Aengus Ó Snodaigh (Dublin South Central, Sinn Fein)
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Question 250: To ask the Minister for Foreign Affairs if his attention has been drawn to the new human rights watch report on Kosovo, which describes the criminal justice system as a crisis in which there is rampant impunity for crime, particularly hate crimes; the implications these findings have for the future status of Kosovo; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [21715/06]

Dermot Ahern (Louth, Fianna Fail)
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I am aware of the report on the criminal justice system in Kosovo published by the Human Rights Watch NGO on 30 May 2006. As the Deputy is aware, the report, which looks primarily at the criminal justice response to the March 2004 violence in Kosovo, identifies general shortcomings in policing and the judiciary in Kosovo. The report is also critical of the effectiveness of the various international agencies tasked with overseeing the criminal justice system.

Ireland and our EU partners have been aware for some considerable time that there are shortcomings in the rule of law in Kosovo. The failure to bring to justice many of those responsible for the March 2004 violence was already a cause for concern. In his comprehensive review of the situation in Kosovo, prepared at the request of the UN Secretary General, and published in October last year, Ambassador Kai Eide of Norway was frank in his critical assessment of the situation. He reported that the rule of law in Kosovo is hampered by a lack of ability and readiness to enforce legislation at all levels, and recommended that a transfer of competencies to the Kosovo police and judiciary would require a firm oversight, intervention and sanctioning policy, as well as the continued presence of international police and judges with executive powers in sensitive areas.

Correcting the shortcomings identified by Ambassador Eide will be a particular priority for the international community. In that context, I welcome the Human Rights Watch Report as a valuable contribution to the consideration that I and my EU colleagues will be giving to the approach that we should adopt to this problem.