ICC sends congrats to Carmona

In a press release yesterday, the ICC said, “The President of the Assembly of States Parties, HE Ms Tiina Intelmann, congratulated Judge Carmona on his election as President of Trinidad and Tobago, highlighted the important role Trinidad and Tobago has played in the creation of the court and expressed her hope that, given his personal support for the court, he would seek to ensure greater acceptance of the Rome Statute and the court at the regional and sub-regional levels.”

On behalf of the International Criminal Court, ICC President Judge Sang-Hyun Song extended congratulations.

“I wish President Carmona the best of success in his new position and I look forward to cooperating with him in the context of the international community’s efforts to end impunity for genocide, crimes against humanity and war crimes,” said Song, who also stated that TT “has always been one of the staunchest supporters of the ICC.”

Carmona resigned from the ICC effective March 18. He had been elected an ICC judge for a term of nine years at the tenth session of the Assembly of States Parties in December 2011. He was sworn-in on March 9, 2012 and assigned to the Trial Division. However, he had not yet been called to full-time duty at the court.

In accordance with article 37 of the Rome Statute – the court’s founding treaty – the Assembly of States Parties will elect a judge to fill the vacancy left by Carmona’s resignation.