Courtesy Call on Mr. Taro Aso, Minister for Foreign Affairs, by President Rosalyn Higgins of the International Court of Justice (ICJ)

April 11, 2007

1.   President Rosalyn Higgins of the International Court of Justice (ICJ), now visiting Japan at the invitation of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, paid a courtesy call on Mr. Taro Aso, Minister for Foreign Affairs, on April 10 (Tue) for about 25 minutes from 15:40 (Lord Higgins, Member of the House of Lords of the UK, President Higgins’ husband, and Judge Hisashi Owada of the ICJ were also present).

2.  President Higgins explained the current activities of the ICJ and the importance of its role in the international community.  Foreign Minister Aso said that Japan intended to further strengthen the “Rule of Law” in the international community as part of the “Value-oriented Diplomacy,” one of the pillars of its diplomacy, and would continue to reinforce its cooperative relationship with the ICJ.  Foreign Minister Aso also said that Japan fully understood the importance of the improvement of modern law partly because of its historical experiences and were proactively assisting the establishment of legal systems in East Asia.  He added that Japan was aiming at formal accession to the International Criminal Court (ICC) in October this year.  President Higgins expressed appreciation for Japan’s efforts and assistance to the ICJ.