Based on the Articles 11, 12, 22 and 78 of Law on Associations (Službeni Glasnik RS 51/09), the Assembly of the Center for Protection of Natural and Cultural Heritage of Kosovo and Metohija- MNEMOSYNE adopted at the session held on December 14th 2010 in Belgrade, in the facilities of the Center, Studentski Trg 13, the following:
Article 1.
The Center for Protection of Heritage of Kosovo and Metohija-MNEMOSYNE is association of citizens established for the territory of Republic of Serbia and who are associated on the voluntary basis and of free will under equal conditions.
The Center for Protection of Heritage of Kosovo and Metohija-MNEMOSYNE was established with the objective to help the conservation and prevent further destruction of complete heritage of Kosovo and Metohija in accordance with regulations and legislation of Republic of Serbia and international community, in the field of protection of natural and cultural heritage.
The Center for Protection of Heritage of Kosovo and Metohija-MNEMOSYNE will perform its activities in compliance with the Resolution No. 1244 of the Security Council of UN, dated 20 June 1999, as well as with the Regulation No 1999/22 dated 15 November 1999 on establishing, registration and activities of non-governmental organizations in Kosovo and with other regulations that directly or indirectly refer to protection of natural and cultural heritage in Kosovo and Metohija.
Article 2.
This Statute sets the objectives and tasks, methods and ways of their realization, mutual rights, commitments and responsibilities of its members, organs and other bodies, representation, acquiring, using and managing of financial means as well as all other matters that are of importance to the Center for Protection of Heritage of Kosovo and Metohija – MNEMOSYNE.
Article 3.
Full title of the association is Center for Protection of Heritage of Kosovo and Metohija – MNEMOSYNE (hereinafter referred to as the Center).
The headquartes of the Center are in Belgrade.
The Center shall perform its activities in the territory of the Republic of Serbia, particularly at Kosovo and Metohija.
Article 4.
The Center is a legal person with the rights, obligations and responsibilities based on regulations and legislation under Art. 1, paragraphs 2 and 3 of this Statute.
Article 5.
The Center has a seal which is round and a stamp which is square containing inscription in Cyrillic alphabet: Центар за очување наслеђа Косова и Метохије – MNEMOSYNE, as well as in English: Center for protection of natural and cultural heritage in Kosovo and Metohia – MNEMOSYNE.
The Center has a nine letters logo MNEMOSYNE graphically designed.
Article 6.
The Center shall help, stimulate and coordinate activities of its members in realization of common objectives and tasks and in accordance with this Statute.
Article 7.
The Center has the following objectives:
In accordance with these objectives the Center has the following tasks:
Article 8.
In order to meet the common needs and interests, the plans and programs of work in the Center shall be adopted.
Article 9.
The activities of the Center as well as of its bodies and organs shall be public.
Article 10.
The Center shall take necessary steps to make its work public and to constantly inform its members about all the topics covering the work of the Center, decisions and other acts adopted by the Center.
In order to better and more completely inform the members of the Center and other interested parties, public media may be used as well as publications belonging to the Center (bulletins, information papers, journals, newspapers, reports and similar publications).
Article 11.
No data shall be published and presented that are defined as classified by the law, as well as data that a general act of the Center defines as such.
Public statements in the name of the Center by a member shall be made with the approval of the Board of the Center.
Article 12.
The Center is open for initiatives, suggestions or remarks concerning the protection of heritage made by an interested party or any other subject.
The body which has discussed the suggested initiative, suggestions or remarks from para.1 of this article shall inform the proposing party on its decision.
Article 13.
The Center is a voluntary, professional, non-governmental and non-political association in the field of heritage protection in the territory of Republic of Serbia, which during the realization of objectives and tasks set by the Article 7 of this Statute shall take such steps as are necessary to organize co-operation and mutual assistance among experts in all aspects of protection in the country and abroad, as well as with the scientific and professional institutions in the country, related professional associations and organizations, and with other similar associations and movements.
Article 14.
The Center may become member of a related regional or international scientific and professional organization or association, in a form and according to the procedure prescribed by laws of Republic of Serbia.
The decision on applying for membership in organizations in Paragraph 1 of this Article shall be made by the Assembly.
Article 15.
