Representatives of the diplomatic corps accredited to Croatia were invited on Friday to a presentation of Professor Maja Seršić’s candidature for election to the International Court of Justice (ICJ) for the 2021-2030 period.
State Secretary at the Ministry of Foreign and European Affairs Andreja Metelko-Zgombić introduced Seršić, underlining that apart from her expertise and personal qualities, Seršić was also nominated based on the unwritten rule of equal geographical representation, the need for rotation of different countries’ representatives at the ICJ and to ensure a greater gender balance.
In her address, Seršić highlighted the long tradition of the International Law Department at the Zagreb Faculty of Law, recalling professors who had held high positions at bodies such as the ICJ and the International Tribunal for the Law of the Sea in the past. She presented her expertise and practical experience in various fields of international law, from participation in bilateral and multilateral talks to representing Croatia in proceedings before the ICJ and the ad hoc arbitral tribunal, and answered ambassadors’ questions.
The election of five new ICJ judges for the 2021-2030 period is to be held during the 75th session of the UN General Assembly in fall.