The Kosovo Specialist Chambers have announced that they will not accept an invitation from Kosovo Ombudsperson Naim Qelaj to participate in a roundtable discussion on the findings and recommendations issued by his institution concerning the Specialist Chambers and the Specialist Prosecutor’s Office.
“The Specialist Chambers recall that Article 162, paragraph 11, of the Constitution of the Republic of Kosovo unequivocally recognises the Ombudsperson of the Specialist Chambers as having ‘exclusive responsibility for the Specialist Chambers and the Specialist Prosecutor’s Office.’
“The Specialist Chambers refer to the invitation received to participate in a roundtable organised by the Ombudsperson in Kosovo, Mr Naim Qelaj, on the topic of ‘The institution’s ex officio findings and recommendations concerning the Specialist Chambers and the Specialist Prosecutor’s Office.’ The Specialist Chambers wish to make clear that it would be inappropriate for them to accept this invitation,” their latest statement said.
In the statement, the Specialist Chambers said they had concluded that accepting the invitation would be inappropriate because, in their view, responsibility for overseeing and protecting the fundamental rights and freedoms of individuals who interact with the institution rests exclusively with the Specialist Chambers’ Ombudsperson, Pietro Spera.
