UNMIK/PR/626
PRESS RELEASE - 17 August, 2001

Cady and Covic Discuss Justice

Today in Mitrovica, Jean-Christophe Cady, the Deputy Special Representative of the Secretary-General heading Pillar One, Police and Justice, met with Serbian Deputy Prime Minister Nebojsa Covic at the Mitrovica Detention Center to discuss the Kosovo judicial system and the ongoing hunger strike by 16 detainees.

Mr. Cady and Mr. Covic, who is head of the Coordinating Center for Kosovo, issued the following joint statement:

"We had a very productive meeting. Both sides came in an  open and constructive mood. Both sides sought concrete solutions to the issues behind the hunger strike, in order to end it.

"We also engaged in a wider discussion on how both UNMIK and the Serbian Ministry of Justice can contribute to improving further the judicial process and to build on the ongoing efforts to enhance the trust of the people in the judicial system.

"We also took the opportunity to reiterate the need to increase the number of Serb judges, prosecutors and lawyers in the ongoing efforts to build a multiethnic Kosovo judicial system, without creating parallel systems in Kosovo.

"Both the Serbian and UNMIK officials agreed that the goal was a multiethnic judicial  system for Kosovo, available to all communities on an equal and impartial basis.

"We agreed that the ongoing discussions  which started earlier this year on  practical matters  and further cooperation would continue in the near future."