STATEMENTBYAMBASSADORTUVAKON.

MANONGI, PERMANENTREPRESENTATIVEOFTHEUNITEDREPUBLICOFTANZANIA TOTHEUNITEDNATIONSATTHESIXTHCOMMITTEEOFTHE68THSESSION OFTHEUNITEDNATIONSGENERALASSEMBLYONAGENDAITEM85:THE RULEOFLAWATTHENATIONALANDINTERNATIONALLEVELS

Mr.Chairman, AttheoutsetwewishtoalignourselveswiththestatementmadebytheRepublicof IranonbehalfoftheNonAlignedMovement. Wewelcometheimportancebeingaccordedtothepromotionoftheruleoflawandthe peacefulsettlementofinternationaldisputes.Itisasanimportantendeavorinsupport ofinitiativesbytheUnitedNationsaswellasMemberStates. WeseetheendeavourasareaffirmationofthedeclarationoftheHighLevelMeetingof the General Assembly on the Rule of Law and its relevance at the national and internationallevels.Itmarksrenewedphaseinstrengtheningtheruleoflawwithinthe UnitedNationssystemandglobally. Mr.Chairman, Theruleoflawisacoreprincipleoftheinternationalsystem.However,withoutstrong ruleoflawcapacitiesatthenationallevel,effortsatstrengtheningruleoflawatthe internationallevelareundermined.TheUnitedNation'ssystemmustthereforesustain itsfocusinprovidingintegratedandeffectiveassistanceinstrengtheningtheruleof law,bothatthenationalandinternationallevels. While responsibility for strengthening the rule of law only rests with the Member States,webelievethattheUnitedNationsisideallyplacedtosupportthoseeffortsand toprovideintegratedandeffectiveassistance.Inthisregardwewouldalsodobetterby enhancingeffectiveness,synergiesandcoordinationamongthevariednationalruleof lawinitiatives. ThereisthereforeneedfortheUNagenciesandotheractorstofocusonpromotingthe exchangeofgoodpracticesandtheformulationofcommonpolicies.Atthesametime allactorsmustrefrainfromtheonesizefitsallapproachesorapproachesthatextend beyondtheconfinesoftheruleoflawmandates.

Mr.Chairman, The rule of law is the cornerstone of Tanzanias democracy and governance. Our adherencetotheruleoflawunderpinscurrentnationaleffortsattheformulationofa newconstitutionfortheUnited Republic. Theexercise hasbeen deepandbroadin scope, and encompassing citizens at every walk of life. We see this as yet another opportunity to strengthen our democracy and the legitimacy of our institutions of governanceandtheruleoflaw.ItisalsoareflectionoftheGovernment'scommitment todischargeitsobligationsandresponsibilitiesinademocraticenvironment. Tanzaniafirmlybelievesintheimportanceofsafeguardingandupholdingtheruleof law.Wethereforestressourcommitmenttoandeffortsinpromotingtheruleoflawin theconductofinternationalrelations. Thepromotionofandcommitmenttopeaceful settlementofdisputesconsistentwiththeUnitedNations'Charterremainsoneofthe cornerstones of Tanzanias foreign policy. We advocate for the settlement of internationaldisputesbypeacefulmeansasembodiedintheprinciplesoftheCharter. Wehaveparticipatedactivelyinvariousmultilateralnegotiations,andusedpeaceful mechanisms to resolve disputes. Our view is that disputes, including those over territorialsovereigntycanandshouldberesolvedpeacefullyandinaccordancewith internationallaw,includingthroughtheInternationalCourtJustice.Itisinthisrespect atregionallevel,Tanzaniahasactivelyinvolvedherselfinthepromotionofpeaceand securityintheregion,includingoureffortintheGreatLakesregionofAfrica. Mr.Chairman, International humanitarian law has made remarkable contribution toward strengthening the rule of law at both national and international levels. Indeed the formationoftheadhoccriminaltribunalsforRwandaandtheformerYugoslaviagave specialimpetustotheestablishmentoftheInternationalCriminalCourt.Wecommend their accomplishments and pledge our support for the International Residual MechanismsfortheCriminalTribunals,abranchofwhichweareprivilegestohostat Arusha,Tanzania. Mr.Chairman, Itwillberemissonourpartifwedonotcommentonthematterregardingthecurrent stateofaffairsbetweentheInternationalCriminalCourtandAfrica.Inhisaddressto

theGeneralAssembly,thePresidentoftheUnitedRepublicofTanzania,HEJakaya MrishoKikwete,notedthattheadoptionoftheRomeStatuteestablishingtheICCwasa majormilestoneoftheinternationalcriminaljustice system,andthatit'screationas machineryforcombatingimpunitywasonlypossiblewiththesupportofAfrica. PresidentKikwetehoweverexpressedourregretattheriftthathasgrownbetweenthe Courtandthecontinent.TheCourt'sperceivedirresponsivenesstowhatare,inour view,legitimateconcernsofAfricademandgreaterempathythatneitherundermines thecourtsintegritynortheconfidenceofitsmemberstates.Webelievethisbalanceis practical,attainableandstrengthenstheruleoflawatthenationalandinternational levels. Mr.Chairman, The approach of the international community to peaceful settlement of disputes continuestoevolveinresponsetothechangingnatureofglobalthreatstopeaceand security. In this context, the United Nations, the International Court of Justice, the International Tribunal for the Law of the Sea as well as the International Sea Bed Authority,amongothers,remainkeyactors. Weshouldcontinueeffortsatstrengtheningtheprocessofthepeacefulsettlementof dispute.Thechallengefortheinternationalcommunityistostrengthentheruleoflaw andpromoteeffectiveadherence.ThisisachallengetheUnitedRepublicofTanzaniais committedtoprovidepositivecontribution.

ThankyouMr.Chairman