Rome Statute has potential to prevent further escalation and crimes in the region - Mirzoyan

YEREVAN, February 9. /ARKA/. On February 8, at the Hague-based International Criminal Court, the official welcoming ceremony dedicated to the membership of Armenia as the 124th signatory of the Rome Statute took place, the Armenian Foreign Ministry reported.

It said at the launch of the event, the ceremony of raising the flag of the Republic of Armenia took place, after which the President of the International Criminal Court Piotr Hofmański, the President of the Assembly of States Parties to the ICC Päivi Kaukoranta delivered congratulatory remarks, followed by the statement of the Minister of Foreign Affairs of Armenia Ararat Mirzoyan.

Within the framework of the ceremony, the President of the International Criminal Court handed over a copy of the special edition of the Rome Statute to the Foreign Minister of Armenia.

The ceremony was also attended by the ICC Prosecutor General, a number of representatives of the diplomatic corps accredited in The Hague, from about 60 diplomatic representations, the President of the Association of Journalists, as well as other guests.

Speaking at the event Mirzoyan, : ’In Armenia believes that it is extremely important to establish an international judicial system which ensures punishment for persons who have committed genocide and other serious crimes. For decades, Armenia has been an initiator and pioneer in the processes of prevention and condemnation of the crime of genocide, both within the framework of the United Nations and other international organizations and forums long before acceding to the International Criminal Court.

ICC’s role in crime prevention and ensuring fair and impartial justice process for peaceful resolution of conflicts is significant. Unfortunately, in our region, we were confronted not only by complete unwillingness to resolve the issue by peaceful means but also with a clear intent to proliferate war, hatred and terror. Continued aggressions against the Republic of Armenia and occupation of our sovereign territories, heinous atrocity crimes perpetrated against Armenians, ethnic cleansing of Nagorno Karabakh, as a result of which over 100.000 Armenians had to escape their homes to find shelter in Armenia, had devastating humanitarian consequences and continue to pose imminent risks for our region. In this context, we are convinced that the Rome Statute among other mechanisms has real potential to prevent any further escalation and atrocities, becoming a milestone towards stability and sustainable peace in our region. ‘ -0-