Membership in the Center is on a voluntary basis.
The members of the Center shall be assigned to following categories:
a) Regular Members
b) Associate Members
c) Members - Donors
a) Regular Members shall be persons or legal persons from the territory of Republic of Serbia that abide by the objectives and tasks of the Center as set in the Article 7 of this Statute.
The status of the Regular Member may be assigned to a person who is professionally or scientifically engaged in protection of natural and cultural heritage, i.e. a person particularly interested in the protection of heritage of Kosovo and Metohija, regardless of said person’s race, gender, religious beliefs, nationality, age, sexual orientation or physical abilities.
The status of Regular Member may be also assigned to a legal person offering support to the objectives and tasks as set by the Article 7 of this Statute and showing particular interest in the activities for protection of heritage of Kosovo and Metohija.
b) Status of Associate Members may be assigned to persons or legal persons having interest in and supporting the objectives and tasks as set in the Article 7 of this Statute.
Associate members have the right to participate in the work of the Assembly.
Associate Members may be persons who are not citizens of Republic of Serbia, or legal persons with headquarters outside of Republic of Serbia.
c) Status of Members - Donors may be assigned to persons or legal persons who do not restrict their donations by imposing purposes or any other intentions on the Center.
Article 16.
With the exception of Member - Donors, all persons or legal persons wishing to become members of the Center shall make application in writing and send it to the Board of the Assembly of the Center.
The Board shall consider all the applications and accept or reject them exclusively according to criteria cited in the Article 15, subparas (a), (b), and (c), without discrimination of any kind, and informs the Assembly of the Center at the next meeting.
Membership of the Center shall not be available to any person or legal person not acting in accordance with international conventions and national legislation on protection of heritage.
Article 17.
The member earns the membership rights upon the acceptance of the application.
Article 18.
If an application for membership is rejected by the Center, the applicant may seek review of the decision by the Assembly of the Center as the second-instance organ.
Decision by the Assembly shall be final and not subject to further appeal.
Article 19.
The membership shall cease if any of the following circumstances apply:
a) the member resigns in writing
b) the Assembly brings a decision on excluding the member.
Member of the Center may be excluded only in case when activities of a member are substantially incompatible with the objectives of the Center as set in the Article 7 of this Statute.
Article 20.
Article 21.
Each person being a Regular Member of the Center has a right for a single vote.
The legal person as a Regular Member has voting rights through the appointed representative.
Decision on the number of members – representatives of a legal person in the Assembly of the Center shall be decided by the Assembly on the occasion of accepting a legal person as a regular member, but the total number shall not exceed five persons.
Voting rights in the Assembly or in an organ or a body of the Assembly of the Center shall be set by this Statute.
Article 22.
The governance of the Center shall be in compliance with the principles and provisions set by the Constitution, Law and this Statute.
Article 23.
Article 24.
The decisions on establishing the Center, adoption of the Statute and Rules of Procedure of the Assembly and the Board shall be taken at the founding meeting of the Assembly.
The chairperson and members of the Board, chairperson and members of the Supervisory Board and the person that will legally represent the Center shall be elected at the same meeting.
Article 25.
The Assembly of the Center (hereinafter referred to as the Assembly) is the highest governing body.
The Assembly is constituted of all regular and associate members of the Center.
The Mandate of the Assembly shall not be limited, that is, it shall last as long as the conditions for the existence of the Center are present.
Meetings of the Assembly shall be convened at least once a year.
The meetings of the Assembly may be convened upon request of the Board or Supervisory Board, or upon request in writing by at least one quarter of Center membership.
The Chairing person shall be elected at every meeting of the Assembly.
Article 26.
A special (non-regular) Assembly meeting shall be held upon request of the Board, Supervisory Board of at least 1/3 (one third) of the membership of the Center.
Article 27.
The Assembly meeting will be scheduled at least one month in advance, with a written notice including the Agenda.
If the situation so requires, the notice can be distributed in a shorter period but not shorter than seven days.
Article 28.
Article 29.
The Assembly decisions are valid if one half plus one member of the total number of members of the Center is present at the meeting.
Decision shall be made by simple majority of votes of members present.
Decisions shall be made by casting open votes unless the Assembly decides differently.
