BOOK ON PERMANENT INTERNATIONAL CRIMINAL COURT PRESENTED

ZAGREB, Nov 30 (Hina) - The circumstances of the establishment of the Permanent International Criminal Court, the application of regulations from its Statute, and their effect on the Croatian legislation are the main topics of the book "Permanent International Criminal Court" by Ivo Josipovic, Davor Krapac and Petar Novoselac, which was presented at the Zagreb Law School on Friday. Supreme Court president Ivica Crnic said the establishment of the Permanent Criminal Court in Rome in 1998 for the prosecution of the gravest crimes, such as genocide, crimes against humanity, war crimes and aggression, was one of the most important events in the history of civilisation. The establishment of the court has caused anxiety among some people because it prevents the possibility of power-wielders and military commanders, who committed the gravest criminal acts, being above law, he said. "From our current standpoint, it is clear that politicians and soldiers from big states are not very likely to end up before that court to answer for possible grave crimes, but why not believe that some day, perhaps in not so distant future, those who seem untouchable today will have to answer," Crnic said. Crnic expects that the court's statute will be ratified and approved by a sufficient number of parliaments so that it could go into force. He also reminded that the Croatian parliament in March this year adopted a Law on the Ratification of the Court's Statute, thus including in the Croatian legal system its regulations which are above the national legislation. Petar Novoselac, who spoke on behalf of the authors, who are doctors of legal sciences and law professors, stressed the great political importance of the Rome Statute, which, he said, would significantly contribute to the prevention of grave crimes. (hina) sb rml