"Too early for Serbs to work in EULEX courts"

JM State Secretary Slobodan Homen says that there are no conditions for the entry of Serbs and other non-Albanians into the EULEX judiciary. “EULEX has not defined the territory under the jurisdiction of the Kosovska Mitrovica court or regulations for its work,” he explained in Kosovska Mitrovica yesterday. "Too early for Serbs to work in EULEX courts" “According to new legislation, the Appeals Court in Nis has jurisdiction and it should be made clear where potential appeals to Kosovska Mitrovica court rulings should be addressed,” he said. “As there was no answer to these questions, which are not political but functional, the Serbian Justice Ministry has instructed judges and prosecutors not to apply for positions advertized by EULEX,” he said. Homen said that no agreement had been reached with EULEX representatives over the creation of a inventory commission, to be formed on a parity basis. “EULEX has yet to declare its position, so it’s unclear whether the commission will be formed, but I can’t say that it won’t happen,” he said. The state secretary explained that the ministry’s wish to form a commission was a sign of good will to address the innumerable problems facing the judiciary in Kosovo. “Of course, we expect an answer to three questions, to see what the court is like, who the judges will be and what their remit will be, and only then will we able to give our support or a negative response to any proposals regarding the formation of courts," he explained. Homen met with judges, prosecutors and judiciary employees in Kosovska Mitrovica to discuss the systematization of their jobs in the courts in Kosovo. “There’ll be no major redundancies in Kosovo, and I think the number of employees will be at the same level as before the decision on territorial organization was taken. That applies to Kosovo, but there will be job cuts in the Serbian judiciary,” he said. The state secetary said that he had informed judges and prosecutors in Kosovo that a competition had been called for the selection of all judges and prosecutors, and encouraged them to apply before the closing date in 15 days’ time. “It’s vital that the Serb judiciary functions in Kosovo. Under the new territorial set-up, the court in Kosovska Mitrovica is most important, and it has jurisdiction for the whole of Kosovo,” he said. Homen added that it was important that judges and prosecutors in Kosovo who applied, should live and work in the province. There are currently less than 40 judges and prosecutors living in Kosovo today, while, according to the Justice Ministry’s figures, prior to 1999, there were around 470 working in the judicial system overall.

"Too early for Serbs to work in EULEX courts"

“According to new legislation, the Appeals Court in Niš has jurisdiction and it should be made clear where potential appeals to Kosovska Mitrovica court rulings should be addressed,” he said.

“As there was no answer to these questions, which are not political but functional, the Serbian Justice Ministry has instructed judges and prosecutors not to apply for positions advertized by EULEX,” he said.

Homen said that no agreement had been reached with EULEX representatives over the creation of a inventory commission, to be formed on a parity basis.

“EULEX has yet to declare its position, so it’s unclear whether the commission will be formed, but I can’t say that it won’t happen,” he said.

The state secretary explained that the ministry’s wish to form a commission was a sign of good will to address the innumerable problems facing the judiciary in Kosovo.

“Of course, we expect an answer to three questions, to see what the court is like, who the judges will be and what their remit will be, and only then will we able to give our support or a negative response to any proposals regarding the formation of courts," he explained.

Homen met with judges, prosecutors and judiciary employees in Kosovska Mitrovica to discuss the systematization of their jobs in the courts in Kosovo.

“There’ll be no major redundancies in Kosovo, and I think the number of employees will be at the same level as before the decision on territorial organization was taken. That applies to Kosovo, but there will be job cuts in the Serbian judiciary,” he said.

The state secetary said that he had informed judges and prosecutors in Kosovo that a competition had been called for the selection of all judges and prosecutors, and encouraged them to apply before the closing date in 15 days’ time.

“It’s vital that the Serb judiciary functions in Kosovo. Under the new territorial set-up, the court in Kosovska Mitrovica is most important, and it has jurisdiction for the whole of Kosovo,” he said.

Homen added that it was important that judges and prosecutors in Kosovo who applied, should live and work in the province.

There are currently less than 40 judges and prosecutors living in Kosovo today, while, according to the Justice Ministry’s figures, prior to 1999, there were around 470 working in the judicial system overall.