The ELSA

er of the ELSA Working Group for the ICC,divided the participants in 4 groups. Eachgroup was representing a delegation of agiven state on an international conference onthe subject of the course. Each delegation hadto make a presentation on the current statusabout the Rome Statute’s national implementationprocess, though some working materialsas a basis were provided. It was the perfectending for the LS Academic part, with all theparticipants being given the possibility to renderthe knowledge gained during the 30hours of courses, on a stress-free and friendlyatmosphere among all.The OC surprised all the involved in the LS(including not only the participants, but alsothe lecturers and the IB representative, KatjaPecek) with two non-schedule unique andlifetime experiences.One being a lecture by Mr. Olara Otunnu,Special Representative of the Secretary-General for Children and Armed Conflicts,“just” one of the highest individuals in theUnited Nations structure. Dedicated to theIHL cause since early age, Mr. Olara Otunnuhas been developing a remarkable andunique work on this field. Intensified in thelast few years, the purpose of his enormouseffort is the mobilisation of internationalpolitical and public opinion behind the protection,rights and wellbeing of war-affectedchildren. Another truly inspiring moment, towhich none of the presents could be indifferent.The other being that the OC and theUniversity of Bucharest had the kindness ofinviting us all to the Title of Doctor of HonorisCausa Awarding Ceremony to the laureate ofthe Nobel Peace Price Shimon Peres, currentForeign Minister of Israel.Just unforgettable experiences!!!But even kinder was one of the many journalists(the impact of the LS at the Romaniannational mass media was remarkable) coveringthe event, from a National TV Station,who said ELSA as an entity should be awardedthe Doctor Honoris Causa Title. That’s whatwe call marketing!The LS had 35 students, from 7 countries participating(plus two more countries representedby lecturers), including a Chinese national.This wide combination of many distinct historicaland cultural roots among the participantsworked as a complement to the undeniablequality of this event, allowing a morecomplete perspective on the various issuesanalysed during these 8 days.The enormous success of the Law is BetterThan War Law School has clearly reflected onthe impact it had on all the participants, whofelt truly motivated to develop their knowledgeand work in this area, without exception.An experience you shouldn’t miss!!!Our sincere congratulations and thanks toIulia and her excellent team.You should now be wondering about theELSA Spirit. Well, my friends, if you think thisbeloved “friend” of ours wasn’t present, wemust say he was the Guest of Honour at thisevent. But in order to make its reference astrue as possible, we’ll skip the details for theHabitation 305 Presentation Punta Dura, thatcan be found just bellow.ELSA SPIRIT IN BUCHARESTPart 1Gian Carli Stäubli Fioroni,ELSA SwitzerlandFull of excitement, I went to the airport to goto a part of Europe where I've never set afoot before: Bucharest, ROMANIA. I was gettingready for the ELSA Law School "Law isBetter than War".Three reasons made up my mind to headEast. Firstly, I know an ELSA Law School isalways a hell of excitement (as I'm addictedto international ELSA events, how could Ipossibly deny this opportunity!?); secondly, Igot to know Iulia during a study visit organisedby ELSA Fribourg, Switzerland togetherwith ELSA Messina, Italy and ELSA Bucharest,Romania in 1998. I really wanted to see heragain (as a friend of course...tsts, what elsedo you think?!) and thirdly, I wanted to havemy own impression about a country which isnot spoilt with smashing news cover in theSwiss newspapers.The first thing I remember was that I had tospeak French at the custom's desk when theysaw my Swiss passport; quite a surprise for acountry you expect not to understand a singleword. Soon after, I got a warm welcomeby the OC and they drove us (Christian, oneof the lecturers arrived as well around thesame time as me) to the University Hostel ofthe Law Faculty of the University ofBucharest. As most of the other delegatesarrived the day after, we were only a fewpeople to explore Bucharest's bars on chillySunday night in early December.Finally, I got to know my roommate Tiago,from Portugal, who dared to tell me that hewas just skiing the whole Sunday in theCarpathian Mountains (never do this to aSwiss snow addict!).The academic programme was just excellentand very well prepared. Academically, it wasa personal profit and as far as I got the feedbackfrom the other participants, I only canadd that they fully shared my point of view.I would like to thank again the whole OCand specially our babysitter, Corina, for takingsuch a good care of us. We would alsolike to express that you ELSA Romania guysknow how to party and that "A Club" is definitelythe place to rock and live up to theELSA Spirit in Bucharest. Thanks for sharingwith us your rich culture, your warm hospitalityand your neverlasting motivation tomake things moving; your enthusiasm reallyinspired us.ELSA SPIRIT IN BUCHARESTPart 2Tiago Moreira Alves, ELSA PortugalIt wouldn’t be that hard for me to sum upmy participation and the outcome of theELSA Bucharest “Law is Better than War”Law School. I could just say that I slept 3 to 4hours per day, doubled my contact list, hangout in at least, 10 to 11 different discos andbars, skied 2 days on an amazingly beautifuland relaxing spot, became a Human Rightsaddict (International Criminal Law wasalready a long time affair) and that I’m noworganising a study visit between my localgroup and ELSA Constanta. I could also addthat the first thing I’ve done once at home,was to check the upcoming internationalELSA events and apply for as many as I could.But even so, I would be far from saying it all.I believe I won’t be lying if I entitle myself asthe most privileged participant of the ELSABucharest Law Scholl. Being supposed toarrive on Sunday, the 1st of December, Iarrived already on Friday. This way, trustingmy friend Iulia (we were both part of theELSA Delegation at the 7th ICC PrepCom),will come up with a good weekend pro-25