Statement by Ambassador Geng Shuang at the Security Council Debate on the International Residual Mechanism for Criminal Tribunals
耿爽大使在安理会审议国际刑庭余留机制工作报告会上的发言
8 June 2021
2021年6月8日
Mr. President,
主席先生：
China thanks President Carmel Agius and Prosecutor Serge Brammertz for their reports and would like to express its condolences on the tragic passing of Judge Gberdao Gustave Kam of the International Residual Mechanism for Criminal Tribunals (“Mechanism”).
中方感谢阿吉乌斯庭长和布拉默兹检察官所作报告，谨对国际刑庭余留机制卡姆法官不幸逝世表示哀悼。
The Mechanism has faced many challenges due to the impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic. Under the leadership of President Agius, the Mechanism has overcome difficulties and, through working remotely, resuming in-person hearings and convening virtual Town Hall meetings, made progress in ensuring the timely and efficient conclusion of judicial proceedings, harmonizing practices and procedures between branches and boosting the staff morale. The Office of the Prosecutor has also continued its efforts to track down fugitives and actively advanced its work concerning trials and appeals. China appreciates those measures.
受新冠肺炎疫情影响，余留机制工作面临不少挑战。在阿吉乌斯庭长带领下，机制克服困难，通过远程办公、恢复实体庭审、召集线上全体会议等方式，在确保及时高效完成司法程序、强化分支机构间协调以及鼓舞员工士气等方面取得进展。检察官办公室亦继续努力追查逃犯，积极推进案件审判和上诉工作。中方对上述举措表示赞赏。
Mr. President,
主席先生，
Under relevant Security Council resolutions, the Mechanism should be a small, temporary and efficient structure, the function and size of which will diminish over time. China hopes that the Mechanism will carry out its activities in accordance with the Security Council resolutions. In particular, we hope the judicial proceedings of the cases will be carried out and completed according to the projected timelines provided in the report. In this process, the Mechanism should rationalize its use of budgetary resources and prioritize judicial activities. As relevant cases come to an end, the Mechanism should duly reduce its expenditures.
根据安理会决议，余留机制应是一个高效率的小型临时机构，其职能和规模应随时间推移逐渐缩减。中方希望余留机制依循安理会决议授权开展活动，特别是根据工作报告提出的预估时间表推进和完成各个案件司法程序。在此过程中，余留机制应合理分配预算资源，重点保障司法活动。随着有关案件进入尾声，余留机制应适当压缩开支。
Mr. President,
主席先生，
Practical and effective cooperation between the Mechanism and relevant countries is important for implementing its mandate and advancing its work. Just now, President Agius briefed the Security Council on the disagreement between the Mechanism and the Serbian Government regarding the relevant case. China hopes that the two sides will further strengthen communication, increase mutual trust, accommodate each other’s legitimate concerns, and learn from the successful practices of the international criminal tribunals, so as to find proper solutions to the issues, join hands to combat impunity, and promote national reconciliation.
余留机制与有关国家开展务实有效合作对于其完成授权、推进工作具有重要意义。刚才阿吉乌斯庭长介绍了机制与塞尔维亚政府围绕有关案件的争执，中方希望双方加强沟通，增进互信，照顾彼此合理关切，借鉴国际刑庭成功实践，找到妥善解决问题办法，携手打击有罪不罚、促进民族和解。
In addition, China expects the Mechanism to continue to improve its work by implementing the recommendations of the Security Council Informal Working Group on International Tribunals and the UN Office of Internal Oversight Services, and find early solutions to such issues as the relocation of acquitted and released persons.
此外，中方期待余留机制继续落实安理会国际法庭问题非正式工作组和联合国内部监督事务厅提出的各项建议，不断改进工作，推动早日解决无罪释放人员和刑满释放人员重新安置等问题。
Finally, I would like to take this opportunity to thank Vietnam, the Chair of the Security Council Informal Working Group on International Tribunals, and the United Nations Office of Legal Affairs, for their efforts in coordinating the work of the Security Council and the Mechanism.
最后，我愿借此机会感谢安理会国际法庭问题非正式工作组主席国越南以及联合国法律事务部在协调安理会与余留机制工作方面付出的努力。
Thank you, Mr. President.
谢谢主席先生。