The newly elected president of the High Judicial and Prosecutorial Council of Bosnia and Herzegovina, Halil Lagumdžija, reiterated today that he would be maximally engaged in improving the situation in the B&H judiciary in terms of restoring confidence in the work of judicial institutions.
-My main goal will be to take all necessary steps to restore citizens' trust in an independent and impartial judiciary- said Lagumdžija during the break of a two-day session of the HJPC, a day after the election of the new leadership of that regulatory body.
Convinced that all members of the Council would work diligently in this area, Lagumdžija stressed the need to intensify activities in line with the recommendations of the European Commission and the findings of the reports by the experts.
He announced a committed engagement on the reform of B&H judiciary, including the adoption of the HJPC reform program and a more effective fight against corruption and organized crime, the priorities set out in the European Commission's Opinion, as well as the adoption of amendments to the Law on HJPC.
-I will insist on the urgent adoption of amendments to the Law on the HJPC B&H- said Lagumdžija, emphasizing the need to establish a credible system of checking the property records of judicial office holders, improving the appointment and evaluation process, and strengthening accountability and integrity within judicial institutions.
Answering a journalist's question about expectations and why he thinks that the new convocation and presidency of the HJPC B&H will make a change and contribute to improving the overall situation in the judiciary, Lagumdžija reiterated that he personally wants to do everything for the B&H judiciary to move in a positive direction.
He emphasized that in order to achieve that goal, he will seek full cooperation of partners and competent institutions in BiH, as well as the international community.
-We will do everything it takes to unblock these processes and move in a positive direction- Lagumdžija said explicitly, expressing his belief that the new leadership of the HJPC would find a way to respond to all the problems that currently burden the B&H justice system.