President of the Court of Bosnia and Herzegovina Ranko Debevec and his Deputy, Judge Davorin Jukić, of the War Crimes Section of the Court of Bosnia and Herzegovina Criminal Division, today in the Court of BiH held a meeting with ICTY Tribunal President Carmelo Agius, discussing current issues in BiH judiciary.

President of the Court of Bosnia and Herzegovina Ranko Debevec informed the ICTY President with the pace in the processing of war crimes cases, the plans of the Court of BiH, as well as the challenges that the institution expects on its path to Euro-Atlantic integrations. In that respect, a particular emphasis was put on strengthening the judicial independence, as the foundation of a democratic society, free from any external influence.

The meeting also discussed the importance and the role of the International Criminal Tribunal for the former Yugoslavia (ICTY) in the establishment of the War Crimes Section in the Court of Bosnia and Herzegovina. The importance of strengthening the local judiciary was particularly emphasized, as it shall fully take over the processing of war crimes cases after the end of the ICTY mandate.

The ICTY President stressed the key role of the Court of BiH in successfully prosecuting the most complex and sensitive war crimes cases, expressing his satisfaction with the Court of BiH contribution in combating impunity. In this regard, President Aguis gave strong support to the Court of BiH in further processing all cases within its jurisdiction.

The meeting ended in a conclusion that the two institutions have many years of successful cooperation that shall continue through the International Residual Mechanism, the legal successor of the ICTY.