Skopje, 3 January 2024 (MIA) — After being reinstated as Judicial Council president on Wednesday following an Administrative Court ruling annulling the 2023 decision for her dismissal, Vesna Dameva said the ruling was "the first step forward to instilling hope that justice is achievable."

"I deeply hope and expect this to be the start of restoring public trust in the judiciary," Dameva said, adding: "I am for the truth no matter who is telling it. I am for justice no matter who it is for or against."

"I would also like to highlight the support given to us by the EU through the report of the peer review mission, which detected all the conditions and weaknesses of the Judicial Council," she said, adding that report should serve as guidance for all members.

Asked how she expected her Judicial Council colleagues to behave toward her, Dameva said a mistake had been made, but it was corrected by the Administrative Court ruling.

She added that she did not expect any of the members to obstruct the work of the Judicial Council. "This is not Parliament to have a silent boycott. This is the Judicial Council and it has ways, mechanisms and activities it should implement so I expect the Judicial Council to continue working without any obstructions," Dameva said.

"Anyone obstructing its work, failing to act or not attending sessions will be subject to a legal procedure and sanctioned," she noted.

The legitimacy of the Judicial Council, according to Dameva, was not in question, given that the decision to dismiss her was not unanimous.

"Any member of the Judicial Council is subject to dismissal, but this means a legally implemented procedure and a method laid out by law," she said. mr/