Prishtina, 4 September 2022
The full speech of the Prime Minister of the Republic of Kosovo, Albin Kurti, in the joint conference with the Minister of Justice, Albulena Haxhiu, on the reform in justice and vetting in the judicial system:
Dear citizens of the Republic of Kosovo,
Dear journalists,
As the Government of the Republic of Kosovo, we have been committed from the beginning to the reform of justice, as the core of our governance, which was established by the victory, based on the main slogan “Employment and justice” or “Justice and employment”.
Therefore, we are here together with the Minister of Justice, Ms Albulena Haxhiu, to inform you about the reform in justice and vetting in the judicial system, in particular.
During this week, we were all shocked by the news about the crime that had an 11-year-old girl as its victim. In cases like these, the exercise of respect for human rights, compliance with the law, the pursuit of crime, the exercise of high state positions that have the obligation to prevent, namely, prosecute those who threaten the safety, well-being and physical integrity of citizens, loses its meaning.
When we understand that the perpetrator of the criminal offense was convicted of criminal offenses and found free, when the institutional chain responsible for criminal prosecution fails – the police, the prosecutor’s office and the court, then justice fails as well- while the citizen pays the bill.
The power that comes from the position of judge and prosecutor carries a great responsibility towards the citizen. To guarantee everyone’s rights and to strengthen the rule of law, the judge should act with wisdom and prudence. The judge should act professionally – therefore, his or her decisions are protected by the state itself through the independence guaranteed by the Constitution and by law.
Our judiciary, despite all constitutional guarantees, seems to be trying to prove the opposite. Accused and convicted of many criminal offenses, the rapist walks freely through the streets of Prishtina. The rapist is released after 8 months of imprisonment. The rapist is not rehabilitated. The rapist repeats the act. And the rapist even kills.
There is no alternative to vetting in the judicial and prosecutorial system. Even the actors of this system understand this, and even those who are more sceptical about vetting.
One thing must be mentioned: democracy, the rule of law and fundamental rights are the foundation on which everything else is built. And the system of control and balances between the powers, the wisdom of the voters, the citizens as a sovereign power which understands that it must maintain and preserve a healthy democracy, are the parameters of policies for building a democratic society and state.
On this wisdom and trust of the citizen, we have won our government, assuming the obligation to protect this foundation. On this, we built the idea of vetting, finding a basis in the best international principles, reflected in the Opinion of the Venice Commission.
In order to coordinate with all the political actors in the country, I have called meetings with the leaders of the opposition, so that the further work in the vetting process reaches full consensus. With the exception of the Democratic League of Kosovo, everyone has accepted the invitation and we have held meetings.
Now, when we have done our work professionally and in coordination with political actors, understanding that vetting is a product of the needs of society, i.e., the state, we place the process in the hands of the MPs of the Assembly of the Republic of Kosovo.
Dear citizens,
Faith in justice includes faith in the state – that the latter is in the function of protecting fundamental rights and freedoms, i.e., in the service of the citizen.
Understanding this, we have placed the justice reform in the rightful place, as a priority of the Government and the state. During 1 and a half years, we have approved the new policy for the operation of the prosecutorial system through the Law on the Prosecutorial Council of Kosovo, we have finalized it for the State Prosecutor and the Special Prosecutor’s Office. Moreover, we have operationalized the Commercial Court, we have voted in principle the Law on the Bureau for the Confiscation of Unjustified Assets. Our approach, as systematic as it is, has directly attacked wrong policies and established genuine principles, putting justice at the service of the citizen.
The work started cannot be finished without the vetting and ensuring that: institutions prevent crime; courts impose well-deserved sentences; prisons rehabilitate convicts, while citizens return their faith in law and order and feel safe – which the state has the duty to guarantee. We remain committed to this.
Now allow me to pass the floor to the Minister of Justice, Ms Albulena Haxhiu, for more information about the vetting process, and then, after this media conference, we will go to a meeting with the President of the Assembly of the Republic of Kosovo, Mr Glauk Konjufca, to whom we will hand over the relevant document, since now the MPs of the highest legislative body of our state take the further vetting procedure from the Government into their hands.
Thank you.
Last modified: September 5, 2022