PRISTINA, Oct. 24 (Xinhua) -- The pledge of Belgrade and Pristina expressed under the European Union (EU)-facilitated dialogue marked a significant step ahead on Tuesday after Kosovo leader Hashim Thaci decreed 53 new Serb judges and prosecutors, in line with an agreement reached in Brussels back in February 2015.
On Tuesday, 40 judges and 13 prosecutors from the Serb community took the oath in Pristina, which effectively marked the full implementation of the agreement on judiciary, and has an objective of unifying the disintegrated judicial system of Kosovo.
The deal envisages the integration of the judicial system of Kosovo Serbs, mainly from the disputed Serb-majority area in the north of Kosovo, which includes four municipalities -- Mitrovica North, Zvecan, Zubin Potok and Leposavic -- which so far have been operating under a parallel judicial system, backed by Serbia.
The deal was reached then between the leaders of Serbia and Kosovo, a southern province, and once again reconfirmed in August this year in Brussels by Serbia's President Aleksandar Vucic and the leader of Kosovo Hashim Thaci after a joint meeting they had with EU foreign policy chief Federica Mogherini.
According to a press release issued by the press office of the Kosovo "president", decreeing the Serbian judges and prosecutors was one of the affirmative measures taken by Kosovo institutions in order to reach full and efficient equality of the communities, including economy, society, politics, and culture. Thaci noted that the decree of judges and prosecutors from non-majority communities fully reflected the multi-ethnic character of Kosovo.
The initial ceremony of decreeing Serb judges and prosecutors on Oct. 17 failed after Serbian judges and prosecutors did not appear at Thaci's office.
The oath-taking ceremony was held without media present, and after the ceremony, Judge Miroslav Ivanovic said that nothing was extraordinary, adding, "We are professionals and we will just resume work. We are part of a certain group that knows how to do their work and the oath is part of the work, nothing exceptional."
Maja Kocijancic, spokesperson for Mogherini, issued a statement Tuesday after Thaci decreed 40 judges and 13 state prosecutors from the Serbian community.
"An integrated judiciary representative of all communities in Kosovo is a critical feature to ensure that justice is delivered, on behalf of the whole population. A representative judiciary and a uniform implementation of Kosovo law will further rule of law as a key public service and a critical incentive for economic growth and investments," said Kocijancic.
Kosovo is a southern province of Serbia, which unilaterally declared independence in 2008. Serbia refuses to recognize the independence.
