Q:
A:
Serbia to get new, modern constitution
Belgrade,
30 September 2006
Serbian Minister of Justice Zoran Stojkovic said today that he is pleased with the proposal of the new constitution, adding that Serbia will shortly get a good and modern supreme legal act.
Stojkovic explained that the new constitution introduces certain novelties such as constitutional complaint and stressed that one chapter is dedicated to human rights protection, which rounds up the part on the protection of individual and collective rights.
Unlike other modern countries in which many rights are taken for granted, we have regulated them all, explained the Minister to the press following a two-hour telephone conversation with citizens.
As for the remark that there was no public discussion about the constitution, the Minister said that when it comes to the part of the constitution dealing with the judiciary, there have been lots of discussions and consultations with experts.
He recalled that the government forwarded the first draft constitution to Serbian parliament in 2004 and many roundtable discussions were held throughout the country dealing with this matter. Domestic and foreign experts were consulted and the Venetian Commission and the Council of Europe also gave their opinion and recommendations, he added.
Following the talk with citizens, Stojkovic said that apart from two complaints he received which refer to corruption and pressure exerted on the judiciary, all other refer to the incompetence and inaction of judges in process.
Judges have been given independence but they do not realise that it also implies responsibility, said Stojkovic and added that there is much to be done to solve this issue in future.
In answer to reporters’ questions regarding the judicial part of the new constitution, Stojkovic said that the draft constitution contains the principle of judicial independence that will be enabled through the formation of an independent body for electing judges.
He explained that the principle includes the possibility to legally define the reasons for a cessation of a judge’s term of office, which will also include the criterion of responsibility.
Unlike other modern countries in which many rights are taken for granted, we have regulated them all, explained the Minister to the press following a two-hour telephone conversation with citizens.
As for the remark that there was no public discussion about the constitution, the Minister said that when it comes to the part of the constitution dealing with the judiciary, there have been lots of discussions and consultations with experts.
He recalled that the government forwarded the first draft constitution to Serbian parliament in 2004 and many roundtable discussions were held throughout the country dealing with this matter. Domestic and foreign experts were consulted and the Venetian Commission and the Council of Europe also gave their opinion and recommendations, he added.
Following the talk with citizens, Stojkovic said that apart from two complaints he received which refer to corruption and pressure exerted on the judiciary, all other refer to the incompetence and inaction of judges in process.
Judges have been given independence but they do not realise that it also implies responsibility, said Stojkovic and added that there is much to be done to solve this issue in future.
In answer to reporters’ questions regarding the judicial part of the new constitution, Stojkovic said that the draft constitution contains the principle of judicial independence that will be enabled through the formation of an independent body for electing judges.
He explained that the principle includes the possibility to legally define the reasons for a cessation of a judge’s term of office, which will also include the criterion of responsibility.
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