Permanent Mission of Thailand

to the United Nations

Statement

By Statement by Mr. Manop Mekprayoonthong

Minister Counsellor

Sixth Committee

54th Session United Nations General Assembly

Agenda Item: 158

Establishment of an International Criminal Court

21 October 1999

Mr. Chairman,

My delegation would like to express our appreciation to Ambassador Phillippe Kirsch, Chairman of the Preparatory Commission for the International Criminal Court, for his capable leadership and his useful introduction on the work of the Commission.

Mr. Chairman,

Thailand heeds the call for States to become party to the Rome Statute of the International Criminal Court, so that there will no longer be impunity for

perpetrators of the most serious crimes of concern to the international community as a whole.

However, for a number of States, including my own, the Elements of Crime as well as the Rules of Procedure and Evidence being drafted by the Preparatory

Commission for the International Criminal Court will be a crucial

yardstick to determine whether it is feasible to assume obligations under the

Rome Statute by becoming States Parties thereto.

In this respect, we urge that the Elements of Crime must reflect, rather than depart from, the contemporary international law. If lacuna do exist, we hope that they will be filled in such a manner as to facilitate and not to impede the

rendering of international criminal justice by the International Criminal Court. Above all, the June 2000 deadline for the Preparatory Commission to discharge its mandate must be kept.

Finally, my delegation wishes to register our sincere appreciation to the various bodies, especially the International Committee of the Red Cross, which have played an important role in conducting research and presenting an impressive compilation on elements of crimes, particularly war crimes, under the prevailing law.

Thank you, Mr. Chairman.