Introduction

1. The Special Working Group on the Crime of Aggression of the Assembly of States Parties to the Rome Statute of the International Criminal Court held five meetings on 17, 18, 19 and 20 November 2008. Ambassador Christian Wenaweser (Liechtenstein) served as Chair of the Special Working Group (hereinafter “the Group”).

2. The Secretariat of the Assembly of States Parties provided the substantive servicing for the Group.

3. The discussions in the Group were continued on the basis of the revised discussion paper proposed by the Chairman (2008 Chairman’s paper). Furthermore, the Chairman submitted an informal note on the work programme, outlining a suggested structure as well as questions for discussions.

4. At the first meeting of the Group, the Chairman introduced the informal note on the work programme. He recalled that the Group was open to participation by all States on an equal footing, and encouraged delegations to comment in particular on issues that have not been thoroughly discussed in recent sessions, as outlined in the note on the work programme.