British Embassy: We call for the integration of Kosovo's multiethnic population into the judicial system

The British Embassy in Kosovo today called for the integration of Kosovo's multiethnic population into the judicial system in order to strengthen public trust in the rule of law institutions in Kosovo, expressing concern over developments this week.

The embassy recalled that the United Kingdom welcomed the Justice Agreement reached in the Belgrade-Pristina dialogue in 2015, under which the structures in northern Kosovo were integrated into Kosovo's legal framework, with guarantees of significant representation for Kosovo Serbs.

It also noted that the UK viewed the mass resignations of judges, prosecutors and administrative staff in 2022 as a step backward that harmed the interests of Kosovo's citizens.

"We welcomed the long-standing response of the relevant professional bodies, which recognized the importance of ensuring that all communities in Kosovo have confidence in the judicial system, and we are therefore concerned by the developments this week. We call for the integration of Kosovo's multiethnic population into the judicial system in order to strengthen public trust in Kosovo's rule of law institutions," the embassy said in a Facebook post.

Several prosecutors and support staff from the Serbian community at the Mitrovica Prosecution Office submitted requests to withdraw the resignations they had filed in 2022. However, those requests were rejected by the Kosovo Prosecutorial Council, after which Acting President of Kosovo Albulena Haxhiu signed decrees on July 21 dismissing seven prosecutors from the Serbian community.

The German Embassy in Pristina told Kosovo Online yesterday that Kosovo, as a multiethnic society, must ensure that its judicial system reflects the country's ethnic diversity.

The embassy also expressed concern over the acceptance of the resignations of Serbian prosecutors after those resignations had previously been withdrawn.

Earlier, the European Union also stated that it was concerned about the decision to dismiss the Serbian prosecutors, saying that the move was incompatible with the rule of law.