Checked Against Delivery
Mr. President,
I have the honour to deliver this statement on behalf of the Nordic countries, Finland, Iceland, Norway, Sweden and my own country Denmark. We would like to thank President Gatti Santana for her latest report and extend our appreciation to all of the staff of the International Residual Mechanism for Criminal Tribunals for its continued commitment to international justice.
Allow me raise a couple of points that the Nordic countries consider it important to highlight at this stage.
First, we would like to reaffirm our appreciation for the work of the Mechanism and stress its continued essential functions in the international criminal justice system. The Mechanism and its predecessor tribunals have been fundamental to the rules-based international order and modern international criminal law.
We note that the Mechanism continues to deliver justice and fulfil the responsibilities entrusted to it by the Security Council. Its work remains important in ensuring accountability for the most serious crimes committed in the conflicts in the former Yugoslavia and Rwanda, and to preserve the legacy and lessons of the Tribunals.
Second, while the Security Council unfortunately was not able to adopt a new resolution following its review of the Mechanism’s work earlier this year, we note that the Mechanism continues to operate in accordance with paragraph 17 of Council resolution 1966 (2010). At the same time, we consider it important that the pending matters before the Council are resolved as soon as possible and we emphasize the Council’s important responsibility in this regard. Clarity on the future arrangements for the Mechanism is essential for effective planning, including a responsible allocation of resources as well as an orderly transfer and completion of the remaining residual functions. In this context, we recognize that the Mechanism has continuing commitments towards individuals, as well as functions that cannot simply lapse.
To conclude, the Nordic countries reaffirm their commitment to strengthening the international criminal justice system, combatting impunity and ensuring that the legacy of the international criminal tribunals is preserved. We encourage all relevant parties to work together to ensure that this justice cycle is concluded in a responsible, orderly and expedient manner.
Thank you.
