The government of Venezuela and the International Criminal Court (ICC) signed a memorandum of understanding by which the South American country undertakes to cooperate with the investigation that the Court will carry out into allegations of crimes against humanity.
The investigation, according to the memorandum signed in Caracas on Wednesday (3) by questioned President Nicolás Maduro and ICC prosecutor Karim Kahn, aims “to determine the truth and whether or not there are reasons to denounce someone.”
“It is an agreement that expresses the synthesis of this day that has been a step forward in the relations of complementarity and positive cooperation between the Venezuelan state,” said Maduro after signing the memorandum.
“After this assessment and this debate, the prosecutor decided to move to the next phase in search of the truth. We respect your decision as a State, although we have said that we do not share it, and within that framework we signed an agreement that now guarantees effective cooperation,” he added.
For his part, Kahn said the court is “committed to working collaboratively, independently, but with full respect for the principle of positive complementarity with those who have ensured that its office will function in accordance with the Rome Statute.”
He also indicated that he was “fully aware of the flaws that exist in Venezuela and the existing geopolitics”. “We are not politicians, we are guided by the principles of legality and the rule of law.”
The signing of the memorandum takes place after several meetings between the prosecutor and Maduro and his employees. The sessions, according to Kahn, were “characterized by an extremely frank and open debate, a constructive dialogue”.
Maduro said he hopes Kahn will return to the country soon: “I want to confirm our respect and our invitation so that, on a date to be set, as soon as possible, you can return to Venezuela with your team.”
“Maybe more calmly, more time to go deeper into the fulfillment and development of this document that we signed. The doors of Venezuela are open because we want the truth, because we want justice, because we want to improve, because Venezuela guarantees justice.”
Maduro’s government has been under preliminary examination at the International Criminal Court since February 2018 for alleged crimes against humanity, in order to determine whether there is a need for a trial.
In December 2020, the court’s prosecution said it had found reasonable reasons to believe that crimes against humanity had been committed in Venezuela at least since April 2017.
(Translated text; read the original in Spanish)
Reference: CNN Brasil
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