavlja jedno od osnovnih načela Kodeksa profesionalne etike Univerziteta u Beogradu, a koje je grubo prekršila svojom sramnom izjavom na društvenoj mreži Instagram.

Jedan od osnovnih motiva za formiranje naše organizacije, čiji je osnivački akt između ostalih potpisao i profesor Goran Marković, upravo je bila zaštita profesionalne etike i integriteta članova akademske zajednice. Od osnivanja naše organizacije ukazujemo na činjenicu da je sloboda javnog izražavanja mišljenja sve više na udaru nosilaca visokih državnih funkcija, sa ciljem omalovažavanja, ućutkivanja, pa i zastrašivanja pripadnika i pripadnica akademske zajednice.

Nažalost, ova konstatacija je danas aktuelnija nego ikada pre i vraća nas u neka prošla vremena kada su intelektualci javno sramoćeni, proganjani i zatvarani zbog svojih umetničkih dela ili stavova koje su iznosili u javnosti. Posle policijskog legitimisanja i nedavnih partijski ostrašćenih i neprofesionalnih uvreda koje je na račun Gorana Markovića izrekla ministarka u Vladi Republike Srbije Darija Kisić Tepavčević, ispod časti i dostojanstva lekarske struke, usledio je i sramotni tvit premijerke Ane Brnabić. Dok prva, kao epidemiolog, daje sebi za pravo da nekome postavlja „dijagnozu“, druga koristi zvanični tviter nalog kako bi pružila podršku opskurnim idejama o zidanju ludnica u koje bi se smestili neistomišljenici, sa profesorom Markovićem na čelu

Ostaje nam da se zapitamo kada će se sa verbalnog preći na fizičko zlostavljane kritički nastrojenih intelektualaca u Srbiji, kao što smo prethodnih nedelja imali prilike da vidimo na ulicama tokom protesta građana. Vređanje zdrave pameti od strane premijerke Vlade je nažalost postalo konstanta u Srbiji. Međutim, posebno je poražavajuće brukanje lekarske struke zarad partijskih interesa od strane ministarke Darije Kisić Tepavčević uz iznošenje uvredljive anamneze i dijagnoze van kodeksa lekarske etike. To je ujedno i sramota Medicinskog fakulteta Univerziteta u Beogradu koji je završila i zato smatramo da ne zaslužuje zvanje profesora. MASA traži i od Medicinskog fakulteta, i Lekarske komore Srbije i Srpskog lekarskog društva zvanično ograđivanje od navedene izjave Darije Kisić Tepavčević, kao i oduzimanje licence dotičnoj od strane Lekarske komore Srbije.

Javnom linču našeg proslavljenog reditelja, da podsetimo, prethodilo je nakon brojnih sramotnih pritisaka predsednice UO Filmskog centra Srbije Jelene Trivan i poništavanje konkursa za sufinansiranje filmova eminentnih domaćih reditelja na kome je stručna komisija, između ostalih kandidata, predložila da se finansijski podrži film Gorana Markovića. Navedeno predstavlja atak na principe čestitosti, javnost i transparentnosti koje MASA zagovara u akademskoj zajednici i neguje u svom radu. Još opasnije međutim je to što se ovim narušavaju univerzalne vrednosti na kojima počiva svako demokratsko društvo u svetu, uz dostojanstvo profesije koje predstavaljaju. Bez kritike, poput one koje u svojim metaforama britko iznosi Goran Marković nema ni razvoja, ni naučnog ni društvenog. Što pre to shvate predstavnici vlasti u Srbiji biće im lakše da prihvate činjenicu da kritike neće prestati, ni dok su oni vlast ni kada dođe neka druga vlast a da će svaki pritisak samo rezultovati sve većim otporom, poput onog koji se proteklih nedelja prelio na ulice Srbije bez obzira na preduzete mere zastrašivanja javnosti.

