Judge Carmel Agius assumed office as President of the International Residual Mechanism for Criminal Tribunals (UNMICT) on Saturday, following his appointment by the United Nations Secretary-General on June 30, 2018, to a term expiring on June 30, 2020.

Judge Agius took over the Presidency of the Mechanism from Judge Theodor Meron, who served as its President since 2012. Upon assuming the function, Judge Agius expressed his deep gratitude to Judge Meron for his exceptional stewardship of the Mechanism since the very first day of this institution’s existence.

He noted that it was very much thanks to Judge Meron’s work, leadership and dedication that the vision of the Mechanism as a new and efficient model of international tribunal became a reality. In addition, he praised Judge Meron and his staff for all their efforts in making the transition between Presidents exceptionally smooth.

Judge Agius has been a Judge of the UNMICT since its inception in 2012. He also served as a Judge of the Trial Chamber of the International Criminal Tribunal for the former Yugoslavia (ICTY) from 2001 and a Judge of the Appeals Chambers of both the International Criminal Tribunal for Rwanda (ICTR) and the ICTY from 2009 until the Tribunals’ closures in December 2015 and December 2017, respectively.

He also served as Vice-President of the ICTY from November 2011 until November 2015 and as the final President of the ICTY from November 2015 until its closure in December 2017.

Judge Agius underlined that his main priority as President would be ensuring that the residual judicial proceedings are concluded efficiently while maintaining the highest standards of due process.