President calls for judicial reform

President Boris Tadic said in Belgrade on Wednesday that a thorough and structural reform of the court system is needed in Serbia to fight crime and corruption. “The reform of the court system is important for building of state institutions, establishment of a civil and democratic society, and a condition for the complete reform process which needs to lead to a better quality of life, and a society that will become a member of the EU in the formal sense,” Tadic said during a presentation of new judicial laws. President calls for judicial reform He said that implementing the rule of law and legal security was fundamental for a modern, democratic society and was the prerequisite for tackling corruption and crime. “Without success in these fields, there is no chance of Serbia becoming an EU member,” Tadic said, adding that it was in Serbia’s essential interests for society to change in terms of quality and values, and that the process of judicial reform was most important in this respect. Tadic said that without these reforms there would be no foreign investment, no security for new jobs, and no stable legal order which was the basis for equality and prosperity for all society and its citizens. “The rule of law is the key to the functioning of the economy and society,” he said. “When someone says that they are for economic progress, but do not support the rule of law, the criminal prosecution of everyone who has committed a criminal act, that means that they do not support economic progress for society and the citizens,” Tadic warned. He said that in order for society to be stable, there must be a stable legal foundation because there was no chance of society’s further democratization without legal reforms and an awareness of the supreme importance of the rule of law and the implementation of a system of values that ensured the existence of a united civilization in the region. The president highlighted the large number of unsolved cases, the policies of lenient sentencing, and the fact that many citizens complained of corruption as examples of the most problematic characteristics of the court system in Serbia. "I consider it unacceptable that there are 4,300 criminal cases under the statute of limitations, with court processes taking up to 20 years, while there are some led against court officials," he continued. "I am raising my voice of warning because of the danger and jeopardy for the society's foundations due to a lenient penal policy," Tadic said, and mentioned that if convicted, drug traffickers face prison terms of two to 12 years. The president also said that fight against corruption must ensue on all levels of society, "irrelevant of party or family ties". Tadc addresses the gathering today (Tanjug)

President calls for judicial reform

He said that implementing the rule of law and legal security was fundamental for a modern, democratic society and was the prerequisite for tackling corruption and crime.

“Without success in these fields, there is no chance of Serbia becoming an EU member,” Tadić said, adding that it was in Serbia’s essential interests for society to change in terms of quality and values, and that the process of judicial reform was most important in this respect.

Tadić said that without these reforms there would be no foreign investment, no security for new jobs, and no stable legal order which was the basis for equality and prosperity for all society and its citizens.

“The rule of law is the key to the functioning of the economy and society,” he said.

“When someone says that they are for economic progress, but do not support the rule of law, the criminal prosecution of everyone who has committed a criminal act, that means that they do not support economic progress for society and the citizens,” Tadić warned.

He said that in order for society to be stable, there must be a stable legal foundation because there was no chance of society’s further democratization without legal reforms and an awareness of the supreme importance of the rule of law and the implementation of a system of values that ensured the existence of a united civilization in the region.

The president highlighted the large number of unsolved cases, the policies of lenient sentencing, and the fact that many citizens complained of corruption as examples of the most problematic characteristics of the court system in Serbia.

"I consider it unacceptable that there are 4,300 criminal cases under the statute of limitations, with court processes taking up to 20 years, while there are some led against court officials," he continued.

"I am raising my voice of warning because of the danger and jeopardy for the society's foundations due to a lenient penal policy," Tadić said, and mentioned that if convicted, drug traffickers face prison terms of two to 12 years.

The president also said that fight against corruption must ensue on all levels of society, "irrelevant of party or family ties".