The Hague Environmental Law Facility (HELF), a joint initiative of the Institute for Environmental Security and T.M.C Asser Institute, organises its first lecture on 4 April at 15:00 at the T.M.C. Asser Institute in The Hague.

This first lecture is organised in response to the upcoming International Court of Justice (ICJ) verdict on Whaling in the Antarctic (Australia v. Japan: New Zealand intervening). The scheduled speaker is Dr. Olivier Ribbelink, Senior Researcher of International Public Law at the T.M.C. Asser Institute. About HELF HELF is a new platform that aims to serve various functions: to advise and facilitate access to justice for parties with environmental problems or disputes, to involve law students in and around The Hague in solving environmental legal problems under supervision and against study credits (an environmental law clinic), and to organise academic lectures, trainings, workshops and conferences on the application and development of international, European and national environmental law. It will do this in the context of The Hague as Legal Capital of the World and in collaboration with the unique set of legal institutions based in The Hague. Further information on HELF and its upcoming activities will be made available at the lecture. By registering now, you will be informed about and involved in a discussion of the latest ICJ verdict. Registration: http://www.asser.nl/onlineforms/HELFLecture.aspx Picture by mp24digital.com

Director-General Ahmet Üzümcü met today with the Minister of Foreign Affairs of Russia, Mr Sergey Lavrov, who is in The Hague to attend the Nuclear Security Summit (NSS).

The Director-General discussed with the Foreign Minister the ongoing OPCW-UN Joint Mission in Syria. The mission is a product of the U.S.-Russia framework agreement to destroy Syria’s chemical weapons programme, which was announced by Mr Lavrov and U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry last September in Geneva. Russia has provided material support for the Syrian government to move its chemical arsenal out of the country, and a Russian warship is providing security in Syria’s territorial waters and at the port of Latakia for the maritime transport operations. The Director-General commended the Russian Federation for its close engagement and vital support to the ongoing mission in Syria, and for the steady progress made by Russia in the destruction of its own remaining chemical weapons stockpiles. He updated the Foreign Minister on the schedule for destroying the Syrian chemicals and stressed that ongoing engagement by the Russian Federation at all levels will be vital to the success of the mission. “We are very honoured by your visit to the OPCW – the first by a Russian Foreign Minister – and we appreciate the support that’s been extended by the Russian Federation to our organisation over the past 17 years,” the Director-General told a media stakeout. “We also highly appreciate the leadership shown by the Russian Federation and the United States in the process of eliminating Syrian chemical weapons… and are looking forward to the successful completion of this project.” Mr Lavrov commended the OPCW for its work in Syria and assured the Director-General of Russia’s continued support for the mission.

“We highly appreciate the professionalism of your people in everything you’re doing and especially in the Syrian operation, it’s something where this professionalism is really needed very much.” Mr Lavrov said. “I’m glad the operation develops quite satisfactorily, and we have all reasons to believe the timing would be kept.” The meeting with Mr Lavrov is one of a series the Director-General will have this week with world leaders who are attending the NSS. The Director-General will attend the summit as a VIP observer.

Direct from the ICC. Situation: Côte d’Ivoire Case: The Prosecutor v. Charles Blé Goudé Today, on 22 March 2014, Charles Blé Goudé was surrendered to the International Criminal Court (ICC) by the national authorities of Côte d´Ivoire following a warrant of arrest issued by the ICC on 21 December 2011. He is being transferred to the ICC detention Centre at The Hague, Netherlands. Pre-Trial Chamber I will set a date for the initial appearance hearing in due course.  During the initial appearance hearing, the Chamber will verify the identity of the suspect and the language in which he is able to follow the proceedings. He will be informed of the charges against him. The date and time of the initial appearance hearing will be announced in due course by a media advisory and on the ICC Twitter account. Background: On 30 September 2013, ICC Judges unsealed an arrest warrant against Charles Blé Goudé, initially issued on 21 December 2011. Charles Blé Goudé, national of Côte d’Ivoire, 42 years of age, allegedly bears individual criminal responsibility, as indirect co-perpetrator, for four counts of crimes against humanity, namely murder, rape and other forms of sexual violence, persecution, and other inhuman acts, allegedly committed in the territory of Côte d’Ivoire between 16 December 2010 and 12 April 2011. Pre-Trial Chamber I is composed of Judges Silvia Fernández de Gurmendi (presiding judge) Hans-Peter Kaul and Christine van den Wyngaert. The arrest warrant against Charles Blé Goudé is one of the 3 arrest warrants issued until now by the ICC in the context of the Court’s investigation in Côte d’Ivoire. On 3 October 2011, Pre-Trial Chamber III granted the Prosecutor’s request for authorisation to open investigations proprio motu into the situation in Côte d’Ivoire with respect to alleged crimes within the Court’s jurisdiction, committed since 28 November 2010, as well as with regard to crimes that may be committed in the future in the context of this situation. On 22 February 2012, Pre-Trial Chamber III expanded its authorisation to include crimes within the Court’s jurisdiction allegedly committed between 19 September 2002 and 28 November 2010.  The ICC Office of the Prosecutor’s investigation in Côte d’Ivoire is on-going. Côte d’Ivoire had accepted the Court’s jurisdiction on 18 April 2003 and this was reconfirmed by the Ivoirian Presidency on 14 December 2010 and 3 May 2011. On 15 February 2013, Côte d’Ivoire ratified the Rome Statute.