Cyprus' firm support for the International Criminal Court was expressed by Cyprus' Permanent Representative to the UN in an intervention at the UN Security Council's high-level open debate on "Strengthening Accountability and Justice for Serious Violations of International Law", Ambassador Andreas Hadjichrysanthou on Thursday, 2 June.
As stated in a statement sent on Saturday by the Press and Information Office. Hadjichrysanthou addressed the UN Security Council on the principles of international law established by the Nuremberg International Military Tribunal at the end of World War II, such as individual accountability for crimes against humanity and accountability and war crimes, as well as the clear clarification of war of aggression, which is now an international crime, and added that since then the international criminal justice system for the indictment of persons responsible for acts of genocide, war crimes and crimes against humanity includes national courts, ad hoc international tribunals and, most importantly, the International Criminal Court.
Subsequently, it is noted that Mr. Hadjichrysanthou reiterated that the Republic of Cyprus, which is itself a victim of aggression without having achieved accountability of the perpetrator, remains a firm supporter of the ICC and stressed the need for full cooperation between the ICC and the UN including the referral to the ICC, by the UN Security Council, of cases of serious violations of international humanitarian and human rights law.
In addition, the Permanent Representative of Cyprus stated that the Republic of Cyprus supports the conclusion as soon as possible of an international convention on crimes against humanity on the basis of the Draft Articles of the International Law Commission. He recalled that the Republic of Cyprus had made a declaration of acceptance of the compulsory jurisdiction of the Court as early as 1988 and called on all UN Member States to do the same.
In conclusion, Mr. Hajichrysanthou noted that accountability is the cornerstone of international justice and that the international community must continue to work to improve the international criminal justice system on the basis of the progress achieved so far, but also to do more towards implementing existing rules and utilizing the institutions created for this purpose.
Contents of this article including associated images are belongs Cyprus Times
Views & opinions expressed are those of the author and/or Cyprus Times
Source
