New York, September 23, 1997

[...] Mr. President, one major platform in the realisation of human rights and the international administration of justice is soon to take its definitive shape. Next summer, a diplomatic conference will convene in Rome - and we should all be grateful to the Italian Government for hosting it - that will hopefully adopt a Convention establishing an International Criminal Court. One established, the Court will be the natural counterpart to the International Court of Justice. My Government is looking forward with anticipation to this new offspring in the international legal order, and I take pride in announcing that my country is offering to house the seat of the Court, in the city of The Hague. [...]