ZAGREB, Jan 25 (Hina) - The Croatian Judges Association (UHS) on Monday assessed as inappropriate announcements of changes among top officials in the Croatian Supreme Court made by the spokesman of the ruling Croatian Democratic Union
(HDZ). HDZ spokesman Ivica Ropus last Friday spoke to reporters about a government reshuffle, as well as about changes among top officials in the Supreme Court and the State Attorney's Office. The UHS in a Monday statement most resolutely opposed this illegal bringing to account of the top judicial authority official. The UHS warned that such announcements, which prejudge changes among top judicial authority officials, "bring into question in the worst possible way the place and role of the judicial authority," and devalue the performance of the state panel of judges, which eventually "results in a further erosion of the judicial authority'
ZAGREB, Jan 25 (Hina) - The Croatian Judges Association (UHS) on
Monday assessed as inappropriate announcements of changes among
top officials in the Croatian Supreme Court made by the spokesman of
the ruling Croatian Democratic Union (HDZ).
HDZ spokesman Ivica Ropus last Friday spoke to reporters about a
government reshuffle, as well as about changes among top officials
in the Supreme Court and the State Attorney's Office.
The UHS in a Monday statement most resolutely opposed this illegal
bringing to account of the top judicial authority official.
The UHS warned that such announcements, which prejudge changes
among top judicial authority officials, "bring into question in the
worst possible way the place and role of the judicial authority,"
and devalue the performance of the state panel of judges, which
eventually "results in a further erosion of the judicial
authority's reputation."
The decision on whether the president of the Croatian Supreme Court
should stay or leave lies exclusively with the state panel of
judges, says the UHS, and demands that judicial officials be
relieved of duty in line with procedure.
The UHS also reminded that Croatia's legislation recognises
neither a Supreme Court president's resignation nor his political
accountability.
The UHS has called on all political factors to adjust their future
political activity with respecting the place and role of the
judicial authority as equal with others.
The statement, signed by UHS president Vladimir Gredelj, also warns
that such behaviour causes inestimable damage to both the judicial
authority and Croatia's international reputation.
Supreme Court president Milan Vukovic on Saturday said he put his
mandate on disposal, stressing he assumed his return to the
Constitutional Court would contribute to a more harmonious
performance of the Supreme and Constitutional Courts.
Vukovic recalled that in a recent address on the state of the nation
in 1998, Croatian President Franjo Tudjman said the entire judicial
system, headed by the Supreme and Constitutional Courts, must be
more harmonious in performance within Croatia's authority system.
In its Monday issue, daily paper "Vjesnik" reported state attorney
Marijan Hranjski could also be expected to hand in his resignation
in the near future.
"Vjesnik" mentioned rumours in judicial corridors about the
possibility of Constitutional Court president Jadranko Crnic's
resignation. The daily however stated that Crnic himself said he
would leave only at the expiry of his mandate later this year.
(hina) ha jn