ICC - ICC holds official meeting with UN Legal Counsel and Under-Secretary-General for Legal Affairs
Today, 25 January, 2010, high representatives of the International Criminal Court (ICC) met with Legal Counsel of the United Nations, Under-Secretary-General for Legal Affairs Ms Patricia O’Brien. The ICC President, Judge Sang-Hyun Song discussed with Ms O’Brien co-operation strategies between the ICC and the UN, especially in view of the upcoming Review Conference of the Rome Statute to be held in Kampala, Uganda, at the end of May, this year. The Legal Counsel also met with the ICC Prosecutor, Luis Moreno-Ocampo, and the Registrar, Silvana Arbia, to discuss matters of common interest.
President Song expressed his appreciation for the excellent relationship between the ICC and the UN, particularly for Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon’s ongoing support, and gave his assurance that the Court will maintain close contacts with UN Tribunals, reiterating an offer to host the residual mechanisms and archives of the ad hoc tribunals that are coming to a close. He also briefed the UN Legal Counsel on the current judicial activities of the Court and provided her with a summary of the outcome of the Eighth Assembly of the State Parties (ASP) and the state of the preparatory work for the Review Conference.
“The Rome Statute has joined the Charter of the United Nations and the Statute of the International Court of Justice as the third principal pillar on which the system of international justice is constructed,” said President Song. “As such, the United Nations and the International Criminal Court are inherent allies in the realisation and advancement of this system, and I am extremely glad to note such a close and strong relationship between the two institutions.”
Under-Secretary-General O'Brien briefed President Song about current co-operation issues and offered the United Nations' assistance to build up momentum for the Review Conference.
After the meeting with President Song, Ms O'Brien said: "Secretary-General Ban has a genuine interest in advancing the cause of international criminal justice, and in particular the ICC. In my meeting with President Song, I have reiterated the UN's strong support for the ICC. I have asked President Song how we can best assist the Court and the ASP to lay the foundations of a successful outcome of the Review Conference."
For this occasion, UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon requested the Legal Counsel to convey his warm personal regards to the ICC President, along with his assurances that the Court could always count on the strong support of the United Nations for its noble mission. In an address on 11 January, 2010, to the UN General Assembly, the Secretary-General urged the General Assembly to show resolve and determination in the fight against impunity, labeling the ICC the centrepiece of our system of international criminal justice. In this speech, the UN Secretary-General publicly announced that he will travel to Kampala in May to open the Review Conference in his capacity as Convenor.
Since the beginning of official ICC-UN co-operation in late 2004, the United Nations Office of Legal Affairs is the Secretary-General's designated point of entry for all ICC-UN related matters. The International Criminal Court and the United Nations
co-operate on the basis of a Relationship Agreement signed in 2004, as well as relevant General Assembly and ASP resolutions.
For further information please contact Ms Sonia Robla, Head of Public Information and Documentation Section at +31 (0)70 515-8089 or +31 (0) 6 46 44 87 26 or at [email protected].