International Criminal Court

Assembly of States Parties

Sixth Session

9^th Meeting (AM)

definition for ‘crime of aggression’ closer as states parties

to rome statute conclude resumed sixth session

The Assembly of States Parties to the Rome Statute of the International Criminal Court inched closer to a definition of the crime of aggression and the conditions for the exercise of the Court’s jurisdiction as the Assembly’s resumed sixth session closed today.

Outgoing Assembly President Bruno Stagno Ugarte ( Costa Rica), in his closing statements, applauded the representatives of States making up the management oversight and legislative body of the Court for their cooperation and willingness to move forward in their discussions on the crime of aggression and other issues they had dealt with during the resumed session.

The continuing discussions of the Special Working Group on the Crime of Aggression constituted the bulk of the work carried out throughout the resumed session, and Christian Wenaweser ( Liechtenstein), its Chairman, said the report produced in the current session complemented its previous reports.  “Much is a repetition of what was discussed in the past,” he said, adding that the Special Working Group had still made solid progress, particularly on technical issues.

Also today, the Assembly adopted a draft resolution concerning the Review Conference on the Rome Statute, a special meeting of the States parties, which dealt specifically with the report by the Uganda site-visit group.  In April 2008, the Assembly accepted an invitation from the Government of Uganda for a site-visit to assess that country’s practical capacity to host the Conference in 2010.

The draft resolution requested further refinement of the practical and organizational issues related to the venue of the Review Conference prior to the seventh session of the Assembly of States Parties.  It also took note of the offer by Argentina to host the Review Conference in the event that Uganda’s bid was not adopted.

In another action, the Assembly adopted a draft resolution concerning the funding of the disability pension for a former Judge of the International Criminal Court who was unable to continue his duties due to permanent ill health.  It also took note of the report of its Credentials Committee.

The seventh session of the Assembly of States Parties is expected to take place in The Hague in November 2008.

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For information media • not an official record