28 Oct 2010
STATEMENT BY MR DAREN TANG, DELEGATE TO THE 65th SESSION OF THE UNITED NATIONS GENERAL ASSEMBLYON AGENDA ITEM 70, ON THE REPORT OF THE INTERNATIONAL COURT OF JUSTICE, 28 OCTOBER 2010
Mr. President
1. My delegation would like to express its thanks to the International Court of Justice ("the Court") for the comprehensive and informative report of its work from 1 August 2009 to 31 July 2010 (A/65/4). It is evident that the Court has had an extremely busy year dealing with a myriad of legal issues. It is therefore a testament to the leadership of President Hisashi Owada - whom my country had the honour to receive as a guest speaker earlier this year at the Singapore Academy of Law - that the Court has been able to discharge its duties with the highest levels of competence and professionalism.
2. Mr. President, it is Singapore's firmly held view that international relations must be governed by the rule of law in order to preserve international peace and stability. Fundamental to the rule of law is the notion that disputes must be resolved through peaceful means. Where disputes, in particular those that have become intractable over time, cannot be resolved through informal processes such as negotiations or mediation, serious consideration should be given to the adjudication of the dispute by a neutral third party.
3. Needless to say, the Court plays a vital role in this regard. Under international law, there is no formal hierarchy amongst the various judicial mechanisms and international tribunals, but it is incontrovertible that the Court commands immense prestige and authority. First, it is the only international court of a universal character with general jurisdiction. Second, it is the principal judicial organ of the United Nations and draws on a heritage dating back to the Permanent Court of International Justice. Its judgments have been, and continue to be, extremely influential, and have a deep impact on the development of international law. The Court therefore plays a fundamental role in ensuring that the rule of law in international relations is maintained and strengthened.
4. During the period covered in the report, there have been a number of jurisprudential developments of particular interest to my delegation. We note that the Court has taken the opportunity to clarify the jurisprudence relating to the seeking of provisional measures and other jurisdictional issues, given the number of cases in which such issues have been raised. These clarifications are useful in this developing area of international law, and given the increase in the number of cases where such arguments are being made, we anticipate that there will be other occasions in the future for further elaboration and development. We also note the increasing number of disputes involving issues of environmental law which are being brought before the Court. We look forward to receiving the views of the Court on these issues, given the dynamic growth of this area of law and their pertinence to the global community.
5. We also keenly followed the deliberations of the Court in the case concerning the unilateral declaration of independence in respect of Kosovo, since this is an area of law which is of importance to all countries. As we have observed on previous occasions, this issue involved a complex factual matrix, and in this regard, we were gratified that the Court took great care to seek the views of the actors involved in that declaration in order to ascertain the complex set of events which led to it. We likewise welcomed the fact that numerous countries took an active role in the deliberations and provided their views on the issues at hand. This inclusive process displayed the seriousness with which the Court undertook its duties in the case and also demonstrated the high level of engagement of the international community on an issue of deep legal importance, and augurs well for the continued strength of the rule of law at the international level.
6. With regard to the administration of the Court, my delegation applauds the continuing steps taken by it to streamline its processes and to clear its backlog. This will further assist in assuaging the concerns expressed in certain quarters in relation to the pace of proceedings before the Court. My delegation urges the Court not to let up in this regard, and in particular, to arrange for the commencement of oral proceedings as soon as possible after the conclusion of the written phase of proceedings. We are also encouraged to read that work is proceeding on the modernization of the Great Hall of Justice, including the introduction of information technology resources on the judges' bench, and we look forward to their speedy completion.
7. Singapore notes the request made by the Court for additional security posts in paragraph 26 of its Report. It is the view of my delegation that this request was not made lightly, given that it was pursuant to a security audit triggered by the heightened risk of terrorist attacks. Unfortunately, these risks have not lessened with time. Given the central role that the Court plays, and the range of issues which it has to deal with, including those of a highly controversial nature, it is only right - and prudent - that we support this request.
8. In conclusion, Singapore reiterates its belief that the Court plays a vital role in ensuring the existence and maintenance of the rule of law in international relations. We continue to hold the Court in our deepest regard and pledge our continued support for its work. We wish the Court every measure of success in meeting its future challenges and in the discharge of its duties for the year ahead.
Thank you, Mr President.
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