Egypt stresses independence of international criminal court
Regional, Politics, 12/19/2000

"Egypt supports establishment of an International Criminal Court that has a full-independent judicial capacity away from political considerations and double standards," said Ambassador Ahmed Abul-Gheit, Egypt's Permanent Delegate to the United Nations (UN).

Egypt and the Arab states championed the definition of the international crime of aggression in light of the well-known UN General Assembly Resolution in 1974.

Abul-Gheit pointed out that the International Criminal Court, which will be composed of 18 judges, belonging to various legal backgrounds, will be the only mechanism to convene permanently in order to look into crimes, perpetrated during armed disputes and also those against civilians in times of peace.

The Egyptian UN envoy added that the proposed court will be different from the war crime tribunals in former Yugoslavian and Rwanda, which were set up by the UN Security Council on a temporary basis, and also from the Nuremberg and Tokyo tribunals, which were set up in the aftermath of the Second World War.

Abul-Gheit said that some Western countries, especially the permanent members of the Security Council, and Israel tried to cast doubts over the legal value acquired by the General Assembly Resolution and to depend instead on the Nuremberg tribunal in 1946 that tried the leaders of Nazi Germany.

He added that the Preparatory Committee meetings focussed on another issue pertaining to the relationship between the Security Council, in its capacity as the higher apparatus responsible for maintaining international peace and security, and the International Criminal Court.

"A number of Arab countries signed the Basic Statute of the proposed court and other Arab countries are expected to sign it before the end of this year," said Abul-Gheit, noting that the total number of signatories is about 120, while more than 20 countries endorsed it, and more than 20 countries said it embarked on constitutional procedures necessary for endorsement.

Endorsement of 60 countries is prerequisite in order for the Basic Statute to be in effect.

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