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The Government of the Republic of Serbia

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Ministry of Justice signs protocol on cooperation with CoE Legal Affairs Directorate

Belgrade, 8 October 2004

Serbian Minister of Justice Zoran Stojkovic and Director General of the Council of Europe's Legal Affairs Directorate Guy de Vel signed today a Protocol on cooperation, which envisages offering financial and expert assistance to the Serbian Ministry of Justice, as well as in the preparation of key laws which will complete the Serbian legislation.

Guy de Vel (L) and Zoran Stojkovic sign Protocol on cooperation

Author: Fonet

Following the signing ceremony, Stojkovic said that it was agreed at the meeting that Serbia has made a big step forward in judiciary reform. The remaining problems are linked to the adoption of a new constitution, whose preparation is underway.

The Minister said that new laws have been adjusted to the draft constitution, which is currently being examined. If necessary, changes can be introduced later so that the constitution could be harmonised with European and international standards.

CoE Legal Affairs Director General Guy de Vel said that much has been done in the field of judiciary reform in Serbia. He stressed that cooperation with the Serbian Ministry of Justice was very good.

He said that the CoE is always ready to offer assistance, and added that the Venetian commission will do everything to speed up preparation of the Serbian constitution, which both sides defined as a priority.

The second most important thing is establishing an independent judiciary. To that end, it is very important to complete the laws on which the CoE has given its expert opinion. These include the laws on courts, judges, and the prosecution.

These laws should be completed by late October, according to the Ministry of Justice. Guy de Vel said that it is also important to adopt a number of criminal judiciary laws, which would regulate issues such as the fight against corruption and money laundering. The cooperation between the CoE and the Ministry is excellent in this field as well, said de Vel.

The CoE Legal Affairs Directorate is ready to offer support to the Ministry in the implementation of the judiciary reform strategy, which was discussed at a conference held in Belgrade on October 6 and 7, and organised by the Ministry and the World Bank.

The participants in the conference agreed to accept the basic directions of the judiciary reform strategy. Certain changes, which are a result of the two-day discussion at the conference, will be introduced.

The coordinating team for strategy implementation of the Ministry of Justice will prepare proposals of concrete projects for the realisation of strategic tasks in the judiciary reform. The participants in the conference agreed to propose the best model for managing donors’ assistance for projects to be realised.

Representatives of international organisations and Serbian judiciary bodies, who took part in the conference on judiciary reform, expressed satisfaction with its results.

Stojkovic announced that a Ministry delegation will pay an official visit to Strasbourg on October 28 and 29, with the aim of further improving cooperation between the Ministry and the CoE.

Stojkovic recalled that in the latest CoE declaration, judiciary and legislative reforms in Serbia were highly praised. He voiced hope that comments in the next declaration will be even better.