On the picture, H. E. Ambassador Aida Luz Santos de Escobar.
Welcoming Ceremony for El Salvador as ICC new State Party
By Viviana Knorr.
On Thursday 2 June at the International Criminal Court in The Hague the delegation of El Salvador headed by H. E. Ambassador Aida Luz Santos de Escobar, solemnly welcomed the audience to the remarkable event where the President of the International Criminal Court, Judge Silvia Fernández de Gurmendi congratulated El Salvador for its decision to join the Rome Statue.
The ceremony was held in the presence of the President of the Assembly of States Parties (ASP), H.E. Sidiki Kaba, ASP Vice-President H.E. Álvaro Moerzinger, many ICC Judges and representatives of the Office of the Prosecutor and Registry. The ceremony was also attended by Ambassadors from Latin American and Caribbean countries accredited to the Netherlands.
For additional Kim Vermaat’s pictures, please open the following link: https://www.flickr.com/photos/121611753@N07/albums/72157666689137464
“There is a lesson to learn from these experiences. It is thanks to the active support of the 124 parties that our system has succeeded although we still need further support to achieve its global mandate”, stressed Judge Fernández de Gurmendi after adding that “A new chapter begins for El Salvador today” in reference to its participation in the assemblies and “where the nation would be playing an imperative role.”
H. E. Minister Sidki Kaba, President of the Assembly of States Parties, remarked further that “in bringing the number of States Parties to 124, El Salvador’s accession takes us closer to universality but also reminds us that we must step up our efforts to ensure that the Rome Statute family continues to grow.”
A special edition of the Rome Statue was then presented by Judge Silvia Fernández de Gurmendi to H. E. Aida Luz Santos de Escobar preceded by a video message from the Minister of Foreign Affairs of El Salvador, H. E. Hugo Martinez where he expressed his fond wishes of peace and justice to continue promoting democracy in the Human Rights to avoid above all further barbaric acts that have shadowed our history.
In the closing speech, El Salvador’s Ambassador H. E. Aida Luz Santos de Escobar highlighted that the privilege her country has is even greater “for being the first one to be welcome in the International Criminal Court new installations in The Hague.”
“To count on a place in the city of justice and peace has been a goal leading to strengthen the effectiveness and the governing procedures of the instance”, H. E. Mrs. Santos de Escobar added to her closing words not without expressing her Mission’s permanent commitment to the ICC’s work as the newest Statue Party as well as their intention to continue efforts to achieve full universality of the Rome Statute.
A celebratory reception immediately followed.
H.E. Piragibe Dossantos Tarrago. Ambassador de Brazil, H.E Haifa issami Madah, Ambassador 0f Venezuela and Gabriel Aguilera Peralta, Ambassador of Guatemala.
