U.S. AMBASSADOR URGES JUDGES TO PROMOTE INDEPENDENT JUDICIARY

( Editorial: --> 4773 ) ZAGREB, May 18 (Hina) - The Association of Croatian Judges (UHS) has an important role to play in the independence of the judiciary, United States Ambassador to Croatia William Montgomery said in Zagreb on Monday following a meeting with Association president Vladimir Gredelj. For the existence of a true democracy it is absolutely vital to have an independent judiciary, Montgomery said following the talks. UHS officials used this first meeting with the US Ambassador to inform him of the Association's aims and programmes, but they also discussed future cooperation. We see the Association of Croatian Judges as a vital element of this process and we will offer every support to the UHS's efforts to improve the education, equipping and independence of the Croatian judiciary, Montgomery said. I have suggested that we organise several members of the Association to visit the United States in order to be acquainted with our judicial system and meet American judges, he said. Montgomery expressed satisfaction that the UHS will work with the American Bar Association's Central and East European Law Initiative (CEELI), a non-government organisation which helps the judicial systems of countries in democratic transition. Even though the meeting was organised at the invitation of UHS, the American Ambassador expressed a wish to be directly informed about the situation in the judicial authorities and the programme aims of the Association, Gredelj said. He said the Association wanted the American and other ambassadors to receive first-hand information, and not second-hand. The UHS was formally established in April 1991, while a new leadership was elected in December last year when a new president was named. The Association - whose aims include independence and autonomy of judicial authorities, education of judges and promoting constitutional and legal order - is in the phase of constituting several permanent working bodies, vital for its work. Gredelj said it was foreseen that five committees would be established including those for personnel issues, education, publishing, public relations and normative activities. He said the UHS also wanted to be included in European and world associations of judges and steps had already been undertaken to achieve this. (Hina) mb /lm 181825 MET may 98