EU Presidency Statement - ICT for the former Yugoslavia and ICT for Rwanda

Mr. President,

I have the honor to speak on behalf of the European Union. The Candidate Countries Bulgaria, Romania, Turkey and Croatia and the EFTA countries Iceland and Liechtenstein, members of the European Economic Area, align themselves with this declaration.


Mr. President,

The EU believes strongly in the principle of no impunity for the most serious crimes of concern to the international community as a whole. Both the ICTY and ICTR were created to hold individuals accountable for such crimes. Peace, justice and the rule of law are inextricably linked and both Tribunals have made valuable contributions towards reconciliation and the maintenance of peace and security in the countries that they have served. The EU would therefore like to reaffirm its full support for the ICTY and ICTR and commends their entire staff in their efforts to bring justice to victims of the most heinous crimes.

Mr. President,

The European Union wishes to express its appreciation for the eleventh annual report of the ICTY and the ninth annual report of the ICTR. The European Union welcomes the developments and improvements achieved during the past year. In the period under review the ICTR delivered five trial judgements involving nine accused. Thus by the end of 2004 a total of 25 persons will be on trial, bringing the total number of accused whose trials have been completed or are in process to 48. Furthermore, the European Union notes that the three Trial Chambers of the ICTY examined six trials on the merits, two cases of contempt, and rendered two judgements on the merits, and nine sentencing judgements arising from nine guilty pleas. In addition, the European Union notes that the Appeals Chamber disposed of a record number of appeals.

The European Union welcomes the commitment of both presidents of the Tribunals to the Completion Strategy, as well as the reforms of the structure and operation of the Tribunals during the reporting period. The Tribunals should indeed make every effort to respect the deadlines as stipulated by Security Council Resolutions 1503 (2003) and 1534 (2004). In this respect the European Union notes that the international community also has a commitment. Sufficient resources, cooperation, assistance and support of Member states is essential for the work of the Tribunals. It is crucial that States cooperate with regard to requests for access to archives and documents, and securing the appearance in Court of prosecution witnesses, and the arrest and transfer of indictees still at large. We reiterate in particular the need to intensify efforts to arrest and transfer Radovan Karadzic, Ratko Mladic and Ante Gotovina to the ICTY and Felicien Kabuga to the ICTR for Trial.

In particular, the European Union would like to reaffirm that cooperation by Rwanda and by the countries of the Western Balkans with the Tribunals remains essential. Furthermore, the European Union is particularly concerned about the impact which the non-payment of assessments by Member States has on the work of the Tribunals. It might seriously endanger their ability to fulfil their mandate within the framework of the completion strategy.

The European Union welcomes efforts made by both Tribunals to transfer cases to domestic jurisdictions and the activities in the field of national capacity building and would like to restate its call on the Tribunals to ensure that the necessary standards of fair trial, independence and full respect for human rights are respected within trials in national courts.

Let me conclude by reassuring the Tribunals of the full support of the European Union and by thanking all the members of the Tribunals, their Chambers, their Appeal's Chamber, their Registries and the Offices of the Prosecutors for their contribution to peace, justice and the rule of law.

Thank you, Mr. President.

| Haut |

• EU Presidency Statement - Financing of the ICTR and ICTY (24/11/2004)