Direct from the ICC. Ukraine accepts ICC jurisdiction over alleged crimes committed between 21 November 2013 and 22 February 2014. The Registrar of the International Criminal Court (ICC), Herman von Hebel, received a declaration lodged by Ukraine accepting the ICC’s jurisdiction with respect to alleged crimes committed in its territory from 21 November 2013 to 22 February 2014. The declaration was lodged under article 12(3) of the Rome Statute, the founding treaty of the ICC, which enables a State not party to the Statute to accept the exercise of jurisdiction of the Court. The Registrar informed the Ukrainian Government of the effects of the declaration in accordance with the ICC’s legal framework, namely that the ICC now has jurisdiction over possible crimes that might have been committed in the context of the above-mentioned situation and that the provisions of Part 9 of the Statute relating to international cooperation and judicial assistance apply. The declaration has been transmitted to the ICC’s Office of the Prosecutor for further consideration. The acceptance of the ICC’s jurisdiction does not automatically trigger an investigation. It is for the ICC Prosecutor to decide whether or not to request the judges’ authorisation to open an investigation, if the Prosecutor considers that the information available to her establishes the existence of a reasonable basis to open an investigation. If an investigation is opened, it will also be for the ICC Prosecutor to decide, on the basis of the evidence collected, whether to ask the ICC judges to issue arrest warrants or summonses to appear for persons charged with the commission of crimes falling under the ICC’s jurisdiction. Background: The ICC is an independent, permanent court that tries individuals 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. The ICC is based on a treaty, the Rome Statute, joined by 122 countries. A State may decide to ratify the Rome Statute but may also make a declaration under article 12-3 of the Statute declaring its acceptance of the Court’s jurisdiction. The UN Security Council may also refer a situation in relation to any Member State of the United Nations.

The Director-General of the OPCW welcomed delivery of a further consignment of chemicals to the port of Latakia by the Syrian government today.  The chemicals were immediately boarded onto cargo ships upon arrival at the port and removed from the country. This raises the overall portion of chemicals removed from Syria to 86.5% of the total, including 88.7 % of all Priority 1 chemicals. Today’s consignment was the 17th to date and the sixth consignment since 4 April, marking a significant acceleration in the pace of deliveries to Latakia this month. “This latest consignment is encouraging,” the Director-General said. “We hope that the remaining two or three consignments are delivered quickly to permit destruction operations to get underway in time to meet the mid-year deadline for destroying Syria’s chemical weapons.”  

13^th Consignment of Chemicals Delivered to Latakia, Raising Overall Total of Removals to 65% The Syrian government has completed the delivery of the 13th consignment of chemicals to Latakia, which was removed today from the port on cargo ships. This follows a shipment that took place on 10 April.  The deliveries have raised the overall portion of chemicals removed from Syria to 65.1% of the total, including 57.4 % of the Priority 1 chemicals. Director-General Ahmet Üzümcü described these movements as ‘necessary and encouraging’. Noting that Syria had reaffirmed its commitment to meeting its obligations, the Director-General observed, “Both the frequency and volumes of deliveries have to increase significantly to restore alignment of actual movements against the projected time frame.”

Amsterdam, April 4, 2014: King Willem-Alexander and Máxima received Queen at the Royal Palace on Dam Square King Carl Gustaf and Queen Silvia of Sweden. The Swedish royal couple will celebrate the 400th anniversary of the Swedish-Dutch diplomatic relations with a two-day visit. © ANP; Photo: Martijn Beekman. 

Friday, April 4

After the reception at the Royal Palace in Amsterdam both Kings attend a seminar organized by the Swedish Embassy and Swedish Chamber of Commerce. The theme of the seminar is “Innovation and Growth – Sweden and the Netherlands in the Global Economy”. King Willem-Alexander speaks an opening statement. Then there are speeches by, among others, the Swedish Minister for Trade Ewa Björling and Minister Henk Kamp of Economic Affairs. Then reaches King Carl XVI Gustaf, the export price in 2014 of the Swedish Chamber of Commerce of the company SKF. Queen Máxima and Queen Silvia visit the Hogeweyk in Weesp. Here live 152 people with dementia in a specially built for them neighborhood with 23 homes. Then there is a round trip. During the tour, attention is paid to modern architecture around the IJ.From the point of arrival wanders the company back to the palace. Evenings offer King Willem-Alexander and Máxima Queen a banquet.

Saturday, April 5

The Swedish King and Queen visit the Rijksmuseum. King Willem-Alexander and Máxima Queen add them later. Together they visit the schilderijDe Conspiracy of the Batavians under Claudius Civilisvan Rembrandt that has been given. By the Royal Swedish Academy of Fine Arts temporarily on loan to the Rijksmuseum The Royal Society is present at the presentation of the book The Swedes and the Dutch were made for each otherdat the occasion of the celebration of 400 years of relations appears, and seeing the original treaty that forms the basis for the 400 years of diplomatic relations. The visit of the Swedish royal couple will end with a lunch at the museum.

ICC informs the United Nations Security Council & the Assembly of States Parties about DRC’s non-cooperation in the arrest and surrender of Omar Al Bashir On 9 April 2014, Pre-Trial Chamber II of the International Criminal Court (ICC) found that the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) has failed to cooperate with the Court by not arresting and surrendering Omar Al Bashir to the Court during his visit to the DRC on 26 and 27 February 2014. The Chamber referred the matter to both the United Nations Security Council and the Assembly of States Parties to the Rome Statute, founding treaty of the ICC. It is now up to the States Parties and the UN Security Council to take the measures they deem necessary regarding this matter. Background: Two arrest warrants have been issued by Pre-Trial Chamber I against Omar Hassan Ahmad Al Bashir, on 4 March 2009 and 12 July 2010 respectively, for five counts of crimes against humanity (murder, extermination, forcible transfer, torture and rape), two counts of war crimes (intentionally directing attacks against a civilian population as such or against individual civilians not taking part in hostilities, and pillaging), and three counts of genocide committed against the Fur, Masalit and Zaghawa ethnic groups. The suspect remains at large.

April 10  2014, marks the entry into force of an agreement between the Government of the Kingdom of Belgium and the International Criminal Court (ICC) on the interim release of detainees on the Belgian territory pursuant to decisions of the Chambers of the Court. Belgium becomes the first country accepting to provisionally receive detainees of the Court on its territory on a temporary basis and under conditions established by the competent Chamber. This agreement regulates the procedure for the interim release of an ICC detainee and in particular formalizes the necessary consultations with the Court’s Registry with the Belgian authorities, the latter examining the Court’s requests on a case-by-case basis. “This agreement represents a step forward in terms of cooperation with the ICC and we wish to express our gratitude to the Belgian authorities for their support”, said ICC Registrar Herman von Hebel. “We also hope that this advancement will encourage other States to sign such agreements with the Court”, he added. In all of its activities, the ICC relies on the cooperation of States and International Organisations, including receiving detainees after their interim 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.