EU - erklæring om dom mot Mr. Charles Taylor

EUROPEAN UNION
Brussels, 26 April 2012

Declaration by the High Representative Catherine Ashton, on behalf of the EU, on the judgment in the case of Mr. Charles Taylor

“The judgment delivered today by the Special Court for Sierra Leone in the case of former Liberian President Charles Taylor constitutes a major achievement for this Court and represents a landmark decision in the fight against impunity. The impact of the judgment reaches far beyond Sierra Leone, as it is the first time that a former head of state has been convicted of serious crimes of international concern. This verdict demonstrates that perpetrators - whoever they are - cannot act with impunity. The EU is firmly committed to international justice and the fight against impunity. Therefore it is a strong supporter of the Special Court for Sierra Leone.”

The Acceding Country Croatia*, the Candidate Countries Turkey, the former Yugoslav
Republic of Macedonia*, Montenegro*, Iceland+ and Serbia*, the Countries of the Stabilisation and Association Process and potential candidates Albania and Bosnia and Herzegovina, and the EFTA countries Liechtenstein and Norway, members of the European Economic Area, as well as Ukraine, the Republic of Moldova, Armenia and Georgia, align themselves with this declaration.

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

+ Iceland continues to be a member of the EFTA and of the European Economic Area.