March 22, 2000

By a vote of 310 against 3, the French Senate approved the bill ratifying the ICC Statute, which will allow France to become the eight member state of the future Court.

However, in this historical occasion, Foreign Affairs Minister, M. Hubert Vedrine defended the decision of his government to make use of art. 124 of the Statute, that allows the Member State to avoid ICC jurisdiction over war crimes committed by its nationals or in its territory for a 7 years period.