TIRANA, Oct. 31 – To officially mark the start of the process, a ceremony was held this week at the premises where the work of the institutions responsible for the vetting of judges and prosecutors will take place.
Ambassadors of the European Union and the United States said it was an important day of hope for Albania.
The ceremony came on the same day that the Constitutional Court dismissed the last appeal of two judges associations, which had wanted elements of the justice reform laws declared unconstitutional.
Justice reform’s implementation comes after long period with many obstacles. Its adoption in parliament and then review in Constitutional Court were the last hurdles, and now the process of vetting 800 judges and prosecutors will take place.
The head of the Appeals Panel, Natasha Mulaj, said that the vetting bodies’ task is to regain the lost trust in the justice system.
“We are here to create all the necessary mechanisms to prove the contrary, to prove that very soon after the system is filtered and purified from individuals who have used it for gain,” she said.
The vetting process is considered as a key element to the justice reform. It aims to look at professional preparation, assets and possible links to the criminal underworld for justice system officials. Albanian institutions will conduct the vetting, supervised by international experts.
EU Ambassador Romana Vlahutin and U.S. Ambassador Donald Lu, two diplomats who have strongly supported the process hand have been personally committed to overcoming its obstacles, expressed joy at the start of work.
“We are extremely happy that today this process is formally launched. It is an important day for everyone in Albania,” Vlahutin said.
Ambassador Lu added: “Today is a day of hope for Albania”
