ICTY President Judge Carmel Agius met last Friday with the President of the United Nations General Assembly, Ambassador Peter Thomson (Fiji), at United Nations Headquarters in New York. The meeting was held ahead of President Agius’ presentation of the ICTY’s annual report to the Seventy-First Session of the General Assembly.
The meeting highlighted the importance of the relationship between the Tribunal and the General Assembly, as well as its Member States. President Agius briefed President Thomson on the Tribunal's remaining work, focusing on the final trial and appeal proceedings and the challenges facing the Tribunal in its final year of operations. He identified staff attrition as the most critical factor in this respect.
The two Presidents also discussed the advancement of Agenda 2030 for Sustainable Development. President Agius indicated that the ICTY would be particularly interested in contributing to the realisation of the Sustainable Development Goal 16 related to peace, justice and strong institutions, with a special focus on strengthening the rule of law and ensuring access to justice.
Finally, President Agius informed President Thomson about the Tribunal’s “ICTY Legacy Dialogues” series of legacy and closing events, which in 2017 will include a major conference in Sarajevo and a closing ceremony in The Hague.
President Agius will present the ICTY’s annual report on the court’s work to the General Assembly this coming Wednesday, 9 November 2016.
