The Government of the Italian Republic and the United Nations today signed in Rome an agreement on the enforcement of sentences imposed by the International Criminal Tribunal for Rwanda (ICTR). The agreement was signed on behalf of the Government of the Italian Republic by H.E. Alfredo Mantica, Under Secretary of State, Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs, and on behalf of the United Nations by Mr. Adama Dieng, Assistant Secretary-general and Registrar of the ICTR.
The signing of this agreement is a very important step which underlines the commitment of the Italian Government in facilitating the discharge and completion of the mandate of the ICTR, and is also the result of the implementation of Italian law no. 181 of 2002 which governs judicial cooperation between the Republic of Italy and the ICTR.
The signature of the agreement confirms the long–standing cooperation of Italy with the Tribunal, and its respect for the observance of the international law. With the agreement, Italy became the fifth country approved to receive convicts under the UN Tribunal’s enforcement of sentences provisions. Mali, Benin, Swaziland and France, have already signed agreements on enforcement of sentences. At present, six convicts including the former Prime Minister of Rwanda, Jean Kambanda, are serving their sentences in Bamako, Mali.
According to the Statute of the Tribunal, sentences of imprisonment “shall be served in Rwanda or in any of the States on a list of States which have indicated to the Security Council their willingness to accept convicted persons as designated by the ICTR. Such imprisonment shall be in accordance with the applicable law of the State concerned, subject to the supervision of the ICTR”.
The Registrar, Mr. Adama Dieng, had the opportunity to discuss matters relating to judicial cooperation with Ms. Iole Santelli, Deputy Minister of Justice, Ms. Augusta Iannini, Director of the Penal Affairs Division, and with H.E. Antonio D’Ali, Deputy Minister for Internal Affairs, to further strengthen judicial cooperation between the ICTR and the Italian Republic.
While in Rome to sign the agreement, Registrar Mr. Adama Dieng, Senior Trial Attorney Ms. Sylvana Arbia, and Chief of External Relations and Strategic Planning Section, and Spokesperson Mr. Roland Amoussouga also participated in a conference on the contribution of the ICTR to the development of international law and on Italy’s support of the ICTR at the invitation of Professor Paolo Benvenuti. The conference was held on 16 March at the University of Rome III (Roma TRE).