Report on the activities of MAS on the occasion of the privatization of the Jaroslav Cherny Institute

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During the previous months, the network of academic solidarity and engagement actively participated in a series of activities related to the disputed privatization of the Institute for Water Management "Jaroslav Černi". Together with several organizations (Initiative Right to Water, Regulatory Institute for Renewable Energy and the Environment - RERI, Organization for the Preservation of Nature and Animals - OSNA) MASA carried out a series of activities on this issue. Among them we highlight:

Press conference CURRENT PROBLEM: Stop the privatization of the "Jaroslav Černi" institute. The press conference was held on November 1, 2021 in the Great Hall of the Media Center. At the conference, an appeal was presented as well as arguments for stopping this process and protecting the institute. One of the main goals was to point out that quality scientific analyzes and professional solutions in the field of water management are of inestimable importance for the whole society, bearing in mind the growing danger of natural phenomena, climate change (droughts and floods) and human negligence (water pollution , air and soil). As well as the fact that, combined with uncontrolled exploitation, illegal privatizations, theft of water and other natural resources, these dangers can cause a disaster.

It was pointed out that a prerequisite for the preservation and sustainable management of water resources, with respect for human rights in that area, are professional organizations with a proven reputation, professional integrity, business ethics, as well as independent experts who offer professionally correct and sustainable solutions.

They spoke at the conference:

  • Olga Nikolić, Network for Academic Solidarity and Engagement (MASA)
  • Iva Marković, Right to Water initiative
  • Jovan Rajić, Regulatory Institute for Renewable Energy and the Environment (RERI)
  • Branislav Božović, hydrogeologist - National Ecological Association (NEA)
  • Vesna Jakovljević, Organization for the Conservation of Nature and Animals (OSNA)

Professional discussion CURRENT PROBLEM: Privatization of the Institute "Jaroslav Černi" was held online (Zoom) on November 4, 2021. One of the main reasons for starting professional discussions is the lack of information in the public about why this institute should or should not be privatized, considering the activities it performs and considering the possible consequences of this privatization for society, especially related to water management and environmental care. Some of the questions raised during the discussion were: Why is "Jaroslav Černi" significant? Should it be declared an institute of strategic interest for the Republic of Serbia? What would we potentially lose as a society, and what would we gain through privatization? Is there any reason to worry that privatization would put this important institute at the service of private, instead of public interest? These were just some of the questions raised in the discussion. The following participated in the discussion: Prof. Dr. Čedo Maksimović, Prof. Dr. Zoran Stevanović, Dr. Milica Tomašević, Dipl. Eng. Veljko Dimitrijevic. The discussion was moderated by fat. philosophy Olga Nikolic.

You can watch the recording of the discussion here

In addition to the above, MASA, in cooperation with the aforementioned organizations, launched a petition signed by over 25,000 citizens. A group of organizations submitted a petition to the Ministry of Economy opposing the controversial privatization of the "Jaroslav Černi" Institute for Water Management.

Also, it was sent appeal to the population, especially the professional and academic public, to oppose privatization and stand up in defense of the public interest, water quality and natural resources for the sustainable future of the public health of the population of Serbia.

Finally, letters were sent to the competent institutions about the immediate suspension of the privatization of the Jaroslav Černa Institute: to the Government of the Republic of Serbia - Prime Minister Ana Brnabić, the Ministry of Education, Science and Technological Development - Minister Branko Ružići and the National Council for Scientific and Technological Development. The text of the petition and, at that moment, 22,347 online signatures of citizens were also submitted in the attachment of the letter.

Appeal for the suspension of the privatization of the Jaroslav Černy Institute

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During the month of October, MASA participated in several activities related to the invitation issued by the Ministry of Economy of the Republic of Serbia for the sale of the capital of the Institute for Water Management "Jaroslav Černi" AD, which the Right to Water initiative considers to be an unacceptable move considering the significance and importance of the independence of such an institution for the future of water quality, natural resources and health protection of the population of Serbia.
One of the activities referred to the appeal of the Right to Water organization to the professional and academic public to oppose privatization and stand up in defense of the public interest, water quality and natural resources for the sustainable future of the public health of the population of Serbia.
We invite you to join us to raise our voices together and appeal against this harmful process, for the benefit of the whole society.


Urgently stop the privatization of the Jaroslav Černy Institute!

