On 22 and 23 November 2009, the Dutch Minister of Justice, H.E. Ernst Hirsch Ballin paid an official visit to Macedonia. The goal of the visit was to get acquainted with the developments in Macedonia pertaining justice, rule of law and home affairs and to agree on the future co-operation in these areas between the Netherlands and Macedonia. During the visit minister Hirsch Ballin, had official meetings with his counterparts in Macedonia, H.E. Mihajlo Manevski, Minister of Justice of Macedonia and H.E. Gordana Jankulovska, Minister of Interior of Macedonia. 



Minister Hirsch Ballin signed two official documents with his counterparts:

1)      A Letter of Intent with the Minister of Justice, Manevski, on the co-operation between  Ministry of Justice of the Republic of Macedonia and the Ministry of Justice of the Kingdom of the Netherlands concerning strengthening the Macedonian penitentiary system in line with the international and European standards.

2)      A Memorandum of Understanding with the Minister of Interior, Jankulovska, on the non-operatiopnal co-operation between the Dutch Ministry of Interior and Kingdom Relations and the Ministry of Justice on the one hand and the Ministry of Interior of the Republic of Macedonia on the other hand in the fields of law enforcement, crime prevention, public order and public safety, and improvement of  police quality.

In the framework of the visit, Minister Hirsch Ballin also visited the Supreme Court, the Academy of Judges and Prosecutors, the Idrizovo prison and the Old Town of Skopje.

At the Supreme Court, Minister Hirsch Ballin participated at the promotion of the Case Recognition and Referral Manual for judges and public prosecutors, which was realised in the framework of the Dutch funded Alternative Dispute Resolution project, implemented by IFC.  On this occasion, Minister Hirsch Ballin addressed the audience with a speech on mediation. He emphasised the advantages that the society and the judicial system could have from this form of dispute resolution. “In the Netherlands, mediation has been able to flourish without top-down pressure and formal directions. Mediation has developed not only as a quality instrument for dispute settlement. It also has had an enormous catalytic effect on the way society and the judicial system now deal with conflicts”, said Minister Hirsch Ballin. 

At the Academy of Judges and Prosecutors, Minister Hirsch Ballin gave a lecture on the importance of the quality and independence of the judiciary to senior and junior judges and prosecutors as well as candidate judges and prosecutors who are currently trained at the Academy. “The reforms, by which Macedonia currently seeks to safeguard the quality and independence of the courts and tribunals, constitute criteria for accession to the EU, because they are essential to the cooperation between EU Member States in many areas. It is, however, evident – and you will undoubtedly be aware of this – that these reforms are in the first place important to your own citizens, enterprises, and Macedonia’s investment climate. In short, for your own country“, said Minister Hirsch Ballin. 

At the Idrizovo Prison, Minister Hirsch Ballin had the opportunity to visit the premises of the prison, meet with the prisoners and hear about the plans of the Macedonian Government for the reconstruction and refurbishment of this prison and the other penitentiary institutions in the country. The co-operation between the Dutch and Macedonian Ministry of Justice will contribute to strengthen the Macedonian penitentiary system in line with the international standards.

Finally, Minister Hirsch Ballin had the opportunity to visit the Old Town, where he met with the Mayor of the City of Skopje and the mayors of the Cair and Centar municipality, the representatives of the Traditional Association of traders/craftsmen from the Old Town (ESNAF) and the Board for the Revitalisation of the Old Town. During his visit Minister Hirsch Ballin acquainted himself with the multi-ethnic character of the Old Town, including its vibrant economic sector and the cooperation between the three municipalities to promote and to revitalise this historic part of the city of Skopje. 

Download the speech Minister Hirsch Ballin gave at the Academy of Judges and Prosecutors:
 English,  Macedonian,  Albanian
Download the press declaration issued by the Ministry of Justice of the Kingdom of the Netherlands on the Visit of Minister Hirsch Ballin (in Dutch)  here.