Permanent Representative of the Republic of Cyprus to the UN, Ambassador Maria Michail, reaffirmed Nicosia’s ‘strong and steadfast support of the International Criminal Court,’ in her address before the 80th Session of the UN General Assembly, on Tuesday, describing it as ‘an independent and impartial judicial institution of the highest quality.’
Reaffirming Cyprus’ unwavering support for the independence, impartiality, and integrity of the Court, Michail voiced concern over ‘external threats, coercive measures, and other actions that could undermine its capacity to fulfill its mandate.’ She stressed that it is ‘crucial that the Court and its staff are able to carry out their essential duties without external influence or undue pressure,’ and expressed ‘deep regret over any attempts to undermine the Court’s independence, integrity and impartiality’.
Expressing gratitude to ICC President Tomoko Akane for presenting the report, she aligned Cyprus with the cross-regional statement delivered by Mexico and the forthcoming one by the European Union, while offering remarks in her national capacity.
Michail underlined that Cyprus ‘continues to advocate for the universal ratification and full implementation of the Rome Statute’ and called upon all Member States ‘to become party to the Statute.’ She welcomed ‘the Statute’s entry into force this year for its 125th State Party, following Ukraine’s recent ratification,’ emphasizing that this expansion reflects growing recognition of the Court’s indispensable role in ‘combating impunity, ensuring accountability and preventing recurrence of the most serious crimes of international concern’.
Referring to the ICC’s jurisdiction over genocide, war crimes, crimes against humanity, and the crime of aggression, she reminded the Assembly that these ‘represent grave violations of international law, notably the UN Charter, Human Rights and International Humanitarian Law.’ The Court, she said, ‘is expected to provide justice for these heinous crimes, in accordance with the principle of complementarity’.
On the Kampala Amendments concerning the crime of aggression, Ambassador Michail recalled that ‘as a victim of foreign aggression, Cyprus was among the first to ratify the amendments,’ and welcomed ‘their acceptance or ratification by four new States.’ She urged all States Parties ‘to do the same in order to enhance the fight against impunity for the crime of aggression’.
She highlighted Cyprus’s participation in the July 2025 Special Session of the Assembly of States Parties, which aimed to strengthen the ICC’s jurisdiction over aggression. ‘While the Kampala regime was a landmark achievement,’ she noted, ‘it left a notable accountability gap, particularly in situations where acts of aggression are committed by nationals of non-States Parties or on the territory of non-States Parties.’ This, she warned, ‘allows impunity to persist and undermines the Court’s credibility’.
For Cyprus, she stressed, ‘this issue is far from theoretical.’ The country ‘continues to live with the devastating consequences of foreign aggression,’ and thus ‘justice has long remained out of reach.’ Ambassador Michail emphasized that ‘accountability must not depend on the identity of the aggressor or the place where the aggression was committed, but rather on the objective gravity of the act and the fundamental need to uphold the rule of international law’.
Looking ahead, she expressed Cyprus’ readiness for ‘the intersessional meeting in 2027’ and ‘the Special Session in 2029 to consider the proposed amendment to Article 15 bis,’ aiming to harmonize jurisdiction ‘over all four crimes of the Rome Statute’.
Finally, Ambassador Michail reaffirmed Cyprus’s ‘strong support for the Trust Fund for Victims,’ which she described as ‘an indispensable pillar of the ICC system.’ Its work, she said, ‘in providing reparations, assistance, physical and psychological rehabilitation for the victims of the most heinous crimes has been truly remarkable.’
Recalling her country’s own experience, she added that ‘as a country that endured war crimes itself, Cyprus knows and understands the importance of an organized and experienced mechanism offering the necessary support for the victims to carry on their lives.’ She concluded by assuring that ‘our continuous financial support to the Trust Fund remains assured,’ while urging all States Parties ‘to continue or even enhance their efforts in supporting it’.