October 21, 1997

Statement of H.E. Ambassador Elfatih Mohamed Ahmed Erwa

Permanent Representative of the Sudan

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Mr. Chairman,

In conclusion, I would like to briefly mention the following two points:

Firstly: We express our thanks to the Non-Governmental Organizations for their useful contribution to elaborate on the draft statute and to study it. Regarding the role of these organizations in the Court we believe that participation of members of civil society in the activities of the U.N. and its organs is still under consideration by concerned bodies in the U.N. We are looking forward to have rules governing such participation and elaborating conditions and obligations thereto being established. The International Institute for Higher Studies in Criminal Sciences has tremendously contributed to push the present work forward. We extend our thanks to the Institute for the efforts it exerted and for expenditure it incurred to arrange inter-sessional meetings and to finance that participation of the least developed countries in the sessions of the preparatory committee and in the diplomatic conference next year.

Secondly: The work a head of us is a difficult one. This difficulty is more evident in the light of the remaining short period for the convening of the Diplomatic Conference in Rome in June next year.

We are of the view that General Assembly has to avail the preparatory Committee with flexibility sufficient to discharge its mandate by allowing extension of the upcoming two sessions in New York for approximately three days over and above the already allocated time frame. This is particularly of significance to those member states that are represented in the sessions of the Preparatory Committee by one delegate. Extending more time would help in formulating an agenda of work that is free of any overlapping between official and unofficial sessions.

Thank you Mr. Chairman