OSCE Mission to Skopje helps judiciary become more effective in combating organized crime

SKOPJE, 16 June 2006 - Forty judges, prosecutors and other legal professionals learned specific practices and methods for applying international standards in combating organized crime during a three-day workshop which ended today in Struga.

"Combating organized crime cannot be a matter for the police alone," said Donald Bisson, Rule of Law Officer at the OSCE Spillover Monitor Mission to Skopje. "The proper functioning of rule of law structures is an integral component of the fight against organized crime. It also ensures that legal regulations and human rights are respected.

"Co-operation among countries and national institutions at the international and regional level are crucial for the success of such efforts," he added.

The workshop formed part of a project initiated by the Centre for Continuing Education of the Judges Association (CCE/MJA). It was supported by the OSCE Mission and the U.S. Department of Justice's Office of Overseas Prosecutorial Development Assistance and Training Programme.

Tanja Temelkoska-Milenkovic, Executive Director of CCE/MJA, said: "The issues discussed at the workshop are of key importance in building the competence of judges, prosecutors and defence lawyers. This will bring our country a step forward towards European integration."

The workshop focused on specific approaches to organized crime cases. Participants discussed the implementation of national legislation and the conduct of such trials in accordance with international standards.

A thematic brochure "Judicial Review" covering the seminar's topic was distributed among participants.

The country has ratified the United Nations Convention on Transnational Organized Crime, also known as Palermo Convention, and the Council of Europe Convention on Mutual Legal Assistance in Criminal Matters.

Forty more legal professionals will be trained at a second workshop later in July.