Establishment of ECCC

H.E. Sok An makes statement "NEVER AGAIN ! " on the occasion of the 60th Anniversary of the Liberation of Auschwitz and the other Nazi Extermination Camps.

France announces of funding in amount of 3 Million Euros (or $4,000,000.00) for the Extraordinary Chambers.

United Nations Mission led by Mr. Mohammed Said, Coordinator for UN Assistance to the Khmer Rouge Tribunal (UNAKRT) , to Phnom Penh finalize the budget for the EC. The budget is set at USD 56.3 million.

Letter from Deputy Prime Minister Sok An to Under-Secretary-General and Legal Counsel of the United Nations, Mr Nicolas Michel, advising him that, in accordance with Article 32 of the Agreement, the legal requirements in Cambodia for entry into force of have been complied with.

The Constitutional Council approved the amended law as being in conformity with the Constitution.

National Assembly of Cambodia debates and approves the Amendments to the 2001 Law on the Establishment of the Extraordinary Chambers in the Courts of Cambodia for the Prosecution of Crimes Committed during the Period of Democratic Kampuchea.

National Assembly of Cambodia debates and unanimously approves the Agreement between the United Nations and the Royal Government of Cambodia Concerning the Prosecution under Cambodian Law of Crimes Committed during the Period of Democratic Kampuchea.

Letter from Prime Minister Hun Sen to Mr. Kofi Annan, United Nations Secretary-General, on the adoption by the National Assembly of Cambodia of the draft law approving the Agreement between the United Nations and the Royal Government of Cambodia concerning the prosecution under the Cambodian law of crimes committed during the period of Democratic Kampuchea.

First Training Course for 30 lawyers held at the Senate in cooperation with Secretariat of the Task Force for Khmer Rouge Trials, the Bar Association of the Kingdom of Cambodia, and UNDP.

H.E. Karsten Herrel, Coordinator of United Nations Assistance to the Khmer Rouge Trials (UNAKRT) completes his term in the position and hands responsibility to Ms. Sharon Van Buerle, Chief, Political, Legal and Humanitarian Service, Programme Planning and Budget Division.

First Training Course for 30 judges and prosecutors held at the Royal School of Judges and Prosecutors in cooperation with Secretariat of the Task Force for Khmer Rouge Trials, the Royal School of Judges and Prosecutors, and UNDP.

Meeting between the Group of Interested States and the Royal Government's Task Force (in Phnom Penh) regarding the proposed budget proposal for the Extraordinary Chambers.

Council of Ministers approves two draft laws: a) Amendments to the 2001 Law on the Establishment of the Extraordinary Chambers; b) Ratification of the Agreement between the RGC and the UN signed on 6 June 2003. The amendments approved are for the purpose of harmonising the EC Law with the Agreement, and that they reflect those proposed by Hans Corell on 28 May 2003. In addition, the extension of the statute of limitations under Article 3 is proposed to be changed from 20 to 30 years.

Australia pledges another AUD1.5 million for the Extraordinary Chambers in addition to AUD1.5 million previously announced. The total of AUD3 million (USD 2.2 million) is additional to AUD266,000 already provided in various forms of technical assistance related to the Khmer Rouge trials.

Seventh meeting between the Group of Interested States and UNAKRT (in New York) which processes further meetings to be held in Phnom Penh to finalise the budget.

Sixth meeting between the Group of Interested States and UNAKRT (in New York). Mr. Karsten Herrel introduces the Secretariat's response to Interested States' call for reductions in the initial budget estimates. The Secretariat had reviewed all objects of expenditure and come up with cuts in some areas. Care had been taken not to unduly weaken the four cornerstones of the project which were: Due Process, International Standards for Court Operations, Security and Safety and Efficiency and Effectiveness.

Fifth meeting between the Group of Interested States and UNAKRT (in New York).

Fourth meeting between the Group of Interested States and UNAKRT (in New York).

Third meeting between the Group of Interested States and UNAKRT (in New York).

Second meeting between the Group of Interested States with UNAKRT (in New York).

Briefing meeting at the Office of the Council of Ministers with the Group of the Interested States, UNAKRT, and Royal Government's Task Force on the issues of premises, utilities (facilities and services for operation of premises), judicial familiarization programme and budget estimates and resource mobilization.

Joint Press briefing between UNAKRT and Royal Government Cambodian Task Force on the follow-up mission of the United Nations technical team on Assistance to the Khmer Rouge Trials.

His Excellency Hans Corell, Legal Counsel and Under-Secretary-General of the United Nations, retires. Senior Minister Sok An sends a letter to him on 27 February 2004 expressing his appreciation and best wishes.

First meeting between the Group of Interested States and UNAKRT discussing the estimated budget for the Extraordinary Chambers (in New York).

Joint press statement by the RGC Task Force and the UN Technical Assessment Mission expresses the opinion that "substantive steps forward were made during the visit, both in establishing a sound working relationship and in charting the tasks to be carried out in the coming months".