High-Level Regional Seminar
By Mariam Chanishvili
Monday, October 29
The International Criminal Court (ICC) held a high-level regional seminar in Tbilisi, Georgia to foster regional cooperation in Eastern Europe on 24-25 October.
The event was organized in collaboration with the Government of Georgia and financial support from the European Commission.
The event - "Opportunities for Cooperation and Exchange of Experience at 20 Years of the Rome Statute" – was attended by the representatives of 16 countries, the ICC and regional and intergovernmental organizations, in particular, the high-level representatives of Eastern European states: Armenia, Azerbaijan, Belarus, Bulgaria, Croatia, Czech Republic, Estonia, Georgia, Hungary, Latvia, Lithuania, Poland, Romania, Serbia, and Ukraine; dignitaries representing WEOG: Austria, France, Greece, Italy, The Netherlands, Sweden, the Republic of Turkey, and the UK, as well as representatives of the European Union, the United Nations, UNDP, ICRC, OSCE, and the Council of Europe.
CC Vice-President Judge, Robert Fremr talked about strengthening of national capacities to prosecute genocide, crimes against humanity and war crimes during the opening ceremony.
"The strengthening of national capacities to prosecute genocide, crimes against humanity and war crimes is essential for the proper functioning of the principle of complementarity. At the same time, improved judicial systems and rule of law at the national level will also make it easier for States to provide cooperation to the ICC," he said.
Tea Tsulukiani, Minister of Justice of Georgia also attended the event. She talked about the effective and comprehensive cooperation and assistance by States in all aspects of the ICC mandate.
The seminar aimed at increasing awareness about the court and its activities generally, as well as to cover a number of important issues, including the Universality of the Rome Statute system; the principle of complementarity; rights of victims and of the defense; capacity building of national judicial systems; national implementation of the Rome Statute; and processes for cooperation with the ICC.
The High-Level Seminar in Georgia was designed to promote and enhance cooperative relationships between the ICC and countries from Eastern Europe and Western Asia.
2018 marks the twentieth anniversary of the adoption of the Rome Statute, the founding treaty of the ICC, which seeks to protect people from genocide, crimes against humanity, war crimes and the crime of aggression.
Georgia ratified the Rome Statute on 5 September 2003. The ICC, therefore, may exercise its jurisdiction over crimes listed in the Rome Statute committed on the territory of Georgia or by its nationals from 1 December 2003 onwards.
It is worth mentioning that ICC continues the investigation of the Russia-Georgia 2008 war and Georgia stands ready to provide the court with all necessary materials.
Russia has refused to cooperate with the ICC regarding the war case.
