Brussels, 17/10/2011 (Agence Europe) - The European Union has welcomed Cape Verde's ratification, on 10 October, of the Rome Statute, the founding treaty of the International Criminal Court in The Hague. In a statement published on the evening of 14 October, EU High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy Catherine Ashton “warmly welcomes” this step by Cape Verde, an African member of the ACP (Africa, Caribbean, Pacific) group of countries, which becomes the 119th state party to the Rome Statute. “The Court is the expression of a rule-based international order to ensure that there is no impunity for the most serious crimes of international concern and their prosecution is ensured in a fair and independent manner”, says Ashton. She sees in this ratification further confirmation of Cape Verde's “commitment to the rule of law”.
Cape Verde is the first Portuguese-speaking African country to have ratified the Rome Statute, which will come into effect for that country on 1 January 2012. Article 11 of the Cotonou Agreement encourages promotion of international justice through implementation of the Rome Statute of the International Criminal Court, without, however, making it compulsory for ACP countries to accede to the Rome Statute. (AN/transl.rt)