第76回国連総会本会議「国際司法裁判所（ICJ）報告書」（議題76）における石兼大使ステートメント
令和3年10月28日
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Mr. President,President of the International Court of Justice,
Distinguished Delegates,
I would like to begin by paying special tribute to the late Judge James Richard Crawford, who made enormous contributions to the work of the Court as the leading international lawyer of his generation.
I would like to thank President Donoghue for her dedication and leadership, as well as for her in-depth and comprehensive report on the activities of the Court in the past year. I was most impressed by how much the Court has achieved despite the unprecedented challenges of the pandemic. I also express my deep appreciation for the members of the Court and the Registry. Japan is confident that the Court continues to discharge its judicial function efficiently and effectively under the new composition with members elected last year and a coming member to fill the vacancy.
Mr. President,
Japan has high regard for the work of the ICJ as the principal judicial organ of the United Nations. The confidence of the international community in the role of the Court to settle disputes in accordance with international law is shown by the fact that new cases are constantly brought before the Court every year. Such confidence of States is founded on the long-standing jurisprudence through which the Court has considered and applied the existing rules of international law. We trust that the Court will continue to take a balanced approach to treaty interpretation, in accordance with the customary rules reflected in the Vienna Convention on the Law of Treaties. This is the key which would allow the Court to continue to gain the high level of confidence that the international community places in it.
Mr. President,
We are convinced that an essential aspect of rules-based international relations is to encourage peaceful settlement of disputes through international judicial institutions such as the ICJ. Japan calls upon all Member States to consider accepting compulsory jurisdiction of the Court for the settlement of disputes not covered by other relevant dispute settlement mechanisms, if they have not yet done so. In this regard, Japan commends the initiative by Romania on the Declaration on promoting acceptance of the Court’s jurisdiction. Japan is committed to actively take part in this initiative as a member of the Core Group.
In concluding, I reiterate Japan’s unwavering support for the essential role the Court plays in maintaining stable, rules-based international relations by clarifying international law through its respected judgments and advisory opinions.
I thank you, Mr. President.