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OSCE and Council of Europe hold workshop on judicial reforms in Federal Republic of Yugoslavia
BELGRADE 10 April 2001
BELGRADE, 10 April 2001 - At a workshop held yesterday in Belgrade, the OSCE launched an assistance programme aimed at facilitating judicial reforms in the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia.
"Structural reforms take time and require funds," said Ambassador Stefano Sannino, Head of the OSCE Mission to the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia. "The international community is ready and willing to support the Yugoslav authorities in utilizing resources in the best possible manner in order to promote rule of law and improve human rights," he said and pledged full OSCE support to these reform efforts.
The discussion focused on the way to proceed with the much needed reform efforts, specifically identifying needs and priorities - all in order to strengthen an independent judiciary.
The OSCE assistance programme will include support for structural changes in the Courts and the Prosecutors Office, the eventual establishment of new institutions like the Ombudsman, training activities and prison reform. Assistance will also be provided to the government in identifying donors potentially ready to fund reform projects.
"The arrest of Milosevic shows that the Justice system is starting to function" said Gerard Stoudmann, Director of OSCE Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights (ODIHR). "But the transformation of the entire Judiciary to bring it up to European standards is a huge task which cannot be achieved overnight." He added that the reform of the Independent Judges Association of Serbia was "an important sign that the Judges are gaining more confidence and seek to strengthen their independence."
The workshop, jointly organized by the OSCE Mission to the FRY, the OSCE ODIHR and the Council of Europe, was attended and addressed by prominent government officials: the Assistant Federal Minister of Justice, Mr. Sarkic, the Serbian Deputy Minister of Justice, Mr. Ninkovic, and the Assistant Federal Minister of the Interior, Ms. Grupkovic - high-ranking judges and prosecutors - including the President of the Supreme Court of Serbia, Ms. Karamarkovic - as well as prominent representatives from the NGO sector and from the international community.The Workshop was also attended by representatives from embassies and donor organizations.
For more information, contact Stella Ronner, Spokesperson, OSCE Mission to the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia, tel.: + 381-11 3672 425 or fax: +381-11 3672 429 or Jens-Hagen Eschenbacher, spokesperson, ODIHR, tel.: +48-22-5200600 or +48-603 683 122 (mobile).
"Structural reforms take time and require funds," said Ambassador Stefano Sannino, Head of the OSCE Mission to the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia. "The international community is ready and willing to support the Yugoslav authorities in utilizing resources in the best possible manner in order to promote rule of law and improve human rights," he said and pledged full OSCE support to these reform efforts.
The discussion focused on the way to proceed with the much needed reform efforts, specifically identifying needs and priorities - all in order to strengthen an independent judiciary.
The OSCE assistance programme will include support for structural changes in the Courts and the Prosecutors Office, the eventual establishment of new institutions like the Ombudsman, training activities and prison reform. Assistance will also be provided to the government in identifying donors potentially ready to fund reform projects.
"The arrest of Milosevic shows that the Justice system is starting to function" said Gerard Stoudmann, Director of OSCE Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights (ODIHR). "But the transformation of the entire Judiciary to bring it up to European standards is a huge task which cannot be achieved overnight." He added that the reform of the Independent Judges Association of Serbia was "an important sign that the Judges are gaining more confidence and seek to strengthen their independence."
The workshop, jointly organized by the OSCE Mission to the FRY, the OSCE ODIHR and the Council of Europe, was attended and addressed by prominent government officials: the Assistant Federal Minister of Justice, Mr. Sarkic, the Serbian Deputy Minister of Justice, Mr. Ninkovic, and the Assistant Federal Minister of the Interior, Ms. Grupkovic - high-ranking judges and prosecutors - including the President of the Supreme Court of Serbia, Ms. Karamarkovic - as well as prominent representatives from the NGO sector and from the international community.The Workshop was also attended by representatives from embassies and donor organizations.
For more information, contact Stella Ronner, Spokesperson, OSCE Mission to the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia, tel.: + 381-11 3672 425 or fax: +381-11 3672 429 or Jens-Hagen Eschenbacher, spokesperson, ODIHR, tel.: +48-22-5200600 or +48-603 683 122 (mobile).