Direct from the International Criminal Court.
The President of the Assembly of States Parties (“the President”), Ambassador Tiina Intelmann, visited Vilnius, Lithuania on 29 August 2013. During her brief trip, President Intelmann met with the Minister of Foreign Affaires, H.E. Mr. Linas Linkevičius; the Minister of Justice, Mr. Juozas Bernatonis; Member of the Seimas of the Republic of Lithuania and Chair of Committee on Legal Affairs, Mr. Julius Sabatauskas; and other high officials.
The President discussed the European Union support to the Assembly of States Parties and the International Criminal Court in light of Lithuania’s EU Presidency and in advance of the twelfth session of the Assembly taking place in The Hague in the latter part of November. During the meetings, Lithuania affirmed its support and commitment to the ICC.
The President highlighted the importance of high level political support to the Rome Statute system and endoresement of the ICC through the United Nations was discussed at length. Lithuania promised to continue to promote universality of the Rome Statute and informed the President that its national procedures for the ratifcation of the amendments to the Rome Statute concerning the crime of aggression were ongoing. The President raised the possibility of contributing to the Trust Fund for Victims since assistance, compensation, and reparations to victims was a major achievement of the Statute.
