‘THERE MUST BE NO RELENTING’ IN FIGHT AGAINST IMPUNITY, SAYS SECRETARY-GENERAL
AS INTERNATIONAL CRIMINAL COURT ROME STATUTE COMES INTO FORCE
Following is the statement by Secretary-General Kofi Annan on the entry into force of the Rome Statute of the International Criminal Court, 1 July:
The entry into force of the Rome Statute of the International Criminal Court is an historic occasion.� It reaffirms the centrality of the rule of law in international relations.� It holds the promise of a world in which the perpetrators of genocide, crimes against humanity and war crimes are prosecuted when individual States are unable or unwilling to bring them to justice.� And it gives the world a potential deterrent to future atrocities.
I congratulate all the States parties -- currently 75 -- on taking the lead in ratifying the Statute, and I appeal to all States that have not yet done so to ratify or accede to it as soon as possible.� There must be no relenting in the fight against impunity or in our efforts to prevent genocide and the other horrendous crimes that fall under the Court's jurisdiction.
* *** *
