On the 23rd of September, the 6th (Legal) Committee of the UN will need to adopt a recommendation to the General Assembly regarding the establishment of a Preparatory Commission mandated to complete the Rules of Procedure and Evidence and other preliminary matters concerning the establishment of the ICC.

It is vital that governments make strong statements in favour. The EU will have a common position, which is apparently quite strong.

However, the word is out that some States (USA) question whether the Preparatory Commission should be convened at all in 1999, since not even 60 States have SIGNED the Treaty yet. Two things to keep in mind:

1. Encourage as many states to sign the Treaty before the 23rd of September

(The Treaty is still in Rome, and will be Transferred to NY on 16 October). Austria, who will be making the EU speech at the UN on the 23rd (holding the Presidency of the EU at the moment) has NOT signed yet.

2. Keep in mind that NGO access to the Preparatory Commission must be laid down in writing in the General Assembly resolution... (The Preparatory Commission is open to ALL those who participated in Rome, including the USA - so, their mission to actively oppose this Court should not be forgotten!)

29 Like Minded

15 Non Like Minded: Total 44

Albania

Andorra

Australia

Belgium

Benin

Bolivia

Brunei

Burundi

Cameroon

Congo

Chile

Georgia

Ghana

Greece

France

Iceland

Italy

Indonesia

Jordan

Liberia

Lesotho

Liechtenstein

Mali

Malawi

Malta

Namibia

Mauritius

Monaco

Netherlands

New Zealand

Niger

Panama

Samoa

San Marino

Senegal

Sierra Leone

Singapore

South Africa

Spain

Switzerland

UK

Venezuela

Zambia

Zimbabwe