OSCE Mission supports Judges Association of Serbia co-operation with European counterparts

BELGRADE, 23 June 2008 - The Judges Association of Serbia, with the support of the OSCE Mission, took part in a meeting of the European Association of Magistrates for Democracy and Freedoms (MEDEL) in Bucharest over the weekend.

The event was an opportunity for Serbian judges to exchange experiences and strengthen co-operation with their European counterparts. The MEDEL managing board also decided at the meeting to grant the Judges Association membership.

"We welcome this success of the Association. We believe that it will further strengthen the development of independent and responsible judiciary, which is the cornerstone of any state based on the rule of law," said Ruth Van Rhijn, the Head of the Rule of Law and Human Rights Department at the OSCE Mission to Serbia.

The Judges Association of Serbia (JAS) aims to strengthen communication and co-operation between Serbian judges to enhance professional knowledge and skill. The non-governmental organization, supported by the OSCE Mission to Serbia, includes 1,700 judges from all over the country.