Professional Documents
Culture Documents
OTP Weekly Briefing - 20-26 July - Issue #47
OTP Weekly Briefing - 20-26 July - Issue #47
II.3. Georgia
The Office made its examination public on 14 August 2008. The Georgian Minister of Justice visited the OTP. Russia, a State not Party to the
Statute, has sent 3,817 communications to the OTP. The Prosecutor requested information from the Governments of Russia and Georgia on
27 August 2008. Both the Russian and Georgian authorities responded. The Office conducted a visit to Georgia in November 2008 and to
Russia in March 2010. A second mission to Georgia was conducted in June 2010.
II.4. Palestine
On 22 January 2009, the Palestinian National Authority lodged a declaration with the Registrar under Article 12(3) of the Rome Statute
which allows States not party to the Statute to accept the Court’s jurisdiction. The OTP will examine issues related to its jurisdiction: first
whether the declaration accepting the exercise of jurisdiction by the Court meets statutory requirements; and second whether crimes within
the Court’s jurisdiction have been committed. The Office will also consider whether there are national proceedings in relation to alleged
crimes. A delegation from the Palestinian National Authority, and Representatives of the Arab League visited the Court on 15‐16 October
2009 to present a report in support of the PNA’s ability to delegate its jurisdiction to the ICC. On 11 January, the OTP sent a letter
summarizing its activities to the United Nations at their request, in the context of following up on the Goldstone Report. On 3 May, the OTP
published a “Summary of submissions on whether the declaration lodged by the Palestinian National Authority meets statutory
requirements.” The OTP has not made any determination on the issue.
20 July ‐ In compliance with the 26 February General Assembly Resolution GA/10917, Israel submitted an update to the UN
Secretary‐General describing the progress and current status of investigations carried out by Israel into allegations of
misconduct and violations of the law of armed conflict by Israel Defence Forces during the military Operation Cast Lead.
Page: 3 / 5
II.5. Côte d’Ivoire
The Court has jurisdiction over the situation in Côte d’Ivoire by virtue of an Article 12(3) declaration submitted by the Ivorian Government
on 1 October 2003. The declaration accepts the jurisdiction of the Court as of 19 September 2002. The most serious crimes, including alleged
widespread sexual violence, were committed in 2002‐2005. On 17‐18 July 2009, high‐level representatives of the OTP visited Abidjan.
II.6. Guinea
The Office made its examination of the situation in Guinea public on 14 October 2009. Guinea is a State Party to the Rome Statute since 14
July 2003 and, as such, the ICC has jurisdiction over war crimes, crimes against humanity and genocide possibly committed in the territory
of Guinea or by nationals of Guinea, including killings of civilians and sexual violence. The Office has taken note of serious allegations
surrounding the events of 28 September 2009 in Conakry in accordance with Article 15 of the Statute. In January 2010, OTP high level
representatives held consultations with President Compaore of Burkina Faso, mediator for the contact group on Guinea, and President
Wade of Senegal to ensure that they are informed of its work. From 15 to 19 February 2010, the OTP sent a mission to Guinea, led by Deputy
Prosecutor Fatou Bensouda, in the context of its preliminary examination activities. From 19‐21 May a second OTP mission met with the
Guinean Minister of Justice, Col. Lohalamou, and Guinean judges. The Guinean authorities extended full cooperation to the Court.
III. Cooperation – Galvanizing Efforts to Arrest
19 July ‐ In an op‐ed, John Heffernan, Director of the genocide programme at the US Holocaust Museum, stated: “In issuing the
arrest warrant this week, the ICC now recognizes what others documented years ago: Bashirʹs campaign against the civilian population of
Darfur was genocidal. Whether it is the wholesale assault on the survival of hundreds of thousands of Darfurians or the massacre of
Bosnians at Srebrenica, those most responsible for such acts need to be held accountable. Robert F. Kennedy once wrote, ʺLetʹs dedicate
ourselves to what the ancient Greeks wrote so many years ago, to tame the savageness of man and make gentle the life of this world […].ʺ
In the case of Sudanʹs Bashir or Bosnian‐Serb leader Ratko Mladic, the actual apprehension of these genocidal architects will help us get a
little closer toward taming the savageness of man.”
19 July ‐ During the conference on the future of international criminal justice in Africa at the University of the Witwatersrand,
also attended by Deputy Prosecutor Bensouda, South Africa Chief Justice Sandile Ngcobo stated that claims that the ICC was
primarily and selectively targeting Africa were “troubling” but “did not bear scrutiny”. The Chief Justice also stressed that
“abuses committed in sub‐Saharan Africa have been among the most serious, and this is certainly a legitimate criterion for the selection of
cases.” Ngcobo also mentioned that international criminal justice was “crucial to the preservation of peace and the attainment of
justice.”
25 July ‐ The European Foreign Ministers in an EU Council meeting on the Sudan declared: “The Council recalls that war crimes,
crimes against humanity and crimes of genocide are the most serious crimes of concern to the international community and that impunity
for these crimes can never be accepted. The Council reiterates its support for the International Criminal Court (ICC) and calls upon the
Government of Sudan to cooperate fully with the ICC in accordance with its obligations under international law.”
Regarding the visit of President Al Bashir to Chad in the context of the summit of the Community of Sahel‐Saharan States (chaired by
Libya), States (Parties and non Parties), international and regional organizations, as well as civil society expressed concerns and reminded
Chad of its obligations under the Rome Statute:
21 July ‐ Before the arrival of President Al Bashir in Chad, Human Rights Watch said that Chad should deny him entry or
arrest him for trial: “Chad risks the shameful distinction of being the first ICC member state to harbor a suspected war criminal from the
Court.” Amesty International said: “Chad should not shield President al‐Bashir from international justice. His visit to Chad is an
opportunity to enforce the arrest warrant and send a message that justice will prevail.”
21 July ‐ US State Department spokesman Philip J. Crowley said that “Chad is a party to the Rome Statute and has obligations as a
result. We’ll leave it to the Government of Chad to explain why it did or did not take actions in – related to those obligations. We strongly
support international efforts to bring those responsible for genocide and war crimes in Darfur to justice. We believe that there cannot be a
lasting peace in Darfur or stability in Sudan without accountability and justice. And we will continue to call upon Sudan and other parties
to cooperate fully with the International Criminal Court. As we’ve said many times, ultimately President Bashir must present himself to
the court and answer the charges that have been leveled against him.” On 22 July he added that “the fact that Chad and Sudan are
Page: 4 / 5
working through issues and they have both taken steps to improve the situation and their relations, this is a positive development and will
have broad regional impact. That said, it doesnʹt change how we feel and – on the ICC warrant and the need for all countries – Sudan,
Chad, others – to cooperate fully with the ICC.”
* This document reflects the views of the Office of the Prosecutor of the ICC. For more information, contact Mrs. Olivia Swaak‐Goldman, International Cooperation Adviser
in the Office of the Prosecutor, at Olivia.Swaak‐Goldman@icc‐cpi.int
Page: 5 / 5