EU Presidency Explanation of Position - Hostage-taking

Explanation of Position on behalf of the European Union by Mr. Janne Jokinen, First Secretary, Permanent Mission of Finland to the United Nations, 61st Session of the UN General Assembly; III Committee, Agenda Item 67(b): Hostage-taking (A/C.3/61/L.44), New York

Mr. Chairman,

I have the honour to speak on behalf of the European Union.

The Acceding Countries Bulgaria and Romania, the Candidate Countries Croatia* and the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia*, the Countries of the Stabilisation and Association Process and potential candidates Albania and Serbia, and the EFTA country Norway, member of the European Economic Area, as well as Ukraine align themselves with this declaration.

The European Union would like to thank the Russian Federation as the main sponsor of the resolution on Hostage-taking before us for the openness to our suggestions in this year's discussions on this resolution. The European Union did raise some concerns on specific elements in the text, of which not all were accommodated in the final text of the resolution.

Nevertheless, we have been able to join consensus on the resolution today. We would, however, like to draw attention to our understanding of the pp6 of the resolution. The European Union considers that hostage-taking may constitute a war crime within the jurisdiction of the International Criminal Court pursuant to the Rome Statute.

Thank you, Mr. Chairman.


* Croatia and the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia continue to be part of the Stabilisation and Association Process.

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