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Situations under Preliminary Examination: News and statements
25 Nov 2010
Dear All,
Please find below information regarding developments in some of the situations currently under preliminary examination by the Office of the Prosecutor (OTP) of the International Criminal Court (ICC). To date, the ICC has opened investigations in five situations: the Central African Republic; Darfur, Sudan; Uganda; Democratic Republic of Congo and Kenya. In addition, the ICC Office of the Prosecutor has made public that it is examining information about a number of situations around the world in order to determine whether an investigation should be opened. According to public and official statements by the ICC, the OTP is looking into alleged crimes committed in Afghanistan, Chad, Colombia, Cote d'Ivoire, Georgia, Guinea, the Occupied Palestinian Territories, Nigeria and Honduras. To date the OTP has published the conclusions of its preliminary examination into alleged crimes committed in Iraq and Venezuela. This message includes the latest OTP statement announcing that the situations in Nigeria and Honduras are under preliminary examination and related coverage on the announcement (I) as well as latest articles, media statements and documents related to Afghanistan (II), Guinea (III), and the Occupied Palestinian Territories (IV) covering the period October - November 2010. Please note that the ICC Office of the Prosecutor has produced a Draft Policy Paper on Preliminary Examinations which is available on the ICC website at: http://www.icc-cpi.int/Menus/Go?id=e278f5a2-a4f9-43d7-83d2-6a2c9cf5d7d7&lan=en-GB . The OTP is welcoming comments and questions on the draft policy paper to be sent to [email protected] by 1 December 2010. For additional information you may refer to the the Court's website at: http://www.icc-cpi.int/Menus/Go?id=da143d8f-eb36-4f87-9818-1a6891956160&lan=en-GB Please also take note of the Coalition's policy on situations before the ICC (below), which explicitly states that the Coalition will not take a position on potential and current situations before the Court or situations under analysis. The Coalition, however, will continue to provide the most up-to-date information about the ICC. Best regards, CICC Secretariat www.coalitionfortheicc.org ********************************* I. LATEST NEWS ON HONDURAS AND NIGERIA A. ICC STATEMENT 1. 揟he Prosecutor announces publicly that the situations In Nigeria and Honduras are under preliminary examination? Weekly Briefing, ICC Office of the Prosecutor, 16-22 November 2010, http://www.icc-cpi.int/Menus/Go?id=425a6b5d-89c3-4acd-b0cb-6f8ee19f1d18&lan=en-GB ?8 November - Prosecutor Moreno-Ocampo announced that the OTP was analyzing the situations in Nigeria and Honduras. Regarding the latter, the Prosecutor noted that the Office 揾as received many communications on crimes linked to the coup of June 2009. There were different allegations, mostly regarding alleged massive cases of torture and more than a thousand people being arrested in one day? The Office met with the Honduras Minister Counsellor in The Hague on 22 November, who provided relevant information and promised their full cooperation. The Office has also been proactively monitoring this situation, in accordance with its mandate, and analysing different sources of information. Regarding Nigeria, the Office has been analyzing the alleged crimes committed in Central Nigeria since mid‐2004 and is looking forward to engaging constructively with the Nigerian authorities on the issue. Regarding both situations, the Office is still at the beginning of its preliminary examination work, in the process of determining whether or not Rome Statute crimes have been committed or not. In order to fulfil its mandate and maximize the preventative impact of its work, the Office will make public its preliminary examination activities when it assesses that this will have a positive impact in stopping violence and preventing future crimes or when the senders of communications make them public.?br> B. RELATED NEWS AND OPINIONS 1) GENERAL 1. Int'l Court looking at crimes in Nigeria, Honduras? by Mike Corder, AP/The Washington Post, 18 November 2010, http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2010/11/18/AR2010111802598.html 2. 