UNOFFICIAL TRANSLATION

Check against delivery

Madam President,

At the outset, we welcome the Prosecutor of the International Criminal Court, Mr. Karim Khan. We take note of his briefing. We also welcome Ambassador Taher El-Sunni in our meeting today.

In the context of today’s discussion, I would like to focus on the following three issues:

First, with regard to crimes committed against migrants, we find that the steps taken by the International Criminal Court, especially towards continuing close cooperation with the local authorities in Libya, including within the framework of the Joint Team on crimes affecting migrants, are encouraging.

We also commend its continuous efforts to strengthen the renewed strategy of the Office of the Prosecutor of the International Criminal Court regarding the situation in Libya, including through building partnerships with national actors. These partnerships are essential as they contributed, as reflected, for example, in the prosecutor’s report, to the arrest of an Eritrean individual in Sudan, a prime suspect in crimes committed against migrants, through an international police operation in which the UAE played a leading role.

We reiterate here our position on the need for continued proactive cooperation with the national Libyan authorities, while supporting their local efforts in this regard. We also stress the importance of continuing international cooperation in dismantling the networks of transnational organized crime, including in countries of origin, destination, and transit.

Secondly, achieving accountability and transitional justice is a sovereign prerogative of States. In this regard, we consider the visit that took place last November and the meetings with the Libyan parties and authorities, as important developments.

Cooperation with the relevant national authorities in Libya must be strengthened by taking their concerns and needs into consideration, and continuing meetings and contact. This will support and enable the relevant actors to take concrete steps at the national level and will contribute to the existing efforts made in accordance with the memorandum of understanding signed between the Office of the Libyan Public Prosecutor and the Office of the Prosecutor of the International Criminal Court, in line with the Court’s jurisdiction.

Third, according to international law, States have the primary responsibility to address and ensure accountability for crimes committed in their territory according to their jurisdiction, including atrocity crimes. States are also responsible for fighting impunity and seeking justice for victims.

We would also like to emphasize here that compliance with the principle of complementarity under the Rome Statute of the International Criminal Court requires respect for the views and positions of the State concerned. We emphasize once again that achieving accountability and transitional justice is a sovereign prerogative of States.

In conclusion, we affirm the UAE’s support for the efforts made by the United Nations in support of Libya, and we hope that concerted efforts are made to realize the aspirations of the people of Libya.

Thank you, Madam President.