Statement by Permanent Representative of Slovenia to the United Nations Samuel Žbogar at the UNSC meeting on the International Residual Mechanism for Criminal Tribunals

I would like to thank Judge Gatti Santana and Prosecutor Brammertz for their reports submitted to the Council as well as for their briefings today. I also thank them for the words of appreciation to my country as well as to other four outgoing members.

We also welcome the participation of Assistant Minister Stojanović of Serbia as well as the representatives of Bosnia and Herzegovina, Croatia and Rwanda to today’s meeting.

Slovenia would like to make the following points:

First, we would like to express our strong appreciation for the crucial contribution of the Mechanism and its predecessors, ICTY and ICTR to the justice for victims of atrocities in the former Yugoslavia and Rwanda, and the global fight against impunity. They have been fulfilling the mandate given by the Security Council, which recognized the importance of justice for peace and reconciliation. This legacy will remain forever, long after the completion of the Mechanism. Moreover, each attempt at rewriting history, each case of glorification of convicted war criminals or denial of atrocities, proves how important it is to preserve this legacy. It is also one of the reasons why Slovenia expressed its interest in hosting the archives of the Mechanism and its predecessor tribunals.

Second, the work is still not finished. But the difference is now that it is the states that are primarily responsible for ensuring that those responsible for atrocities are held accountable.

There are still thousands of cases to be processed, and this remains a priority. What is clearly evident is the states still need and ask for support from the Mechanism for their national proceedings. It remains a priority for Slovenia that this support is ensured as long as is needed, even after potential completion of the Mechanism. Slovenia appreciates all efforts of the Mechanism’s principals in this regard, and we welcome all proposals put forward by the Mechanism. We also welcome the two reports of the Secretary-General on the possible transfer of several functions.

Lastly, Slovenia will continue to strongly support the Mechanism and its work. This support is support for the fight against impunity; it is support for all efforts to ensure accountability and justice; it is commitment to peace and security. The Mechanism will soon end, but the fight against impunity will continue. Accountability for crimes against humanity, war crimes, aggression, and genocide, even 80 years after the end of the Second World War and the Nuremberg tribunal, remains as relevant as ever before. And with that also the legacy of both tribunals and the Mechanism.

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