揅ourt Starts 2 Inquiries? Reuters/New York Times, 18 November 2010, http://www.nytimes.com/2010/11/19/world/europe/19briefs-Netherlands.html?_r=3 3. ?ICC Investigates in Honduras and Nigeria?[揕a CPI enqu阾e sur le Honduras et le Nigeria擼, Le Devoir, 19 November 2010, http://www.ledevoir.com/international/actualites-internationales/311245/la-cpi-enquete-sur-le-honduras-et-le-nigeria [French] 4. 揑CC opens preliminary investigations in Honduras and Nigeria? The Hague Justice Portal, 23 November 2010, http://www.haguejusticeportal.net/eCache/DEF/12/294.TGFuZz1FTg.html 5. 揑nt抣 Court looking at crimes in Nigeria, Honduras? Mobilization for Climate Justice, 20 November 2010, http://www.actforclimatejustice.org/2010/11/int’l-court-looking-at-crimes-in-nigeria-honduras/ 6. 揑CC begins preliminary investigations in Honduras and Nigeria? by Matt Glenn, JURIST, 19 November 2010, http://jurist.org/paperchase/2010/11/icc-begins-preliminary-investigations-in-honduras-and-nigeria.php 7. 揑CC opens investigations in Nigeria and Honduras?[揕a CPI ouvre des enqu阾es sur le Nigeria et le Honduras擼, L抏xpress, 19 November 2010, http://www.lexpress.fr/actualite/monde/la-cpi-ouvre-des-enquetes-sur-le-nigeria-et-le-honduras_938180.html [French] 8. 揑CC opens investigations in Nigeria and Honduras?[揕a CPI ouvre des enqu阾es sur le Nigeria et le Honduras擼, L抏xpress, 19 November 2010, http://www.lexpress.fr/actualite/monde/la-cpi-ouvre-des-enquetes-sur-le-nigeria-et-le-honduras_938180.html [French] 2) NIGERIA 1. 揘igeria: International Criminal Court Analyses Jos Crisis? by Adetokunbo Mumuni, Sahara Reporters, 7 November 2010, http://saharareporters.com/press-release/nigeria-international-criminal-court-analyses-jos-crisis 2. 揑nternational Criminal Court may hear cases on Jos crises? by Olukorede Yishau, The Nation, 8 November 2010, http://thenationonlineng.net/web3/news/18309.html 3. 揑CC is Analysing Jos Crisis, Says Prosecutor? by Muideen Olaniyi, Daily Trust/All Africa, 8 November 2010, http://allafrica.com/stories/201011080072.html 4. 揑nternational Criminal Court to analyse Jos crisis? by Abimbola Adelakun, Punch, 8 November 2010, http://www.punchontheweb.com/Articl.aspx?theartic=Art20101108294540 5. 揑CC prosecutor analyses Jos massacre? by Thijs Bouwknegt, Radio Netherlands Worldwide, 11 November 2010, http://www.rnw.nl/international-justice/article/icc-prosecutor-analyses-jos-massacre 6. 揑nt'l Court looking at crimes in Nigeria, Honduras? by Mike Corder, AP/The Washington Post, 18 November 2010, http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2010/11/18/AR2010111802598.html 3) HONDURAS 1. 揅riminal Prosecutor抯 announcement concerns many?[揂nuncio del Fiscal Penal ya inquieta a muchos擼, Tiempo, 20 November 2010, http://www.tiempo.hn/web2/secciones/el-pais/25989-anuncio-del-fiscal-penal-ya-inquieta-a-muchos.html [Spanish] 2. 揑CC announces investigation in Honduras?[揕a Corte Penal Internacional anuncia examen en Honduras擼, Tiempo, 23 November 2010, http://www.tiempo.hn/web2/secciones/el-pais/25939-la-corte-penal-internacional-anuncia-examen-en-honduras.html [Spanish] 3. 揜ub?wants the ICC to come to Honduras?[揜ub?quiere que la Corte Penal venga a Honduras? Tiempo, 21 November 2010, http://www.tiempo.hn/web2/secciones/portada/26057-rubi-quiere-que-la-corte-penal-venga-a-honduras.html [Spanish] 4. 揥ilfredo M閚dez: 慠ub?intends to cover up the coup挃 [揥ilfredo M閚dez: "Rub?intenta cubrir el golpe de Estado"], by Oscar Hernandez, Tiempo, 21 November 2010, http://www.tiempo.hn/web2/secciones/portada/26058--wilfredo-mendez-qrubi-intenta-cubrir-el-golpe-de-estadoq.html [Spanish] 5. 揤ictim抯 Turn?[揈l turno del ofendido擼, by Victor Meza, Tiempo, 21 November 2010, http://www.tiempo.hn/web2/noticias/84-editorialesotros/26038-el-turno-del-ofendido.html [Spanish] 6. 揚olitical persecution is not the ICC抯 role?[揚ersecuci髇 pol韙ica no es competencia de CPI擼, El Heraldo, 21 November 2010, http://www.elheraldo.hn/Ediciones/2010/11/22/Noticias/Persecucion-politica-no-es-competencia-de-CPI [Spanish] 7. 