WEBVTT

00:00:06.000 --> 00:00:12.000
Ladies and Gentlemen,
Two strenuous weeks lie ahead of you in Ljubljana:

00:00:12.100 --> 00:00:16.590
starting on the 15th of May,
you will be negotiating a Convention on

00:00:16.591 --> 00:00:21.440
International Cooperation in the Prosecution of the Crime of Genocide,

00:00:21.441 --> 00:00:26.290
Crimes against Humanity, War Crimes and other International Crimes.

00:00:26.360 --> 00:00:36.100
Representatives of numerous countries will come together to discuss this important project and agree on a common position.

00:00:36.400 --> 00:00:45.450
I would have liked to be there in person to tell you how much this event means to me.

00:00:46.000 --> 00:00:51.240
Unfortunately, I am unable to attend for scheduling reasons,

00:00:52.000 --> 00:00:59.300
but I want to assure you that this project has the Federal Republic of Germany's full support.

00:00:59.450 --> 00:01:05.100
Of course, against the backdrop of Russia's war of aggression in Ukraine,

00:01:05.150 --> 00:01:10.450
a convention of this sort takes on even greater significance.

00:01:11.000 --> 00:01:16.590
Germany has been a Supporting State since 2017,

00:01:17.000 --> 00:01:24.000
and I would like to take a moment to thank the states that have tirelessly led this initiative:

00:01:24.150 --> 00:01:29.480
Argentina, Belgium, the Netherlands, Mongolia, Senegal,

00:01:30.000 --> 00:01:35.000
but last but not least Slovenia, the host of this diplomatic conference.

00:01:35.200 --> 00:01:44.000
I am convinced that the MLA convention will be of paramount importance

00:01:44.150 --> 00:01:49.100
in investigating international crimes and bringing the perpetrators to justice.

00:01:50.000 --> 00:01:55.300
It will be the first comprehensive instrument addressing mutual legal assistance

00:01:55.450 --> 00:02:01.100
with a specific focus on the most serious international crimes.

00:02:01.400 --> 00:02:12.000
It will therefore be a welcome addition to the Rome Statute, while remaining open to states that have not acceded to the Rome Statute.

00:02:12.300 --> 00:02:16.300
Its adoption would be a huge success.

00:02:17.000 --> 00:02:28.000
Of course, we are all well aware that a great deal of work remains to be done to refine certain points of the convention

00:02:28.150 --> 00:02:32.300
on data protection or victim protection, for instance,

00:02:33.250 --> 00:02:38.000
a task that our experts will devote themselves to throughout the conference.

00:02:38.300 --> 00:02:44.460
The current draft nevertheless provides an excellent basis for further negotiations,

00:02:45.000 --> 00:02:52.470
and I am quite confident that by working together we can resolve any remaining problems.

00:02:53.000 --> 00:03:00.100
In any case I can assure you that Germany's role in this process will be a constructive one.

00:03:00.150 --> 00:03:08.500
I wish you all every success, and productive negotiations in Ljubljana!