The International Criminal Court (ICC) Tuesday opened an external office in Bangui, the Central African Republic’s capital, APA observes here.

“Opening an office in the Central African Republic is a response to key challenges for the Court and beyond, a response to its needs for the investigations currently being conducted by the prosecutor and later by the defence lawyers if the court is seized with a case,” the ICC registrar Bruno Cathala said.

The ICC believes that by clarifying the circumstances of the acts committed, it paves the way for useful lessons so that oblivion does not “bury” these tragic deaths, Cathala said.

He said that for the first time in international law, ICC entitles victims to take part in the procedure underway at the court and to later demand probably token and collective damages.

Cathala said the ICC, which has spoken about the country’s petition, commends the CAR government’s commitment to justice and its cooperation with the court’s services.

The ICC was created to ensure that the culture of responsibility supersedes that of impunity.

The CAR government in 2004 referred to the ICC the inquest over the situation on its territory.

After conducting an in-depth analysis of the available information, the prosecution ruled that the case meets the Rome Statute relating to jurisdiction, admissibility and justice interests.

The court announced on 22 May 2007 that it was launching a probe on the grave crimes committed in CAR after 1 July 2002.

SL/lmm/pos/ad/APA 23-10-2007

© APA News