Election of the candidates for the organs of the Assembly shall be by open votes cast unless the Assembly decides differently.
Article 30.
The Assembly shall act in accordance with its Rules of Procedure.
Article 31.
Each person - regular member of the Center may exercise a single vote. Each legal person – regular member of the Center shall designate in writing up to 5 representatives, each with one vote.
Representatives of the members unable to attend the meeting shall be authorized in writing to vote on behalf of the absent member and the chairperson of the meeting shall be advised on this before the commencement of the meeting. One person is entitled to represent up to two absent members.
Article 32.
If there is no quorum for the meeting of the Assembly as set in the Article 29 of this Statute, the meeting shall be postponed and new one convened in 15 days.
Article 33.
In case the Board does not convene the meeting in the set term, the proposing parties shall convene the meeting of the Assembly in compliance with the Procedure.
In case the regular annual meeting of the Assembly is not convened or over 12 months elapse from the previous meeting, the Assembly may be convened by other organs of the Center – Supervisory Board or an initiative group of members of the Center.
In case the Assembly is not convened in the period of 18 months, the mandate of the organs of the Center shall terminate and holders of offices lose the right and authority to represent the Center.
Article 34.
The Assembly may establish working bodies, boards, commissions, councils and the like for carrying out particular tasks.
Composition and objectives of working bodies shall be set more precisely by the Rules of Procedure of the Board and of Working Bodies of the Center.
Article 35.
The Assembly of the Center shall elect the Board from among its members.
Board of the Assembly of the Center (hereinafter referred to as the Board) is the governing body of the Assembly managing the work of the Center between the meetings of the Assembly.
The Board shall decide on all matters that are in its power, in accordance with this Statute, Law and business agreements.
The Board is responsible to the Assembly for its work.
Article 36.
The Board consists of a chairperson and 4 (four) members.
The chairperson and members of Board are elected for a term of four years, and are eligible for re-election.
Article 37.
Chairperson of the Board supervises the activities of the Board.
Chairperson of the Board represents and acts on behalf of the Center.
Article 38.
Person in charge of financial operations of the Center shall be elected from among the members of the Board for a term of four years and may be re-elected, with the function of Deputy President of the Board.
Member of the Board under para. 1 of this Article shall deputize for the chairperson of the Board in case of absence.
Article 39.
If a vacancy arises in the Board from whatever reasons, the Board may co-opt a member of the Center to fill the vacancy until the next meeting of the Assembly.
The mandate of the new elected member of the Board shall last till the term of the replaced member. This time shall not preclude such a member from being elected for the next consecutive term of the Board.
The number of co-opted members shall not exceed two.
In case more than two members of the Board need to be co-opted, the Assembly shall organize new elections for the Board.
Article 40.
Article 41.
Meetings of the Board shall be convened when the need arises, at least four times a year.
Article 42.
The quorum for the meeting of the Board shall be the two-third majority of the Board membership.
Matters shall be decided by majority of the total number of members of the Board.
The chairperson of the Board shall convene the meetings of the Board, and if this person is from any reason unable to do so, the member of the Board in charge of financial operations, who is in function of Deputy President of the Board, shall do so.
A meeting of the Board may also be convened by a group of at least three members of the Board. Besides the Board members, other members of the Assembly of the Center have the right to attend the meetings of the Board depending on the matters discussed.
The Board may, if the need arises, include in its work other experts than the members of the Board.
Article 43.
The Board shall appoint the manager of a project and transfer part of its powers to that person, except the function of giving financial orders unless the rules of the ordering party require a different arrangement.
Article 44.
In order to ensure control over the work of the Assembly, its organs and bodies, the Supervisory Board of the Center (hereinafter referred to as the Supervisory Board) shall be established.
The Supervisory Board consists of a chairperson and two members elected by the Assembly for a term of four years, eligible for re-election.
The Assembly shall elect the chairperson of the Supervisory Board. Person having a position in the Assembly, its organs and bodies shall not be elected chairperson of the Supervisory Board.
Persons who are not member of the Center are allowed to be members of the Supervisory Board.
Article 45.
The chairperson of the Supervisory Board shall convene meetings of the Board at least once a year and preside over its work.
Article 46.
