Someday my Prince Hussein Will Come...

by Susan Novak

On Wednesday, December 3rd the Adelphi Community received a visit and lecture from His Excellency, His Royal Highness Prince Zeid Ra'ad Al Hussein, Jordan's Permanent Representative to the United Nations.

HRH Prince Zeid was presented by Professor Katie Laatikainen of the Political Science department, and spoke on "The Challenge of the International Criminal Court" at 11 am in the University Center Ballroom.

The International Criminal Court has long been a controversy among the international community. In September of 2002 HRH Prince Zeid was elected as the first President of the Assembly of States Parties to the Rome Statute of the International Criminal Court. Simply, he's in charge.

The importance of his visit relates to the fact that the United States has provided some of the strongest opposition to the development of the ICC. When in full effect the ICC will have jurisdiction of citizens as well as dictators over all countries charged with war crimes, crimes against humanity, and genocide. Since its official ratification by 66 countries, the US has gone so far as to undermine it by asking countries to sign bilateral treaties agreeing not to give amnesty to US citizens (primarily military). HRH Prince Zeid's lecture discussed both the positive angles and challenges the ICC faces.

HRH Prince Zeid is the second UN ambassador to visit Adelphi this year as part of the Adelphi University International Initiatives Committee's Ambassadorial Series. For more information on the IIC or their Ambassadorial Series, visit their website at www.adelphi.edu/iic.