A/HRC/10/74 Page 16 The delegation stated that, in two cases, it was established that the attacks were not politically motivated, which was confirmed by one of the journalists as well. Montenegro expressed its willingness to protect media freedoms and commitment to investigating fully all the cases of attacks on journalists. 63. Montenegro stated that, by the end of 2008, the Government will submit to Parliament the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities and the Optional Protocol thereto for ratification. 64. The delegation emphasized that judges are not appointed by political bodies but by the Judicial Council, an autonomous body composed mainly of judges. The financial status of judges has significantly improved, and through the Judicial Council the judges may exert influence on the designing of the budget for the work of courts. 65. Montenegro reported that, with regard to cases of prosecution of war criminals in Montenegro, agreements of cooperation have been concluded with the authorities in Croatia and Serbia. This cooperation has resulted in joint work with regard to four war-crime cases. For the case of Morinj, charges have been brought against 6 people for war crimes. The trial is scheduled for 26 January 2009. The second case concerns deportation and an ongoing investigation of nine people. The delegation emphasised that the highest-ranking officers from the police from that period of time are included in the indictment, including the Deputies Ministers for the Interior and Public Security at the time. The Minister was not included because he died before the prosecution started. This case is in the stage of investigation, a number of witnesses are being heard, and the delegation expected this investigation to be finished very soon. With regard to the third case, Kaludjerski Laz, the charges have been brought proposing that 8 people be detained for war crimes against civilians. Seven are in detention while the eighth person is in hiding, and the delegation expected the hearing to be scheduled. A fourth case, known as Bukovica, concerns the procedure against seven people charged with crimes against humanity. Work on this criminal case has been a result of international cooperation and legal assistance. Regarding deportations, the delegation noted that Montenegro is peacefully resolving this issue with the families of the deported individuals and expected the process to end soon and which will include compensation to the families. II. CONCLUSIONS AND/OR RECOMMENDATIONS 66. In the course of the interactive dialogue, the following recommendations were made to Montenegro: 1. Consider early ratification of the Optional Protocol to the Convention against Torture and Other Cruel, Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or Punishment and the establishment of an effective national preventive mechanism accordingly (Czech Republic); ratify the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities and the Optional Protocol thereto as well as the Optional Protocol to the Convention against Torture (Croatia); give serious consideration to the ratification of the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (Mexico); 2. Submit its reports to the relevant treaty bodies in due time (Ukraine); 3. Maintain its efforts to continue reaching a higher level of human rights standards with regard to the issues of freedom of the media, functioning of the judiciary and the situation of refugees (Turkey);