Minister: Rejection of amnesty bill "big problem"

BELGRADE The Brussels agreement cannot be implemented unless Pristina adopts a law on amnesty, Justice Minister Nikola Selakovic has warned. The Kosovo assembly in Pristina on Thursday failed to pass the bill. Minister: Rejection of amnesty bill "big problem" Speaking for the public broadcaster RTS, Selakovic said the problem was "much more serious than it appears, because the implementation plan for the Brussels agreement makes the adoption of the amnesty bill a prerequisite of many other commitments from both sides." "Without an amnesty law, I am afraid we cannot talk about full integration of courts and prosecutor's offices, we cannot talk about integration of police officers," said Selakovic. He said it seems like this move from Pristina will stall the implementation of the agreement, for which Serbia is in no way at fault, because it has fulfilled all its obligations. The justice minister said that any changes to the segments of the amnesty bill which are not related to the Brussels agreement are of no concern to Serbia, but that changes to the text that was agreed in Brussels are unacceptable. Selakovic explained that the amnesty bill is a technical piece of legislation which should guarantee a certain level of legal protection for Serbs and other non-Albanians and open the door to a reconciliation between Serbs and Albanians. "Failure to adopt the bill is a big step backwards. The bill guarantees amnesty for those who did not recognize the Kosovo Constitution, who have called to resistance and civil disobedience," he said. Commenting on the formation of an interim assembly of Kosovo in Zvecan, Selakovic said this was "not needed" and the Serbs in Kosovo "need to realize that they are in a very difficult position without support from Serbia, adding he does not see how the assembly will do anyone any good." Talking about EU accession talks which Serbia should begin by opening chapters 23 and 24 which deal with the judiciary and the rule of law, the minister said the country has already entered the screening process by working on judicial and anti-corruption strategies and is now preparing action plans. (Tanjug, file) RTS Tanjug

Minister: Rejection of amnesty bill "big problem"

Speaking for the public broadcaster RTS, Selaković said the problem was "much more serious than it appears, because the implementation plan for the Brussels agreement makes the adoption of the amnesty bill a prerequisite of many other commitments from both sides."

"Without an amnesty law, I am afraid we cannot talk about full integration of courts and prosecutor's offices, we cannot talk about integration of police officers," said Selaković.

He said it seems like this move from Priština will stall the implementation of the agreement, for which Serbia is in no way at fault, because it has fulfilled all its obligations.

The justice minister said that any changes to the segments of the amnesty bill which are not related to the Brussels agreement are of no concern to Serbia, but that changes to the text that was agreed in Brussels are unacceptable.

Selaković explained that the amnesty bill is a technical piece of legislation which should guarantee a certain level of legal protection for Serbs and other non-Albanians and open the door to a reconciliation between Serbs and Albanians.

"Failure to adopt the bill is a big step backwards. The bill guarantees amnesty for those who did not recognize the Kosovo Constitution, who have called to resistance and civil disobedience," he said.

Commenting on the formation of an interim assembly of Kosovo in Zvečan, Selaković said this was "not needed" and the Serbs in Kosovo "need to realize that they are in a very difficult position without support from Serbia, adding he does not see how the assembly will do anyone any good."

Talking about EU accession talks which Serbia should begin by opening chapters 23 and 24 which deal with the judiciary and the rule of law, the minister said the country has already entered the screening process by working on judicial and anti-corruption strategies and is now preparing action plans.