UNMIK/PR/4

28 June 1999      

PRESS RELEASE

UNMIK Takes First Step in Creating New Judiciary for  Kosovo

PRISTINA- Today Mr. Sergio Vieira de Mello, the Special Representative of the Secretary-General, swore in a panel of seven legal experts to advise him on the appointment of new judges for Kosovo.
  Five members of the panel were selected from a list of jurists compiled by the OSCE and the Council of Europe and reviewed by the SRSG. They will advise him on the qualifications of individual applications received from candidates forwarded by the OSCE and others to be submitted in the future.  The panel will be in effect for an initial term of two months. First appointments of interim judges are expected within the week.
             “The appointments are an important step forward towards building  an independent and multi-ethnic judiciary for Kosovo,” said Mr. Vieira de Mello at the ceremony held in UNMIK headquarters. “It reminds us of the important adherence of the judiciary to two fundamental principles: upholding the law and non-discrimination. These two principles, endorsed in many international conventions, shall be the main pillars of Kosovo’s future judiciary….They are bound by internationally recognized legal standards and must be open and impartial towards every citizen in Kosovo, regardless of ethnicity, language or political affiliation.”
        Ultimately, the UN will be looking for judges and prosecutors for 29 first district courts and five second district courts.
        The panel will be guided by the UN Interim Administration’s goal to establish an independent, impartial and multi-ethnic judiciary with high standards of competence and professional ability.
Local Members of the panel are Mr Tadej Rodiqi (former President of  the Supreme Court of Kosovo); Mr. Fazli Balaj (former District Court Judge);  Mr. Aksic (former District Court Judge and General Prosecutor for Kosovo) and Mr. Crnovrsanin (former Supreme Court Judge for  Kosovo).
The international members are Milbert Shin (UNMIK), Michael Peterson (OSCE); Christa Meindersma, UN Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights.
 
In other news, the first contingent of UN International Police arrived yesterday in Pristina from the International Police Task Force in Bosnia and Herzegovina.  Thirty-five police officers from nine countries (Argentina, Bulgaria, Canada,  Chile, Estonia, Pakistan, Portugal Romania, US) are being briefed today.  During the week they will begin establishing the headquarters for the UN civilian police operation and will be posted as police advisers to each KFOR brigade.