PUBLICATION "INDEPENDENCE, IMPARTIALITY OF CRO. JUDICIARY" PRESENTED

ZAGREB, Jan 23 (Hina) - The publication "Independence and Impartiality of Croatian Judiciary" was presented at the Zagreb Law School Wednesday. The publication is a result of two-year-long collaboration between the Croatian Helsinki Committee (HHO), the Croatian Legal Centre (HPC), and the Canadian branch of the International Law Association on a project on the independence and impartiality of Croatian judiciary. The publication is a collection of questions and conclusions which have been discussed and adopted at numerous seminars and a conference held within the said project. The project is aimed at acquainting competent state institutions with a judicial reform strategy. Presenting the publication, HPC representative Ivo Josipovic said it was a unique project which contributed "to improving the quality of the Croatian judiciary." The president of the Canadian branch of the International Law Association, Michele Rivet, said Croatian and Canadian judges learning together and exchanging ideas was useful and effective. HHO president Zarko Puhovski said non-government organisations would continue going "against the tide" and exerting pressure on the government so that the judiciary could become truly independent and impartial. Puhovski said that the situation in the judiciary was improving, adding he believed the experience of the judges who took part in the project would positively affect the executive authorities and make them "take up their obligations in the reform of the judiciary." (hina) np sb