Arab News Japan

TOKYO: Japanese Foreign Minister KAMIKAWA Yoko received a courtesy call from Judge AKANE Tomoko, President of the International Criminal Court (ICC), on Monday and discussed ways to improve the ICC and expand Japanese collaboration and cooperation.

After congratulating Akane on her appointment as the first Japanese President of the ICC, Kamikawa stated that for Japan to work more closely with the ICC, it is essential that the ICC is seen to conduct neutral, fair, and impartial proceedings based on the Rome Statute and other relevant rules. She said it was important for the ICC to maintain its independence as a criminal court.

Kamikawa and Akane agreed on the need to strengthen collaboration and cooperation to promote the rule of law in the international community and to take actions such as increasing the number of States Parties to the Rome Statute.

Kamikawa introduced Japan’s plans to increase the number of States Parties to the Rome Statute. The two sides recognized that an increase in the number of States Parties, including those in the Asia-Pacific region, is essential for the ICC to become a truly universal court.

Kamikawa outlined efforts by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs to increase the number of Japanese personnel in the ICC. These included an ICC job seminar held in New York in May for Japanese staff of the United Nations and other international organizations.

Akane extended her appreciation for Japan’s recent collaboration under the initiative of Minister Kamikawa and expressed her willingness to step up cooperation with relevant Japanese institutions so that more Japanese legal professionals and students will apply for positions at the ICC.