Article 47.
The Supervisory Board has the right and duty to inform the Assembly, its organs and bodies on matters noticed and on its considerations in that relation, and to suggest implementation of appropriate measures.
The Supervisory Board shall, as is necessary, cooperate with the organs legally in charge of controlling the operations and finances.
The Supervisory Board may request documentation and other information and data necessary to acquire knowledge of the relevant facts.
Members of the Supervisory Board have the right to attend the meetings of the Board, but without exercising the voting rights.
Members of the Supervisory Board have an obligation to attend those meetings of the Assembly and the Board when the Agenda contains matters of financial-material operations to be discussed.
Article 48.
The Secretary of the Center shall be a person competent at carrying out all professional and administration jobs required by the Assembly and the Board. The Secretary is obliged to attend meetings of the Board without exercising the voting rights.
The Secretary shall receive payment of compensation for their work in the Center.
Rights and duties of the Secretary shall be set in compliance with the applicable law.
Article 49.
The Secretary of the Center shall be responsible for:
Article 50.
Material-financial funds for carrying out the objectives and tasks of the Center shall be provided and used in compliance with the applicable law and this Statute.
Article 51.
Article 52.
The Board shall approve the financial plan - budget for each calendar year.
The Board shall approve the balance sheet for every calendar year.
Financial operations and use of funds shall be in compliance with the laws in effect.
The chairperson of the Board is responsible for the lawful use of financial-material operations and in this the chairperson is helped by the member of the Board in charge of financial operations.
Article 53.
The Center shall keep all its funds on a giro-account with an authorized bank.
Article 54.
The Center has a duty to make its financial transactions available to public.
The public and the membership of Center shall be informed about financial operations of the Center through reports.
Article 55.
The Center may commission managing of financial operations and the book-keeping to a professional expert.
Article 56.
The Statute of the Center shall be adopted at the Founding Assembly of the Center.
The amendments of the Statute may be adopted at a regular annual meeting of the Assembly.
Article 57.
Each Regular Member of the Center, Board or another organ of the Center may propose amendments to the Statute in writing and with statement for reasons, or in cases prescribed by Law.
The proposal under para. 1 of this Article shall be sent to the Board at least 45 days prior to the date of the annual Assembly meeting.
The Board shall consider the proposal at least 30 days prior to the date of annual Assembly meeting and shall send the proposal to the Assembly together with its opinion in writing.
Article 58.
The Board may reject the proposal only in case when it is not in accordance with the objectives and powers of the Center or if no feasible proposal for changes and additions is given.
The Board shall inform the proposing party on the reasons for rejecting the proposal, as well as the Assembly at its next meeting.
Article 59.
The Center may be dissolved by the decision of the Assembly taken by the two-thirds majority of the members of the Center.
In case the quorum on such a meeting of the Assembly does not exist, a referendum shall be organized.
The Center shall be dissolved in case it does not completely abide by the objectives and powers set in the Article 7 of this Statute and in cases set by the Law.
The Decision on Dissolution shall be sent to the relevant state authorities.
Article 60.
In case of dissolution of the Center, its assets and funds will be transferred to the Museum Association of Serbia, as a legal person based in this country, with similar objectives and tasks as the Center.
Article 61.
The chairperson of the Board shall send a notice on dissolution of the Center within 15 days to the organ that registered it, in order to remove it from the register.
Article 62.
This statute shall become effective upon the day of its adoption and shall be applied from the day of verification by the organ in charge.
Article 63.
After this Statute becomes effective, the Statute from October 2000 becomes invalid.
Article 64.
The Assembly of the Center shall be in charge of giving authentic interpretation of the regulations of this Statute.
Article 65.
In case of issues not regulated by this Statute, the authority decisions shall be those outlined in the Law on Associations (Službeni Glasnik RS No. 51/09).
Belgrade, December 14th 2010.
Studentski trg 13
11000 Belgrade
Serbia
Tel/Fax: +38111/32-81-206
mnemosyne@open.telekom.rs
The reconstruction of Center Mnemosyne web-site in 2011 was financially supported by Serbian diaspora in Canada, led by Dr. Đorđe Hajduković from Montreal.
Center Mnemosyne wants to express their special gratitude.