揑CC investigates Honduras? The Latin Americanist (blog), 18 November 2010, http://ourlatinamerica.blogspot.com/2010/11/icc-investigates-honduras.html 8. 揋olpistas Are Nervous? Honduras Culture and Politics (blog), 20 November 2010, http://hondurasculturepolitics.blogspot.com/2010/11/golpistas-are-nervous.html 9. 揑nternational Criminal Court opens investigation into crimes committed during the coup?[揅orte Penal Internacional abre investigaci髇 sobre cr韒enes cometidos durante el golpe de Estado擼, Tiempo, 18 November 2010, http://www.tiempo.hn/web2/secciones/portada/25929-corte-penal-internacional-abre-investigacion-sobre-crimenes-cometidos-durante-el-golpe-de-estado.html [Spanish] II. AFGHANISTAN A. NEWS AND OPINIONS 1. 揂nalysis: In pursuit of justice in Afghanistan? IRIN News, 10 November 2010, http://www.irinnews.org/Report.aspx?ReportId=91048 III. GUINEA A. OTP-ICC STATEMENT "Third OTP preliminary examination mission to Conakry," Weekly Briefing, ICC Office of the Prosecutor, 9 - 15 November 2010, http://www.icc-cpi.int/NR/rdonlyres/BB957F9A-F4F3-4D28-8AA4-2A25CD5724C4/282688/WBENG.pdf "A high-level OTP delegation, lead by Deputy Prosecutor Fatou Bensouda, visited Conakry and held several meetings with President S閗ouba Konat?..., Prime Minister Dor? the Minister of Justice, Gen. Loholamou, the Chief of Staff of the Army and the Chief of the Gendarmerie, members of the judiciary, the media, civil society and the diplomatic community, as well as both election candidates. Deputy Prosecutor Bensouda stressed that there were two purposes of this third OTP mission to Guinea: * to follow-up on the investigations being carried out by the Guinean judges on the 28 September 2009 events, in the context of the OTP抯 preliminary examination into the situation; * to ensure that new crimes are not committed during the current election period, as part of the OTP mandate to contribute to the prevention of future crimes. 揋uinea is exiting a transition period that is extremely important to its future but which may also trigger violence, as we have seen in recent weeks. We know that violence can erupt during elections. We also know that electoral violence can lead to the commission of crimes within the ICC抯 jurisdiction, as happened in Kenya where we have subsequently opened an investigation. We would not wish for a similar scenario in Guinea: no violence, no crimes. ?I am confident that this message will be heard by all Guineans, who understand that in order for there to be peace and development an end must be put to violence and impunity? Upon leaving Conakry, the Deputy Prosecutor thanked the Guinean authorities for their cooperation and their commitment to justice. Mrs. Bensouda also reiterated her commitment to the victims that 搕he perpetrators of crimes committed on 28 September 2009 will not go unpunished. We will continue to insist, together with the international community, that those most responsible be brought to justice. The end of impunity is the foundation of this Court, which Guinea is member of, and the end of impunity should mark this new phase of Guinea抯 history? B. COALITION MEMBER STATEMENT 1. 揅onflict Risk Alert: Guinea? International Crisis Group, 18 November 2010, http://www.crisisgroup.org/en/publication-type/media-releases/2010/conflict-risk-alert-guinea.aspx 揋uinea抯 political and military leaders and the international community must take urgent measures to halt widespread attacks against defenceless civilians and to prevent political tensions from degenerating into large-scale ethnic violence and regional instability. Following the announcement of presidential election results on 15 November, handing Alpha Cond?victory over his rival, Cellou Dalein Diallo, the country has descended into violence, with two days of clashes in the streets of the capital, Conakry, and elsewhere. Defence and security forces have engaged in systematic attacks on supporters of Diallo抯 Union des Forces D閙ocratiques de Guin閑 (UFDG), a party associated mainly with the Peul ethnic group in major urban areas in the Fouta region? 