NNA - Labor Minister Shakib Qortbawi on Wednesday said the state of law has no presence in the absence of an independent judicial authority.



The Minister represented President Michel Sleiman and Prime Minister Najib Mikati at the inauguration of the fourth congress of the AHJUCAF (L'association des cours suprêmes et cours de cassation francophones), titled "Ethics for Judges," at the Bar Association Headquarters.



Minister of Information Walid Daouk, Chairman of the Supreme Judicial Council Judge Jean Fahed and representatives of Lebanese officials attended the event.



Qortbawi said an independent Judicial authority cannot be present amid all possible laws, if there were no Judges endowed with necessary courage to practice sought independency.



"Judges have to go beyond their personal interests," he noted.



Concluding his word, the Minister expressed appreciation to the AHJUCAF and said that the Francophonie was not solely restricted to the French language but it was a reflection to the major moral values in our society.


==========================L.W.