Montenegro does not view the judgments of the European Court of Human Rights (ECHR) as judgments "against" itself, but rather as a mechanism for strengthening the legal order and protecting citizens' rights, Minister of Justice Bojan Božović announced today.
The Ministry of Justice announced that Božović met in Podgorica with the President of the ECHR, Marko Bošnjak, during his official visit to Montenegro.
"The meeting was an opportunity to exchange views on key issues of the rule of law, judicial independence and the fight against corruption, as well as important topics in the field of human rights," the statement said.
The Ministry of Justice added that Božović expressed satisfaction with the visit of Bosniaks to Montenegro, as well as with his election to the top position of the ECHR.
"He particularly emphasized the importance of the election of Judge Ivana Jelić as Vice President of the Court, emphasizing that this is confirmation of her undoubted qualities. The Minister emphasized that the presence of people from Southeast Europe in key judicial positions in Europe is of great importance, not only for them personally, but also for the countries they come from, because it further strengthens trust in judicial institutions and the legal order based on European values," the statement reads.
The Ministry of Justice said that during the meeting, Božović emphasized Montenegro's commitment to European values and the system of human rights protection based on the European Convention on Human Rights.
"In this context, he recalled that Montenegro ratified Protocol 2023 to the Convention in February 16, which further strengthened cooperation with the European Court," the Ministry of Justice said.
Božović said that Montenegro believes that all ECHR judgments must be respected and implemented without delay, and that such practice should exist in all member states of the Council of Europe.
"Regardless of different opinions in political and legal debates, the supremacy of the European Convention and its authority through the case law of the European Court must not be called into question," said Božović.
The Ministry of Justice announced that after the amendments to the Law on the Budget of Montenegro for 2024 were established, the Government concluded that the conditions had been met to fulfill its positive obligation to execute specific undisputed final and enforceable court decisions made in favor of other former employees of the aforementioned bankrupt company, on the basis of which claims were recognized in the bankruptcy proceedings.
The government department stated that during the meeting, Bošnjak also referred to the celebration of the 75th anniversary of the European Convention on Human Rights this year, emphasizing its key importance for the protection and promotion of human rights throughout Europe.
Božović said that the political will to implement the ECHR rulings in Montenegro has never been questioned, regardless of the economic or political implications of those rulings, and that the state does not view them as rulings "against" itself, but rather as a mechanism for strengthening the legal order and protecting the rights of citizens.
"During his visit to Montenegro, the President of the European Court of Human Rights will meet with the heads of the judicial and legislative branches," the Ministry of Justice said.
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