匒t least twelve people were reported to have been killed in Conakry, and shots were heard in several other cities. ?The following steps are needed urgently: ?The Interim President and the Prime Minister should ensure discipline among the armed forces. General Konat?should immediately order them to stop attacking civilians; military commanders should be held accountable if they fail to restrain their troops. ?The United Nations Security Council should send a clear message that the current military leadership will be investigated for any crimes committed against civilians while executing orders. ?The International Criminal Court should issue a statement reminding Guinean authorities of their obligations to protect civilians and avoid gross human rights abuses in the country. ?The UN Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights in Conakry should support the establishment of monitoring mechanisms on the ground to assess the level of violence and human rights abuses. ?Both Alpha Cond?and Cellou Dalein Diallo should continue to work towards diffusing tensions and address the ethnic polarisation seen during the second round of polls.?br> C. RELATED NEWS AND OPINIONS 1. 揟hird ICC Mission Expected this Wednesday in Conakry?[Une troisi鑝e mission de la CPI attendue ce mercredi ?Conakry], by Dor?Tokpanan, Le jour guin閑,10 November 2010, http://lejourguinee.com/dev/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=4139:une-troisieme-mission-de-la-cpi-attendue-ce-mercredi-a-conakry-&catid=13&Itemid=34 [French] 2. 揑nternational Justice: Fatou Bensouda Visits Conakry?[Justice internationale: Fatou Bensouda en visite ?Conakry], by Mamadou Camara, Africa Guin閑, 12 November 2010, http://www.africaguinee.com/index.php?monAction=detailNews&id=7286 [French] 3. 揑nternational Criminal Court calls for calm in Guinea before election results announced? AP/San Francisco Examiner, 12 November 2010, http://www.sfexaminer.com/world/international-criminal-court-calls-for-calm-in-guinea-before-election-results-announced-107551493.html 4. 搾Perpetrators of the 28 September Crimes Will Not Go Unpunished? assures Fatou Bensouda of the ICC?[揕es auteurs des crimes du 28 septembre ne resteront pas impunis ? assure Fatou Bensouda de la CPI擼, Guin閑 News, 13 November 2010, http://www.boubah.com/articles/?num=20101112141930 [French] 5. 揋uinea: ICC Deputy Prosecutor Reassures Victims of 28 September? [揋uin閑: le procureur adjoint de la CPI rassure les victimes du 28 septembre擼, Xinhua, 13 November 2010, http://french.news.cn/afrique/2010-11/14/c_13605473.htm [French] 6. 揑CC promises justice for victims of Sept. 28 atrocities in Guinea? Xinhua, 15 November 2010, http://news.xinhuanet.com/english2010/world/2010-11/15/c_13608026.htm 7. 揋uinea: Violence after Cond?Victory?[揋uin閑 : violences apr鑣 la victoire de Cond閿, Le Monde Afrique, 16 November 2010, http://www.lemonde.fr/afrique/article/2010/11/16/guinee-violences-apres-la-victoire-de-conde_1440916_3212.html [French] 8. 揝eptember 28 Massacre: Partial and Selective Compensation?[Massacres du 28 septembre: indemnisations partielles... et cibl閑s], by Habibou Bangr? Jeune Afrique, 5 November 2010, http://www.jeuneafrique.com/Article/ARTJAWEB20101104180309/massacres-du-28-septembre-indemnisations-partielles-et-ciblees.html [French] 9. 揜aped in Guinea and Raped Again in Senegal?[揤iol閑s en Guin閑, puis viol閑s encore au S閚間al擼, IRIN News, 15 November 2010, http://www.irinnews.org/fr/ReportFrench.aspx?ReportID=91097 [French] 10. 揟wo more deaths Tuesday in Postelection Violence?[揇eux nouveaux morts mardi dans les violences post閘ectorales, Cellou Dalein Diallo proteste擼, AFP/Jeune Afrique, 16 November 2010, http://www.jeuneafrique.com/Article/ARTJAWEB20101116143612/onu-violences-guinee-electionsdeux-nouveaux-morts-mardi-dans-les-violences-postelectorales.html [French] 11. 揥ave of Violence After Elections in Guinea?[揘ouvelles violences apr鑣 les 閘ections en Guin閑擼, Nouvel Obs, 16 November 2010, http://tempsreel.nouvelobs.com/actualite/monde/20101116.OBS2966/nouvelles-violences-apres-les-elections-en-guinee.html [French] 12. 揋uinea: State of Emergency Declared After Further Clashes?[揋uin閑 : 閠at d'urgence d閏r閠?apr鑣 la poursuite des heurts擼, Le Monde, 17 November 2010, http://www.lemonde.fr/afrique/article/2010/11/17/presidentielle-en-guinee-poursuite-des-heurts_1441401_3212.html [French] 13. 