Thaci: Serbian judges, prosecutors integrated into Kosovo justice system

Kosovo's president, Hashim Thaci, in support of constitutional and legal competencies, in accordance with the Prosecutorial Council proposal today, has by decree appointed 40 judges and 13 new state prosecutors from no majority.

The president, after the oath-taking ceremony, has congratulated all new prosecutors and judges, offering them support in their daily work.

Kosovo is built on constitutional principles, all involvement, equality and the freedom of each individual. Kosovo has adopted adequate measures to promote a full and effective equality among members of communities in all areas of economic, social, political and cultural life”, Thaci stressed.

He has said that the decree of judges and prosecutors from non-major communities fully reflects Kosovo's multiethnic nature.

According to him, Kosovo has consistently made and is reforming the judicial and prosecutorial system, with the sole goal of the judiciary and the prosecutorial system functioning as well.

We have also had support from our international friends on this journey, who we thank. Judges and prosecutors have a major role in the lives of citizens, in realising their rights and in ensuring equal access to justice, regardless of their gender, racial, religious and national distinction”, the president has added.

He has told young judges and prosecutors that “on your shoulders is a great responsibility, the responsibility that I fully trust you will know to keep, while the citizens of our country will feel themselves safe and equal before the 34x1> law.

I welcome your readiness to integrate into the Kosovo judiciary and work in accordance with Kosovo legislation. Also, I welcome your readiness that the prosecutor's post, respectively, will be exercised in honour, responsibility and impartiality, respecting professional ethics rules”, President Thaci has said.

The Kosovo Judiciary Council and the Kosovo Prosecutorial Council, in accordance with their constitutional and legal responsibilities, have considered their proposal to raise the number of judges and prosecutors from non-communal communities, as defined by the Constitution, the Law for Protection from discriminatory and Justice Agreement reached in Brussels on February 10, 2015, which is the continuation of the agreement ratified by the Assembly with Law No. 04/L-199.

Their decree is also one of the affirmative measures the institutions of the Republic of Kosovo undertake to achieve a full and effective equality of members of communities in all areas of life, economic, social, political and cultural life.

The oath includes full implementation of the Justice Agreement reached in Brussels on February 10, 2015.