ZAGREB, Jan 28 (Hina) - The newly-appointed Justice Minister, Stjepan Ivanisevic described the situation in the ministry he took from former Minister Separovic today, as "not very positive". Addressing his first news conference in
capacity of Justice Minister, Ivanisevic said on Friday that his most important objectives would be to enhance the effectiveness of the judiciary and de-centralise the administrative system. He told reporters that he had inherited many problems and pointed to a great number of pending cases as well as a lack of means for the current costs of the work of courts. Ivanisevic added the new government was going "to give relatively high priority" to his ministry. He said he would advocate that announced cuts in salaries of state officials should not significantly affect the wages of judges. Asserting that judges are paid well he said citizens rightfully demand from
ZAGREB, Jan 28 (Hina) - The newly-appointed Justice Minister,
Stjepan Ivanisevic described the situation in the ministry he took
from former Minister Separovic today, as "not very positive".
Addressing his first news conference in capacity of Justice
Minister, Ivanisevic said on Friday that his most important
objectives would be to enhance the effectiveness of the judiciary
and de-centralise the administrative system.
He told reporters that he had inherited many problems and pointed to
a great number of pending cases as well as a lack of means for the
current costs of the work of courts.
Ivanisevic added the new government was going "to give relatively
high priority" to his ministry.
He said he would advocate that announced cuts in salaries of state
officials should not significantly affect the wages of judges.
Asserting that judges are paid well he said citizens rightfully
demand from courts to be more efficient.
"We must do our best to help a law-based state function to a larger
extent than before," he said.
Ivanisevic announced that after changes of the law on state
administration and the law on the organisation and jurisdiction of
ministries, the Justice Ministry would include the directorate for
state administration and local self-government.
Speaking of many problems, Ivanisevic said this situation was
caused also by frequent changes of ministers of justice. Upon
assuming the office I have not asked for mandates of assistants to
the minister. "I have placed confidence in them," said the new
Minister adding that the assistants must prove themselves in
carrying out tasks,
Ivanisevic said that after asking directly former Minister
Zvonimir Separovic about the alleged unauthorised prolongation of
a contract with U.S. lawyer David Rivkin on his representation of
Croatia before Hague-based courts, he had received the answer that
Separovic did not know of such contract. "This does not mean that
the contract does not exist," Ivanisevic said adding that he will
ask for that document in the government.
"If I partly succeed in accomplishing the goals I shall be very
contended," he said adding it would be "adventurous" to promise the
settlement of all accumulated problems in the judiciary in a short
period.
(hina) ms