Statement by EU High Representative Catherine Ashton on the ratification of the Rome Statute of the International Criminal Court by Côte d'Ivoire

BRUSSELS, Kingdom of Belgium, February 19, 2013/African Press Organization (APO)/ -- The High Representative of the European Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy and Vice President of the Commission issued the following statement today:

"I warmly welcome the ratification of the Rome Statute of the International Criminal Court by Côte d'Ivoire on 15 February and congratulate the Ivorian authorities on their achievement. With its decision, Côte d'Ivoire has underlined its commitment to the rule of law at national and international level.

With this accession, Côte d'Ivoire, which is the 122nd country to become a State Party to the Rome Statute, joins an ever-increasing number of States in the call that there shall be no impunity for the most serious crimes.

The European Union has long supported the ratification of the Rome Statute. This ratification is also in line with the commitments to work towards ratification of the Rome Statute taken by the European Union and the African, Caribbean and Pacific countries under the Cotonou Agreement.”