The National Coalition for the International Criminal Court constituted this March by a number of nongovernmental organizations welcomes the ratification of the Rome Statute of the International Criminal Court by Parliament, Info-Prim Neo reports. “The ratification of the Rome Statute is a very important step towards ensuring the observance of the human rights on Moldova’s territory and towards strengthening justice throughout the world. Moldova has joined the countries that are clearly against genocide, crimes against humanity and war crimes,” it is said in a communiqué issued by the Coalition. Amnesty International Moldova president Veaceslav Balan, who coordinates the working group for the International Criminal Court, said that now Moldova is obliged to implement the Rome Statute and ensure active cooperation with the International Criminal Court if need be. “In order to strengthen the legal status of the International Criminal Court and its servants, Moldova must also sign the Agreement on the Privileges and Immunities of the Court. We must not sign agreements on immunity from the Court’s jurisdiction that can undermine the universal character of its competence,” said Sergiu Ostaf, the head of the Resource Center for Human Rights (CReDO). Ion Manole, the head of the Promo-Lex Association, stressed that the ratification of the Rome Statute without provisions concerning the Transnistrian territory is a very positive thing as this area is placed under the International Criminal Court’s jurisdiction and the Transnistrians will receive practically the first real guarantees that their rights and freedoms will be respected,” Ion Manole said. Executive director of the Center “Memoria” Ludmila Popovich said the ratification of this document was stipulated in the Moldova-EU Plan of Action for 2005-2009. “Though with delay, the Parliament took one of the most important steps towards fulfilling the obligations towards the international community,” she said. The NGOs of the National Coalition for the International Criminal Court had promoted the ratification of the Rome Stature for over eight years. The International Criminal Court is a permanent tribunal to prosecute individuals for genocide, crimes against humanity, war crimes, and the crime of aggression. The Parliament of Moldova ratified the Rome Statute on September 9, 2010.