Pano: Albania needs to clean justice system

23/11/2011 00:00

Nikolla Pano, Professor at the Western Illinoi University, says that the
legal system in Albania needs de-politicization and removal of
unqualified people.

In an interview for VOA, the history professor declared that without this reform, Albania’s EU integration will be delayed.

“The legal system is one of Albania’s biggest legal problems. I think that the roots of this problem start before the elections of 2009. This is one of the radical problems of post communist transition”, Pano declared, listing the problems of this system.

“But what are these difficulties? First of all, there is the need to de-politicize the legal system. It is necessary to appoint qualified legal experts in leading positions. For example, it is regrettable that there are so many difficulties in choosing the Supreme and Constitutional Court members”, Pano underlined.

According to him, the problem derives from unqualified and corrupted judges, and the constant job transfer of others.

“When you see that some judges or legal experts approach to important matters in a periodical way, or when some judges are involved in corruption, it undermines the credibility of the legal system. In Albania there are judges that do not seem qualified for the posts that they hold”, Pano emphasized.

The professor then greeted the positive cooperation signals were given by the biggest parties after two years of political stalemate.

“I am encouraged by the recent developments in Albania. There seems to be an interest for ending the political stalemate that has created so many difficulties in the country. I am happy that the Socialist Party now seems committed to participate in the Parliament and many commissions. I think that it is too soon to give a definitive judgment on this matter, but at least we have positive signs for the moment”, Pano declared.

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