揚ostelection Violence in Guinea?[揤iolences post-閘ectorales en Guin閑擼, BBC Afrique, 16 November 2010, http://www.bbc.co.uk/french/news/story/2010/11/101116_guineeviolence.shtml [French] 14. 揝tate of emergency is declared in Guinea; Ethnic violence follows election? by Rukmini Callimachi, AP/Boston Globe, 18 November 2010, http://www.boston.com/news/world/africa/articles/2010/11/18/state_of_emergency_is_declared_in_guinea/ 15. 揋uinea: Slow return to calm after state of emergency?[揋uin閑: retour au calme progressif apr鑣 l掗tat d抲rgence擼, RFI, 18 November 2010, http://www.rfi.fr/afrique/20101118-guinee-retour-calme-progressif-apres-etat-urgence [French] 16. 揋UINEA: The waiting game - state of emergency? IRIN/ReliefWeb, 19 November 2010, http://www.reliefweb.int/rw/rwb.nsf/db900sid/ACIO-8BCGX5?OpenDocument 17. 揑nternational Criminal Court monitoring Guinea violence, warns against excessive force? by Mike Corder, AP/Winnipeg Free Press, 19 November 2010, http://www.winnipegfreepress.com/world/breakingnews/international-criminal-court-monitoring-guinea-violence-warns-against-excessive-force-109223049.html 18. 揑CC prosecutor condemns Guinea post-election violence? by Aman Kakar, JURIST, 19 November 2010, http://jurist.org/paperchase/2010/11/ICC-prosecutor-condemns-Guinea-post-election-violence.php 19. 揑CC is 'keeping an eye on events in Guinea'? RFI, 19 November 2010, http://www.english.rfi.fr/africa/20101119-un-condemns-violence-guinea 20. 揑CC to Guinea: You抮e On Notice!? by Mark Leon Goldberg, UN Dispatch, 19 November 2010, http://www.undispatch.com/icc-to-guinea-youre-on-notice 21. 揋uinea: 慦e will take our plight against Jean-Marie Dor?and General Toto to the ICC? [揋uin閑 : Nous porterons plainte ?la CPI contre Jean-Marie Dor?et le G閚閞al Toto ? avertit Cellou Dalein Diallo擼, by Mamadou Aliou Barry, Neoleadership, 21 November 2010, http://www.nlsguinee.com/articles/article7742.html [French] 22. 揤iolence in Guinea: 慣he prime minister and his security minister must answer for their actions,?responds Cellou Dalein Diallo? [揤iolences en Guin閑: 慙e premier ministre et son ministre de la s閏urit?doivent repondre de leurs actes? r閍git Cellou Dalein Diallo擼, Afrique, 20 November 2010, http://www.africaguinee.com/index.php?monAction=detailNews&id=7384 [French] 23. 揋uinea: international authorities frown on violence to maintain order? [揋uin閑 : les instances internationales d閟approuvent les violences pour maintenir l'ordre擼, RFI, 20 November 2010, http://www.rfi.fr/afrique/20101120-guinee-instances-internationales-desapprouvent-violences-maintenir-ordre [French[ 24. 揚re- and Post-Election Violence: Will Guinean perpetrators escape the ICC??[揤iolences pr?et post-閘ectorales - Les acteurs guin閑ns vont-ils 閏happer ?la CPI ?擼, by Abdallah Balde, Aminata/All Africa, 20 November 2010, http://fr.allafrica.com/stories/201011220389.html [French] 25. 揑CC closely following the situation in Guinea?[擫a CPI suit la situation en Guin閑 de pr鑣擼, Journal M閠ro, 19 November 2010, http://www.journalmetro.com/monde/article/696975--la-cpi-suit-la-situation-en-guinee-de-pres [French] 26. 揢N rights office concerned at reported abuses in post-electoral Guinea? UN News Service, 19 November 2010, http://www.globalsecurity.org/military/library/news/2010/11/mil-101119-unnews01.htm 27. 揢NHCR Concerned about Violence in Guinea?[揕e HCR inquiet des violences en Guin閑擼, Afrique Actu, 19 November 2010, http://afriqueactu.net/14765/afrique/guinee/le-hcr-inquiet-des-violences-en-guinee [French] IV. OCCUPIED PALESTINIAN TERRITORIES A. COALITION MEMBER QUOTED 1. 揚alestine and the International Criminal Court? by Marijntje Lazet, Radio Netherlands Worldwide, 17 November 2010, http://www.rnw.nl/international-justice/article/palestine-and-international-criminal-court 揕ast month, the International Criminal Court (ICC) held informal consultations in The Hague with 40 ?NGOs. Michael Kearney, research fellow at the London School of Economics?Law Department, was present as a representative of the NGO Al-Haq. What was the main discussion point between the ICC and the Palestinian side? Last year, the Palestinian Minister for Justice submitted a declaration under Article 12 of the Rome Statute. This