ماليزيا تتجه للأنضمام الى المحكمة الجنائية الدولية والمصادقة على ميثاق روما

Quote: Malaysia to ratify Rome Statute A MEMORANDUM is to be drafted for the cabinet to approve Malaysia's ratification of the Rome Statute to be party to the International Criminal Court (ICC). Minister in the Prime Minister's Department Datuk Seri Nazri Aziz said Malaysia had always viewed the ICC positively and it was up to the cabinet to decide on the ratification. "Last year, when Gaza was under siege, in Parliament, we approved a resolution for Turkey to go to the ICC to prosecute Israel. "So, we can interpret that our attitude and stand are very positive," he said at the Parliament lobby. Nazri said the matter was under the Foreign Ministry because the Rome Statute was an international treaty. "I have discussed with the Foreign Ministry officials, especially our ambassador at large, Datuk Noor Faridah Ariffin, who is in charge of international treaties in the foreign service. She will be briefing the Foreign Ministry and was told that the memorandum will be prepared soon." Parliament is hosting a two-day seminar, Regional Asia-Pacific Parliamentary Consultation on the Universality of the ICC, which ends today and attended by delegates from Parliamentarian for Global Action (PGA). PGA is an international non-governmental organisation set up by members of national parliaments to advance the cause of democracy and freedom. Currently, Asia is the least represented in the ICC, and of the 144 countries, only two countries in the Southeast Asia -- Cambodia and Timor Leste -- have ratified the Rome Statute. ICC president Sang-Hyun Song, who delivered the keynote address at the seminar, said he believed Malaysia could lead the way for Asia with the ICC. "As the ICC increasingly takes centre stage in the global fight against impunity and protection of the most fundamental human rights, the ratification will send a strong signal of the country's commitment to peace, justice, human rights and rule of law. "It will provide additional protection to the nation against the gravest violations of universally recognised human rights," he added. PGA executive councillor member Ross Robertson, from New Zealand, said PGA was hopeful that Malaysia would become a catalyst for other nations in Southeast Asia to sign and ratify the Rome Statute. Song said the ICC was a court of last resort only when a state was unwilling or unable to carry out genuine investigation or prosecution. He is scheduled to meet Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak and Attorney-General Tan Sri Abdul Gani Patail today.