prijava
EAST SARAJEVO, May 24 (FENA) - Head of the European Union Delegation to Bosnia and Herzegovina, Lars Gunnar Wigemark, said today that the High Judicial and Prosecutorial Council of BiH (HJPC), an institution that has the function of overseeing the judiciary, cannot allow, by any means, even a hint of corruption in its work.
Therefore, any form of corruption is unacceptable, Wigemark emphasized, commenting on the footage published by the Žurnal investigative journalism portal, which links HJPC President Tegeltija with corruption and trading in influence in investigations.
Responding to a journalist’s question on this case, he stressed that corruption is one of the most serious problems that plagues the complete social structure in BiH, reminding of the fact that the EU currently supports numerous anti-corruption projects.
“What will be highlighted in the European Commission's Opinion on BiH are these topics that will emphasize the importance of having successful results in the processing of corruption cases at the highest level,” Wigemark stressed.
He points out that such successful processing of the cases would show that nobody is above the law and that every citizen must be equal before the law regardless of whether it is a high-ranking official or someone else.
The Press Office of the EU Delegation, in an opinion released to FENA, reiterated that the investigation of criminal charges against public officials is the responsibility of the competent prosecutors, noting that they cannot comment the prosecution's activities regarding allegations of criminal acts against individuals.
The Office underlines that BiH citizens deserve credible, responsible and independent court officials because an independent, impartial, responsible, professional and effective judiciary is a key feature of European standards that must be implemented in any country that aspires to become a member state of the European Union.
Commenting on the threats addressed to judicial institutions, Wigemark strongly condemned any form of threat or hate speech that is becoming increasingly omnipresent on social networks.
It is a direct opposition to European standards and values, he added, pointing out that in the countries of the European Union there is rhetoric that sometimes can be quite tense, but that is not particularly a good thing in a situation of political uncertainty.
He recalled that in seven months after the October parliamentary elections, there is no new convocation of the Council of Ministers or the Government of the Federation of BiH, and such circumstances could be misused.
What BiH needs, Wigemark stresses, is a professional and independent judiciary in which there is no political influence, and especially, the one that will be able to do its job without being subjected to threats and intimidation.
(FENA) S. R.