is a process which allows for a state that is not a party to the Rome Statute to engage with the court抯 process, and to transfer jurisdiction. The main question is whether you can consider Palestine to be a state. I was making an argument that from the perspective of international law it is very difficult to determine by objective criteria what constitutes a state. Essentially it is a political process. Palestine has been recognised by around a hundred states, but it has not been recognised by the United States or the European states, and is not a full member of the United Nations. Could you briefly explain the main points of the Palestine Declaration to the ICC? The declaration on behalf of the Government of Palestine seeks to transfer jurisdiction over crimes in the Rome Statute - war crimes, crimes against humanity and genocide - on the territory of Palestine to the ICC. The key to the argument is that the court can take a functional approach.This is something that has happened at other tribunals and other international institutions. If it is de facto practicing and exercising the powers of a body like a state, then it should be considered as such for legal questions. When is the court going to make a decision? There has been no indication as to when we are going to get an answer. ?What could be the consequences if the ICC were to accept the declaration? If the court prosecutor was to begin investigating the war crimes in the area, there is already an overwhelming amount of material, such as the Goldstone report (a UN report in 2009 which accuses Israel and Hamas of war crimes and possibly crimes against humanity). The construction of occupied settlements in the West Bank is also a war crime. Settlement construction is an official government policy which the top Israeli military and political leaders ascribe to and take responsibility for. They would all be liable to prosecution. Palestinian, Israeli and international NGOs have been operating on the ground for decades, and the amount and quality of evidence that has been compiled is of a very high standard. If an investigation were to be initiated with respect to Palestine, it might be a lot easier than investigations that we have seen in the former Yugoslavia or currently in Sudan and Uganda. Of course the difficulty will be in prosecuting senior Israeli political leaders or military commanders because of the political consequences. What are your concerns for the near future? The Palestinian authority has not been consistent in promoting the ICC in international fora because of political pressure on the part of the US, European states and Israel. I don抰 know if the Palestinians have done all they can in submitting the necessary documents. This could be a problem for any Prosecutor to make a decision which is politically controversial. ?The Palestinian authority need to be put under pressure by NGOs and the civil society in Palestine in order to force it to continue to develop an engagement with the court. 厰 ******************************************** CICC's policy on the referral and prosecution of situations before the ICC: The Coalition for the ICC is not an organ of the court. The CICC is an independent NGO movement dedicated to the establishment of the International Criminal Court as a fair, effective, and independent international organization. The Coalition will continue to provide the most up-to-date information about the ICC and to help coordinate global action to effectively implement the Rome Statute of the ICC. The Coalition will also endeavor to respond to basic queries and to raise awareness about the ICC's trigger mechanisms and procedures, as they develop. The Coalition as a whole, and its secretariat, do not endorse or promote specific investigations or prosecutions or take a position on situations before the ICC. However, individual CICC members may endorse referrals, provide legal and other support on investigations, or develop partnerships with local and other organizations in the course of their efforts. Communications to the ICC can be sent to: ICC P.O. box 19519 2500 CM the Hague The Netherlands |
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