October 22, 1997

Statement by H.E. Dr. Ivan SIMONOVIC, Permanent Representative of Croatia

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Mr. Chairman,

The Croatian delegation expresses its satisfaction with proposed date for the holding of the United Nations Conference of Plenipotentiaries on the Establishment of an International Criminal Court. There is an urgent need in the international community for establishing the court.

We are particularly pleased that the establishment of the Court will coincide with the fiftieth anniversary of the adoption of the Convention on the Prevention and Punishment of the Crime of Genocide, which itself envisaged the establishment of an international criminal court.

My delegation would like to thank the Government of Italy for its generous offer to host the Conference and welcomes the steps undertaken by the Government of Italy to bring the conference to fruition. The Croatian delegation maintains that the participation of NGOs and other relevant organizations, in the same manner as they participated in the work of the Preparatory Committee, is desirable.

Thank you.