The President of the Republic of Colombia, by virtue of the powers granted to him under Article 189-2 of the Constitution of Colombia, and pursuant to Law 7 of 1944, and

CONSIDERING,

That, on depositing the ratification instrument, the Government of the Republic of Colombia made the following statements:

2. With respect to Article 61 paragraph 2 (b) and Article 67 paragraph 1 (d), Colombia declares that it will always be in the interests of justice for Colombian nationals to be guaranteed the right to counsel without reserve, in particular the right to be assisted by a lawyer during the stages of investigation and trial by the International Criminal Court.

Article 67
Rights of the accused
1. In the determination of any charge, the accused shall be entitled to a public hearing, having regard to the provisions of this Statute, to a fair hearing conducted impartially, and to the following minimum guarantees, in full equality:
(d) Subject to article 63, paragraph 2, to be present at the trial, to conduct the defence in person or through legal assistance of the accused's choosing, to be informed, if the accused does not have legal assistance, of this right and to have legal assistance assigned by the Court in any case where the interests of justice so require, and without payment if the accused lacks sufficient means to pay for it