Ljiljana Mijovic, a professor at the Faculty of Law in Banja Luka, won the Parliamentary vote with a clean majority. Her opponents for the position were the lawyers Ahmed Zilic, who got 35 votes and Zoran Pajic, but with only 35 and nine votes respectivly against Mijovic´s 84, there is little doubt that BiH has nominated the judge who will represent the largest majority of Bosnia and Herzegovina. Mijovic´s own comment to the daily Nezavisne Novine was that “with this result nobody loses”. Mijovic added that she does not feel as if she represents some parts of the population more than others. Instead, she will work for the equal interests of all citizens of BiH. Mijovic also took the opportunity to remind her fellow countrymen that the European Court for Human Rights is an independent institution, without connections with or influence over the International War Crimes Tribunal or the International Court of Justice, both in Hague. Similarly, the European Courth for Human Rights has no mandate to alter the Dayton Peace Agreement. For the people of BiH, usually focussed on the Hague Court and Tribunal, it is important to be aware that citizens of all the different groups within BiH can now apply to have their cases tried before the European Court for Human Rights.
The European Court for Human Rights has appointed its first BiH judge
Bosnia and Herzegovina has been given its first seat among the judges at the European Court for Human Rights. Professor Ljiljana Mijovic won the majority of the BiH Parliament`s votes and intends to represent her country throughout her six years´ appointment. (30-JAN-04)