Fiji Mission to the United Nations

STATEMENT BY H.E. MR A~AIYA NAIDU,

PERMANENT REPRESENTATIVE 0F FIJI TO THE UNITED NATIONS,

DURING THE PREPARATORY COMMISSION FOR THE INTERNATIONAL

CRIMINAL COURT SESSION FOR 29 NOVEMBER - 17 DECEMBER 1999

UNITED NATIONS, NEW YORK, 29 NOVEMBER 1999

Mr. Chairman,

Firstly, allow me to extend our appreciation to the Chairman of the Preparatory

Commission for giving us this opportunity to address this august body as it commences its deliberations on working out the rules of procedure and evidence and elements of crime.

My delegation would like to thank Ambassador Philippe Kirsch of Canada for his

dedication, guidance and leadership for the achievement in Rome. It would be remission on our part if we do not equally extend similar appreciation to each

and every delegation inclusive of the non-governmental organisations (NGOs) for their contribution in what we have achieved to date.

Mr. Chairman,

My delegation would like to express our pleasure with the progress achieved during the February and July-August Sessions of the Preparatory Commission.

We note in particular the broad level of participation as well as the open

and constructive atmosphere in the negotiations and consultations (both formal and informal), and these augur well for the remaining work to be done. Bearing in mind such constructive atmosphere, my delegation has no doubt that the Preparatory Commission will be able to achieve its mandate within the deadline of June 30, 2000.

Mr. Chairman,

My Government has considered in detail the Rome Statute of the international

Criminal Court (ICC). We are satisfied that the ICC is not only long overdue but a matter of necessity when viewed against the backdrop of human tragedies and

sufferings in Rwanda, Somalia and Kosovo.

We believe that the new Court would prevent serious violations of International humanitarian law and ensure that those responsible for most heinous crimes are held accountable. Equally, those who violate human rights law will no longer be so confident of their impunity. The new Court would further provide an opportunity to address the concerns of victims of impunity.

Over the years, Mr. Chairman my Government had been concerned at the lack of protection extended to peacekeepers and humanitarian workers. We are satisfied that the international community, in the Rome Statute is now prepared to accept attack against peacekeepers and humanitarian workers as war crimes.

Such a recognition would go a long way towards enhancing the effectiveness and

Commitments of troop contributors like us who have lost thirty-six (36) of our young peacekeepers in pursuit of the United Nations peacekeeping operations throughout the world. Fiji believes that the fear by some troop-contributing

states of politically motivated prosecutions to be more imagined than real and

therefore unfounded.

Mr. Chairman,

It is for the foregoing reasons that at ten o'clock this morning, I have signed and ratified the Rome Statute of the International Criminal Court, on behalf of the Government of Fiji.

Thank you