UNMIK/PR/1037
Tuesday, 23 September 2003

SRSG Harri Holkeri designates Mr. Peter Pavlin as the Presiding Member of the Special Panel on the Law on Access to Official Documents

PRISTINA – The SRSG has designated Mr. Peter Pavlin, a Council of Europe expert, as the presiding member of the Panel that will consider the objection of the POVRATAK Coalition to the Law on Access to Official Documents.

Mr. Pavlin is a Senior Counsellor at the Ministry of Justice in the Republic of Slovenia. His fields of expertise include criminal law, constitutional law, personal data protection and freedom of information. He has worked frequently as a consultant for the Council of Europe advising, drafting legislation and giving lectures on human rights and criminal law.

The other two members of the Panel are Mr. Nenad Trifunovic, representing the POVRATAK Coalition, and Mr. Ilir Dugolli, representing the Government as the sponsor of the Law. The Panel will commence its work today and is expected to complete its work before the end of the week.

Pursuant to section 9.1.39 of the Constitutional Framework, members of the POVRATAK Coalition have submitted an objection to the Law recently adopted by the Assembly on Access to Official Documents on the grounds that provisions of the Law violate the vital interests of the Kosovo-Serb Community. The Government as the sponsor of the Law submitted a response. The special three-member Panel is now seized of the matter, pursuant to section 9.1.42 of the Constitutional Framework. It will issue a decision with recommendations to the Assembly. The decision of the Panel must be supported by a majority of its members.