151st anniversary of the Serbian Bar

The Serbian Bar celebrated its 151^st anniversary on March 2, 2013 in Belgrade. President Jean-Marie Burguburu attended the celebrations along with Messrs. Nenad Janicevic, Mihai Tanasescu and Sami Akl, all three UIA Regional Secretaries.

The afternoon was devoted to a discussion on “innovations in the criminal procedure code”, a highly topical issue in Serbia, while a restricted meeting had been convened concurrently at the initiative of the Thessalonica and Serbian Bar Presidents, Mr. Nikolaos Valergakis and Mr. Dragoljub ?or?evi?.

The aim was to discuss restoring the Union of the Balkan Bar Associations. Observing that the legal profession was under increasing pressure all over the world, a union of Bars from the same region could constitute a force of opposition that would make it possible to protect the fundamental principles of independence, autonomy and self-regulation as guarantees of the respect of human rights and the rule of law.

President Burguburu welcomed the idea with enthusiasm, assuring the various Bars present of the support of the Union Internationale des Avocats (UIA – International Association of Lawyers) in restoring the union, which has been inactive since 2006.