Commissioner for Information of Public Importance and Personal Data Protection Rodoljub Šabić talked today with Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Internal Affairs Ivica Dačić about problems encountered in the implementation of the Law on Free Access to Information at the Ministry of Internal Affairs, about the pressing need to overcome those problems and about improving the relations between the Ministry of Internal Affairs and the public.
In this regard, Commissioner Rodoljub Šabić said:
"I am very pleased with today's talks. Mr. Dačić expressed his unqualified willingness to take all necessary measures as the Minister of Internal Affairs in order to overcome the - mostly inherited - problems concerning compliance with the Law on Free Access to Information, in particular as regards abiding by Commissioner's orders, which are binding under the law.
"Among other things, necessary measures include efforts to improve the internal organization of the Ministry of Interior, enhanced presentation of information about its operations on the Internet and, of course, cooperation with the Commissioner's office and staff education.
"During the talks, we specifically addressed the issue of compliance with orders and rulings passed by the Commissioner for Information. Underscoring his general commitment to unquestionably affirm the principle of legality in Ministry's operations, the Minister said such decisions were binding under the law for all organizational units of the Ministry of Internal Affairs and he confirmed his readiness to recourse to disciplinary action in the future should such orders and rulings not be observed.
"It is my firm belief that, by taking the anticipated measures, the Ministry of Internal Affairs can significantly improve the level of compliance with its obligations under the Law on Free Access to Information and enhance its public relation in general, which could have a number of positive effects. Practical reaffirmation of this commitment to strictly and properly comply with public communication requirements by the Ministry of Internal Affairs, by all accounts one of the major and largest government authorities, would undoubtedly set a good and important example for other public authorities to follow."
