In a special ceremony staged at President’s Residence today, Kosovo Constitutional Court judges took their oath before the President of the Republic of Kosovo.
The ceremony was attended by the Speaker of Kosovo’s Parliament, Jakup Krasniqi, Prime Minister Hashim Thaçi, the International Civilian Representative (ICR), Peter Feith, Head of EULEX, Yves de Kermabon, and other representatives of Quint countries’ embassies in our country.
President Sejdiu said that the Constitutional Court of Kosovo is a very important institution for Kosovo and all its citizens. He said that the Constitutional Court is concluding the important cycle of building the vital institutions in Kosovo.
Expressing his consideration for judges selected by the Parliament of Republic of Kosovo and international judges appointed by the ICO, President Sejdiu said that he strongly believes in the work, energy and knowledge of all the judges that were selected.
“They will serve Kosovo, its citizens and justice and they will adhere to the highest legal act of our country in a principled and impartial manner. They will be an important compass of Kosovo constitutional actions and development” – President Sejdiu said.
On the other hand, the International Civilian Representative, Mr. Feith, highlighted the importance of the completion of Kosovo’s institutional landscape and congratulated the selected judges on their appointment.
“Today we mark the inauguration of the last pillar of Kosovo’s institutional landscape. By taking their oath, the judges of the Constitutional Court of Kosovo pledge to be impartial readers and protectors of the Constitution” – he said.
Mr. Feith mentioned that he has promulgated the Constitution of the Republic of Kosovo on April last year, pursuant to President Ahtisaari’s Comprehensive Proposal.
He also said that that the Constitution of Kosovo was drafted with mastery and eloquence indeed and that it reflects the aspiration of Kosovo’s citizens to live in a free, democratic and multiethnic society that enjoys the respect of the world and thanked all those who were involved in its preparation and adoption.
Expressing his belief that judges will carry out their duties by always bearing in mind the trust that people of Kosovo have in them, he quoted Socrates regarding four things that belong to a judge: “to hear courteously, to answer wisely, to consider soberly, and to decide impartially.”
Following the speech of the International Civilian Representative in Kosovo, Mr. Feith, the Speaker of Parliament of Kosovo, Mr. Jakup Krasniqi, held a short speech, which was followed by the ceremony of oaths of duty taken by the judges of the Constitutional Court of Kosovo individually.
Below you may read the contents of the oath taken by the judges of the Constitutional Court of Kosovo:
“I solemnly swear that in performing duties as judge of the Constitutional Court of the Republic of Kosovo I shall uphold the Constitution of the Republic of Kosovo and shall perform the function of judge honourably, responsibly and impartially, respecting rules of professional ethics”.
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