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The Government of the Republic of Serbia

In the service of citizens

Ministry of Justice crucial partner of Council of Europe in judiciary reform

Belgrade, 16 February 2005

Serbian Minister of Justice Zoran Stojkovic talked today with Director of the Directorate-General of Political Affairs of the Council of Europe Marc Scheuer and newly-appointed Special Representative of the Secretary General of the Council of Europe for Serbia-Montenegro Stefano Valenti about the results of cooperation carried out so far and priorities for future projects.

Zoran Stojkovic

Minister Stojkovic said that he is satisfied with the level of cooperation with the Council of Europe, especially with the organisation's experts, who have made a significant contribution to the process of harmonisation of Serbian legislation with European standards by submitting opinions, objections and suggestions to the texts of new laws. He said that some good proposals from Strasbourg could not be accepted due to a lack of conditions for their implementation in Serbia, first of all because of insufficient funds.

Marc Scheuer stressed that the Serbian Ministry of Justice is the crucial partner of the Council of Europe in the process of reform of the judiciary and in the strengthening of the courts' independence. He pointed to the importance of the Memorandum on cooperation, which Minister Stojkovic signed with Director General for Legal Affairs of the Council of Europe Guy de Vel.

Special Representative of the Secretary General of the Council of Europe for Serbia-Montenegro Stefano Valenti said that cooperation with the Council of Europe has been improved and that the Ministry of Justice will receive all necessary assistance in the reform of judiciary in Serbia.

Participants in the meeting voiced hope that the text of the new constitution of Serbia will be harmonised soon and then adopted in the shortest time possible.