Mr. President,

I have the honour to introduce this morning the draft resolution entiteld “Report of the International Criminal Court”.

In addition to the list of countries as mentioned in document A/60/L.25, the following countries have indicated their wish to be included as cosponsors: Antigua and Barbuda, Barbados, Colombia, Georgia and Mali. This brings the total number of cosponsors for this resolution to 88.

Mr President,

On 8 November, the President of the International Criminal Court presented the first annual report of the International Criminal Court to this body. We had a very constructive and in depth debate then and I do not want to repeat that discussion here today. Allow me Mr. President though, to highlight only a few elements.

The International Criminal Court report as well as the debate in this body a few weeks ago underlined the important role the International Criminal Court plays in our common multilateral system that aims to end impunity and to establish the rule of law, to promote and encourage respect for human rights and to restore and maintain international peace and security.

The establishment of the Court was the most significant development in recent years in the long struggle to eradicate impunity. We are therefore very pleased that substantial progress has been achieved in making the Court fully operational. The annual report clearly demonstrates this fact.

The Court is now at the beginning of the judicial phase of its operations, both involving operations in the field as well as court room proceedings. The issuance of arrest warrants against five leaders of the Lord’s Resistance Army is a clear indication of this fact. The referral by the Security Council this spring of the situation in Darfur to the International Criminal Court Prosecutor and the opening of an investigation in this situation by the Proscutor, were other important milestones. The fact that all Security Council members were directly or indirectly supportive of this referral was a very welcome development and proof of the growing support for the Court.

The President of the International Criminal Court in his address to the General Assembly stressed the fact that cooperation between the Court and the United Nations and cooperation by States, International Organisations and civil society are fundamental to an effective and efficient functioning Court, especially now that the Court has started the judicial phase of its work. We call on all concerned to do just that.

While all states are free to choose whether to become a Party to the Rome Statute or not, recently we were very happy to welcome the one hundredth ratification of the Statute by Mexico. We will continue to strive for a universal membership to the Rome Statute and it is therefore our sincere hope that more States will soon ratify it.

Mr President,

The resolution before us today serves three main objectives:

Firstly, to indicate political support for the International Criminal Court as an organisation, its aims, as well as for the work it carries out.

Secondly, to underline the importance of the relationship agreement concluded with the UN, which serves as a framework for the close cooperation between the two organisations.

Thirdly, it serves to remind States of the need to cooperate with the International Criminal Court in carrying out its tasks.

The Netherlands hopes that the adoption of this resolution today will lead to even greater support for the International Criminal Court in its fight against impunity and its attempts to hold those accused of very serious crimes accountable for their actions. In that context, we look forward to the second annual report of the International Criminal Court and its consideration during next years session of the General Assembly.

Thank you Mr. Chairman.