Former ABA President Promotes Professional Cooperation in Kosovo

August 2008

On June 19 and 20, former American Bar Association (ABA) President MichaelGreco visited Kosovo to participate in roundtable discussions hosted by the ABA Rule of Law Initiative (ABA ROLI) in cooperation with its local partners the Kosovo Chamber of Advocates (KCA), the Kosovo Judges Association andPristina University’s law faculty. The discussions, which included participants from each partner organization, addressed legal education and the regulation of the bench and the bar in the country.

During “Regulating the Bench and Bar in Kosovo,” issues related to the urgent need for the development of a regulatory bar in Kosovo and ethical standards for attorneys were addressed. Greco provided an American perspectiveon addressing bench-bar issues in the United States and he stressed the importance of effective cooperation between the ABA and legal education providers.

On day two, which hosted the “Kosovo Bar-Legal Education” roundtable, Greco stressed the importance of the rule of law, telling the judges and lawyers in attendance, “The system for regulating the ethical conduct of lawyers and judges in the United States, one where transparent and clear rules ofprofessional conduct are fairly and effectively enforced, is fundamental to preserving the independence of the judiciary.”

“It is in the KCA’s best interest to assist the law faculty in developing the very best possible program for legal education,” asserted Greco, “And thelaw faculty must also look firmly to its future in continuing to provide quality legal education to supply the needs of the people of Kosovo.”

For more information about the ABA Rule of Law Initiative’s work in Kosovo please contact David Sip at office@ceelikosovo.org.