H.E. Mr. Hector Horacio Salvador, Ambassador of Argentina and the Registrar of the International Criminal Court (ICC), Mr. Herman von Hebel.
Argentina and ICC sign agreements on Interim Release and Release of Persons, reinforcing Argentina’s commitment to accountability and fair trial.
Today, 28 February 2018, the Ambassador of the Argentine Republic to the Kingdom of the Netherlands, H.E. Mr. Hector Horacio Salvador, and the Registrar of the International Criminal Court (ICC), Mr. Herman von Hebel, in the presence of the ICC President, Judge Silvia Fernández de Gurmendi, signed cooperation agreements on interim release and release of ICC detained persons on the Argentine territory, pursuant to decisions of the Chambers of the Court.
The interim release agreement establishes the procedure for the temporary release of a suspect or accused in the custody of the Court, following the decision of a Chamber of the Court, and based on the provisions of the Rome Statute.
The agreement on the release of persons regulates the procedure for the transfer of a person released from the custody of the Court, for example in the case that the person was acquitted, and tasks the Court to make the arrangements for such release into the territory of the State.
Further information on these cooperation agreements can be found on the booklet developed by the Court to promote their signature: https://www.icc-cpi.int/news/seminarBooks/Cooperation_Agreements_Eng.pdf
Argentina is the second country accepting to provisionally receive ICC detained persons on its territory and the first country to sign the agreement on release of persons. With these signatures, Argentina becomes the first country to have signed four cooperation agreements with the Court, providing the ICC with successful tools for cooperation.
“By signing these two agreements, Argentina reaffirms its strong support and turns to the forefront in terms of cooperation with the ICC; we are glad that it took place on a symbolic occasion such as the twentieth anniversary of the Rome Statute”, said Argentine Ambassador H.E. Horacio Salvador.
“With the signature of these two new agreements, Argentina will become the first country to sign all four cooperation agreements with the Court. We consider these to be of fundamental importance for supporting the effective work of the Court with full respect for due process and fair trial rights. It is a great satisfaction for me that the signing of these four cooperation agreements took place during my presidency of the Court” said ICC President Judge Silvia Fernández de Gurmendi.
“The conclusion of these cooperation agreements is a concrete demonstration of Argentina’s commitment to the Court and its mandate, as well as a tangible way to celebrate the twentieth anniversary of the Rome Statute; we hope other States Parties will make similar pledges”, said ICC Registrar Herman von Hebel.
In all of its activities, the ICC relies on the cooperation of States and International Organisations, including receiving detained persons after their interim or final release, enforcing sentences of imprisonment pronounced by the Court, or relocating witnesses. The Court may enter into arrangements or agreements to provide such cooperation.
The International Criminal Court is an independent, permanent court that tries persons accused of the most serious crimes of concern to the international community as a whole, namely the crime of genocide, crimes against humanity, war crimes and the crime of aggression.
