Caracas, 1 April 2022 (TDI): The President of the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela, Nicolas Maduro, received the Prosecutor of the International Criminal Court, Karim A.A Khan QC.
The prosecutor arrived in Venezuela for a three-day visit. The purpose of the visit was to work out and comply with the Memorandum of Understanding between Venezuela and ICC. Moreover, the visit aimed to initiate the complementarity of the dialogue process and agreements in Venezuela.
This was the prosecutor’s second visit to the South American country. At the conclusion of the visit, the prosecutor stated that “Through cooperation we will accelerate our common work towards justice”.
Statement by the Prosecutor
Karim A.A Khan QC expressed that “significant steps have been taken to deepen cooperation and accelerate our independent work in relation to the Situation in Venezuela following my decision to open an investigation in November 2021.”
The prosecutor further expressed his gratitude to the authorities of Venezuela for their official invitation. He also noted their cooperation with the ICC delegation. He particularly mentioned the President of the Republic, Nicolás Maduro, for his continued engagement. The prosecutor said that he held straightforward and productive discussions with the Venezuelan President.
In his official statement, the prosecutor declared that the collaborative approach that is adopted has led to significant progress in implementing the Memorandum of Understanding between the ICC and Venezuela.
The ICC and Venezuela signed the memorandum in November 2021 during the prosecutor’s first visit to Caracas.
Moreover, he proclaimed that the investigation “should also be a basis for deepening engagement and strengthening partnerships. In this regard, I believe we have reached a significant agreement with the Government of Venezuela to work together with international partners, including the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights, on appropriate measures to facilitate implementation of the commitments set out in MoU”.
The International Criminal Court also decided to open an office in the country.
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