80th Session of the United Nations General Assembly
Agenda Item 128 “International Residual Mechanism for Criminal Tribunals”
Statement delivered by H.E. Rein Tammsaar, Permanent Representative of Estonia on behalf of Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania
New York, 22 October 2025
President,
Distinguished delegates,
I have the honour to speak on behalf of the three Baltic States – Latvia, Lithuania and my own country Estonia.
The Baltic States align with the statement of the European Union and its Member States.
We would like to thank Judge Graciela Gatti Santana, President of the International Residual Mechanism for Criminal Tribunals for the report that marks an important milestone in the Mechanism’s transition towards its final phase of operations.
The Baltic States commend the Mechanism for the progress made in strategic planning for the future, towards a small, temporary and efficient structure in line with Security Council resolution 2740. The Mechanism has advanced in efficiency and downsizing measures – such as the closure of the Kigali field office and outsourcing of administrative functions. We welcome the initiative to establish a working group that reports back to the Secretary-General on options for the transfer of residual functions and assistance to national jurisdictions. We call for the States to fully cooperate with the Mechanism and be ready to take over these functions in near future.
The Baltic States commend the progress made in implementing the recommendation of the last report of the Office of Internal Oversight Services. We appreciate proposals that aim to bring down costs in the future. For example, to amend the Rules of Procedure with the aim at limiting in-court hearings. We are waiting for the next report in 2026 on evaluation of the Mechanism working methods and expect further good cooperation with the OIOS.
However, challenges remain.
There has been no progress in closing the UN Detention Unit in The Hague where several convicted persons remain detained. Closure of the Unit would achieve substantial cost- saving as indicated in the report. The unresolved status of acquitted or released individuals relocated in Niger since 2021 underscores the need for more active cooperation from Member States. The Mechanism cannot resolve this situation alone.
We recall that national prosecutions remain essential in the affected countries. While some progress has been made at the domestic level in recent years, national authorities still have to process a large backlog of cases. We remind that effective prosecution of the most serious international crimes is fundamental to building and sustaining the rule of law and promoting reconciliation. The Mechanism plays an important role in assisting national authorities by responding to requests for assistance from national judiciaries and providing strategic advice and support to national authorities. The continued high volume of requests demonstrates the importance of the support provided by the Mechanism to national authorities.
It is important to stress that the Mechanism requires further cooperation and engagement of States to fulfil its mandate and reducing its activities, in particular of enforcing sentences that remains critical to the Mechanism’s fulfilment of its mandate.
In closing, the Baltic States commend the Mechanism for its steadfast commitment to justice, accountability, and the preservation of the legacy of the ad hoc Tribunals for Rwanda and the former Yugoslavia. We reaffirm our full support for the Mechanism’s mandate and acknowledge its vital role in upholding international criminal justice as a cornerstone of international peace and security. In this regard, the Baltic States strongly advocate for the swift operationalisation of the Special Tribunal for the crime of aggression against Ukraine as a vital step towards ensuring accountability for the gravest violation of international law.
I thank you.