NO PEACE WITHOUT JUSTICE

INTERNATIONAL MEETING IN MALTA

Next month an international meeting will be held in Malta to discuss the feasibility of setting up a permanent international criminal court. The meeting is being held by the organisation "No Peace Without Justice" based in Rome, in collaboration with the University of Malta and under auspices of the prime minister of Malta.

The Sunday Time interviewed Professor Salvino Busuttil, director-general of the Foundation for International Studies, which will be the venue of the meeting and which will also be handling its organisation.

D. - Professor Busuttil, how did this meeting come about?

"Last April, Professor Salvo Anḍ and myself were invited to Brussels by the European Commissioner Emma Bonino to discuss with her progress on the initiative for the establishment of an International Court of Criminal Justice. In the corse of that meeting, Commissioner Bonino, who is well known for her courage and far-sightedness, explained that a number of regional meetings were being held to prepare an eventual founding plenipotentiary conference to establish the courts.

I intimated to Commissioner Bonino that the Foundation for International Studies at the University of Malta would be happy to be associated with this endeavour. On my return I mooted the initiative to the prime minister who immediately expressed his enthusiasm for it.

When he found the support of a number of people in Malta, especially Mr Justice Lino Agius and Mr Leslie Agius, chief executive of this Foundation.

D. - What preparations have been made for the calling of the conference?

"A letter of invitation signed by the Rector of the University of Malta and the Secretary-General of "No Peace Without Justice" has been sent to a large number of leading politicians, administrators, and academics around the world to attend the Malta meeting.

I am glad to say that an impressive number of persons to whom the letter was addressed have replied positively.

D. - What is the meeting expected to achieve?

"Essentially it is to identify, hopefully, a global consensus for the establishment of a permanent institution which will bring war criminals to justice, now and in the future. It is hoped that the Malta meeting will propose the final draft for a modus operandi for the court.

D. - Are other nations involved in this exercise?

"Indeed, it is expected that there will be other regional meetings, especially one in Montevideo (Uruguay) with a view to increasing public awareness for the establishment of such an international court.

D. - Who is involved in "No Peace Without Justice"?

"This organisation, set up in Italy and the United States, brings together mayors, parliamentarians and concerned citizens, who meet under the chairmanship of Lord Dahrendorf and counts among its proponents Jimmy Carter, Jacques Delor, Giuliano Amato, Mario Soares, Leo Tindemans, Queen Noor of Jordan, Felipe Gonzales and Marco Pannella, whose Radical Party is a main supporter of this initiative.

D. - Who can participate in the conference?

"Any organization or any citizen who feels particularly espoused to the cause of this initiative can attend. The secretariat is based at the Foundation which will be happy to assist those who wish to be present at the Malta meeting.