Borchardt: Equality before the law for all people in KiM

PRISTINA - Head of the EULEX Mission in Kosovo-Metohija (KiM) Bernd Borchardt has said that there are no secret indictments in KiM, as the mechanism of secret indictments does not exist in the Kosovo legal system, adding that a democratic society has two basic principles - presumption of innocence and equality before the law.

Commenting on the March 12 incident, when a group of citizens stormed the Zubin Potok police station and freed Slobodan Sovrlic, who is suspected of major crimes, Borchardt told Thursday's edition of Belgrade daily Blic that Sovrlic was placed in custody in Zubin Potok upon an arrest warrant, not because he was on a secret list.

Sovrlic has to face justice, he will be interrogated fairly and be given an opportunity to present the case before the court, Borchardt said.

It is up to the locals to decide whether they will cooperate and support their security forces, the EULEX head believes.
He is certain that the majority both north and south of the Ibar River would like to have a functional and fair system based on the rule of law, in which everyday issues would be solved quickly and efficiently.

This incident is not acceptable for the region that is striving to become a part of Europe. Serbian Prime Minister (Ivica) Dacic condemned the incident in the harshest terms, the EULEX head said.

EULEX is here because the EU believes that north Kosovo, and also entire Kosovo, have future. However, the future will be uncertain as long as some people take the law into their own hands, Borchardt said.

Serbian Prime Minister Ivica Dacic last week condemned the forcible freeing of Serb Slobodan Sovrlic from the police station in Zubin Potok, stressing that there must be order.