I would like to make this statement on behalf of the following Members of the Security Council, as well as incoming Members, that are States Parties to the Rome Statute of the International Criminal Court (ICC): Albania, Brazil, Gabon, Ghana, France, Ireland, Norway, the United Kingdom, Ecuador, Japan, Malta, Switzerland, and my own country, Mexico.
We thank the ICC Prosecutor, Mr. Karim Khan, for the presentation of the 35th report to the Security Council on the situation in Darfur, in accordance with resolution 1593. We welcome the commencement of proceedings last April in the case of Ali Kushayb, which is the first trial at the Court based on a referral from the Council. This trial also offers a long overdue opportunity for justice and redress for the victims, survivors and local communities.
Moreover, we welcome the current visit of the Prosecutor to Sudan, underscoring that this is his first visit to Darfur. This is a positive step forward to engage with local communities and authorities on the ground.
We also underscore the importance of the establishment of a field office of the ICC in Khartoum, as agreed in the Memoranda of Understanding concluded with the Government of Sudan in February 2021 and August 2021. We hope this process can be finalized as soon as possible.
We reiterate our call upon Sudan to offer its full support and cooperation to the Office of the Prosecutor, in particular regarding responses to requests for assistance and on the designation and effective operation of focal points.
Finally, we encourage all States to fully support the Court in carrying out its important mandate of ensuring justice for the victims of the most serious crimes under international law. We reconfirm our unwavering support for the Court as an independent, impartial judicial institution of last resort, which anchors the system of justice for serious international crimes that is primarily based on the jurisdiction of national courts.
Thank you.