Quality scientific analyzes and professional solutions in the field of water management are of inestimable importance for the whole society, bearing in mind the growing danger of natural phenomena, climate change (drought and floods) and human negligence (water, air and soil pollution). Combined with uncontrolled exploitation, illegal privatizations, and theft of water and other natural resources, these dangers can cause disaster.
A high percentage of water supply systems in Serbia have water that does not meet drinking standards, more than a third of water is lost in the distribution network, and a high percentage of the population, especially in suburban and rural areas, does not have access to healthy drinking water at all. Urban and industrial waste water without purification pollutes waterways. In terms of the degree and quality of wastewater treatment, Serbia is at the bottom in Europe, while at the same time the national top, for future wastewater treatment plants (WWTP) conditions the application of obsolete, dirty technologies and the hiring of a well-known contractor for the execution of most of these works.
A prerequisite for the preservation and sustainable management of water assets with respect for human rights in that area are professional organizations with a proven reputation, professional integrity, business ethics, as well as independent experts who offer professionally correct and sustainable solutions. They should work impartially, in conditions without pressure and without behind-the-scenes interference, non-transparent criteria and other elements of corruption on a wider scale. Unfortunately, we are witnessing that the recently submitted expert opinions of the leading scientific institutions about the projects that are currently being worked on are being ignored.

A large number of the most important hydrotechnical facilities and water management systems in the former Yugoslavia, as well as in a large number of countries in the world, were built in the previous decades with the help of experts from the "Jaroslav Černi" Institute (IJČ) in cooperation with leading scientific institutions and recognized experts in the country.
In the last few years, we have witnessed a drastic decline in the quality of infrastructure systems, the quality of the environment, especially water and air. This is largely caused by the collapse of the independence and professional level of the leading planning and design institutions and organizations, which are forced to work according to dictates, based on professionally unconfirmed criteria. State-funded jobs are awarded only to "eligible" or anonymous newly formed organizations, which replace vague qualifications with a high degree of servility. Such a fate, in the last few years, has not escaped even the IJČ, which recently approved several expertly unacceptable solutions, an example of which is the construction at the protected Maki source of drinking water.

Several projects of dubious purpose are currently being worked on at IJČ. An example is the recycling of the waste water treatment plant (WWTP) project for Belgrade in Veliki Selo, based on obsolete, outdated and overpriced, dirty technology. Instead of working with modern, ecologically superior, energy efficient, far cheaper, and for public health much better technologies, the decision makers non-transparently, illegally, took upon themselves the choice of technologies, which is the optimization job of professional designers and is not the same for all cities. Also, by directly imposing one contractor, the citizens of Serbia will have to pay back many times larger amounts of loans through public budgets. The initial estimated value of the necessary investments in the sewage system and WWTP for all cities in Serbia by the expert group funded by the EU, has drastically increased, without the necessary expert analysis, so that it has already reached 4 to 5 times the amount. For the purposes of daily politics, this amount is further arbitrarily increased, so that "investments in ecology" sound as impressive as possible.

The initial price of the privatization of IJČ is very shocking. For the sake of comparison, about 250 million euros are planned to be allocated for the National Stadium (also in the area of the source of drinking water in Surčinsko polje), and the most important public scientific institute in the field of water management is offered for "sale" for 2.5 million euros (1% investments for the stadium).
We fear that this privatization, until recently one of the few remaining unbiased institutions, opens up space for IJČ to be forced to develop and sign projects and solutions that an unbiased profession with its own integrity and professional ethics would never accept under regular circumstances and legal procedures.
Privatization will not solve the accumulated problems of urban water infrastructure, water management, environment, or the IJČ itself, but will complicate them many times over. Instead of public interest, expert knowledge will be put to the function of private profit, apparently of a non-transparent owner, from whom even less well-known real decision-makers are hiding. This policy will further erode the integrity of the profession and threaten the right of all residents to healthy drinking water and the environment.

The people of Serbia do not deserve it and do not accept it. The stake is too high and dangerous in many ways for several generations to come. On the basis of the arguments presented above, we request that the privatization process of the Jaroslav Černi Institute be suspended and that the decision-makers in Serbia create the conditions for the institute to operate under regular market conditions in which investments in water/water management systems are realized in accordance with the real needs and economic possibilities of society. , and they spend with the respected rules of the profession and business ethics. In this way, the Institute should continue to work unhindered, for the benefit of the public good and the interests of the citizens of Serbia.