INTERVIEW: ICC Head Eyeing Opening Japan Office to Raise Profile

Tokyo, Oct. 22 (Jiji Press)--International Criminal Court President Piotr Hofmanski has said he is considering the idea of establishing a regional office in Japan to raise the profile of the Hague-based organization in Asia. "We appreciate very much" the financial contribution of Japan, the biggest contributor by nation, Hofmanski said in a recent interview with Jiji Press at a Tokyo hotel. "Payment is always on time," which is crucial to the ICC's operations, he added. Noting that Asia is the least represented region in the ICC, Hofmanski said, "We count on Japan's support to our efforts to attract other states of the region to join the ICC family." While the Japanese government has close ties with the ICC, only a limited number of Japanese work at the ICC, he said. The organization "would like to share information...to increase the awareness of the ICC mandate in Japan and to attract more professionals (such as lawyers) to apply for jobs at the ICC," Hofmanski said. Regarding his meeting with Prime Minister Fumio Kishida on Thursday, Hofmanski said he is glad that he was able to reconfirm the Japanese government's long-standing support for the ICC. The two talked about deepening the relationship between Japan and the ICC, and Kishida was very supportive, according to Hofmanski. Asked about the idea of setting up an ICC office in Japan, Hofmanski said establishing an information center or a regional office is one of the options to enhance the ICC's cooperation with Japan. Meanwhile, he noted that it is "just a tentative option." While stressing that it is his "personal idea," Hofmanski said that the possible establishment of an ICC office in Japan would be useful to raise awareness of the ICC not only in Japan but also in other Asian countries. "Japan can be really helpful in the process to attract other (Asian) states to join," he said. Hofmanski said that the lack of awareness and knowledge about the ICC in Asia is one of the reasons why there are only a small number of Asian member states. It must be known that a country can show its commitment to international law by joining an international framework, he added. END