UN Secretary-General condemns US announcement to impose sanctions on the International Criminal Court

New York, Oct 9 (KUNA) -- UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres on Friday condemned the United States’ announcement of imposing sanctions on the International Criminal Court (ICC), reaffirming his steadfast support for the Court’s independence and its officials. In a press statement, Guterres expressed deep concern over the anticipated repercussions of these sanctions on the ICC as a whole, particularly its ability to continue carrying out its mandate, including cases referred to it by the UN Security Council and by States Parties to the Rome Statute. He described the US decision as a “serious blow to our collective efforts to achieve international criminal justice, of which the ICC is a cornerstone.” Guterres emphasized that holding perpetrators of international crimes accountable and delivering justice to victims lie at the heart of the global commitment to peace, security, human rights, and fundamental freedoms. He called on all States to fulfill their obligations under international law and to support efforts to ensure accountability for the most serious crimes of concern to the international community. The Secretary-General stressed the UN’s continued commitment to cooperating with the ICC in accordance with the Relationship Agreement between the two parties, approved by the UN General Assembly on September 13, 2004. (End) A.S.T.