IRELAND: The chairman of the Irish Red Cross and former minister for foreign affairs, Mr David Andrews, has welcomed the swearing-in of the International Criminal Court as "a huge step forward", writes Deaglán de Bréadún, Foreign Affairs Correspondent.
"It is a matter of great personal satisfaction to be chairman of the Red Cross on this very historic day. This court will give concrete backing to international humanitarian law," he said.
"Tragically, it cannot heal the wounds of the suffering or bring back to life those who have died in wars, but at least now victims who survive and the grieving families of those who don't survive in wars have a place to go to get justice.
"I'm very proud of the role played by the Red Cross, which, through our global partner, the International Committee of the Red Cross, has played a hugely influential role in getting this court up and running."
"For the past 140 years the Red Cross has demonstrated its expertise in helping victims of war, and today's inauguration demonstrates the effectiveness of its mandate under the Geneva Conventions."
Mr Andrews also paid tribute to the Department of Foreign Affairs, which had helped to bring the court into existence by its ratification of the relevant treaty.