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Remarks by
His
Excellency Sok An, Deputy Prime Minister
Minister in Charge of the Office of the Council of Ministers and
Chairman of the Task Force for Cooperation
with Foreign Legal Experts and Preparation of the Proceedings
for the Trial of Senior Khmer Rouge Leaders
at the Signing Ceremony of the Two
Supplementary Agreements
between the United Nations and the Royal
Government of Cambodia Concerning the Prosecution under
Cambodian Law of Crimes Committed during the Period of
Democratic Kampuchea
14 March 2006
Extraordinary Chambers in the Courts of
Cambodia
Today, with the signing of these two Supplementary Agreements,
we conclude the legal framework for the establishment of the
Extraordinary Chambers in the Courts of Cambodia (ECCC).
At the same time we can also say that we are well on the way to
concluding the financial arrangements, and that the work of
setting into place this new and unprecedented institution is
beginning to take place.
Firstly, we have secured these most suitable and appropriate
premises for the trials – as you can see for yourselves, a brand
new court room with space for over 500 people to observe the
proceedings and generous room for a media centre; ample office
accommodation for the almost 300 staff expected to be employed;
and grounds sufficient to allow construction of detention
facilities, secure housing for victims and witnesses coming to
testify, and to provide ample parking for press and the public.
Secondly, on both the Cambodian and United Nations sides we have
begun to appoint well-qualified and competent people to take up
positions with the Office of Administration for the ECCC. I
would like here to mention specifically the Director (Sean
Visoth) and Deputy Director (Michelle Lee), who have over the
past month worked together in a spirit of harmony and positive
cooperation in the task of assembling staff to run the nine
sections of the Office of Administration.
Thirdly, the Secretary-General has now transmitted to the Royal
Government of Cambodia his list of nominees for the positions of
international judges, co-prosecutor and co-investigating judge
as well as their reserves. I would like to thank the
Secretary-General and also the Member States who proposed their
nationals for these important positions for proposing people of
such calibre and experience from all corners of the globe. The
Supreme Council of the Magistracy is now in the process of
making a final selection from this list of nominees, and will
soon announce the final list of both international and Cambodian
judicial officers. I have every confidence that these eminent
individuals will work together to build an institution
unprecedented, for the ECCC is something new – a national court
with international characteristics. If we succeed with the
challenge of forging the strong, independent and competent court
that we have in mind, then we will not only have set up a pilot
court for Cambodia but also we will have built a new model in
the annals of international justice.
I take the occasion today to pay tribute to the work of all
those in the United Nations Secretariat – from Hans Corell and
his successor as Legal Counsel Nicholas Michel and the team from
the Office of Legal Affairs, the Department of Political
Affairs, the Office of the Controller as well as the United
Nations representatives on the ground here in Phnom Penh.
I wish to express my heartfelt thanks to the Member States of
the United Nations who have maintained their confidence and
commitment to this process, without which we would not be
signing these Supplementary Agreements today. We appreciate the
assistance and advice given to us by the Group of Interested
States and over recent months their financial contributions,
especially by Japan, India, the European Union, France,
Australia, Germany, Norway, the United Kingdom, Sweden,
****CHECK****
I would like to say personally how deeply touched we were to
hear of two very special contributions. We understand the deep
significance of donations of $1,000 from Armenia and $500 from
Namibia because we know how those countries have suffered, and
we understand that their contributions come from the heart, to
encourage us to right the wrongs of our own history as they too
are struggling to do.
It has taken many years to get to this point
but we now stand on the brink of finally establishing an
internationally recognised judicial procedure to address the
crimes committed in Cambodia between 1975 and 1979. I urge all
those working in the ECCC to devote themselves wholeheartedly to
their duties. To all those observing its work, both within and
outside the country -- whether in the press, the NGOs, in
governments and in the community at large -- I appeal to you to
extend your assistance and support in the coming years so that
we finally discharge our historic obligation to the victims of
these crimes.
Thank you for your attention.
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