sixth committee

....Mr Chairman,

....as far as the future procedure is concerned, Austria sees at present no other realistic solution but establishing the International Criminal Court on the basis of an international convention, which is to be adopted at a conference, which is to be adopted at a conference of state plenipotentiaries.

Other suggested solutions may have the advantage of being more expeditious but clearly run the risk of lacking the wide acceptance which is a prerequisite for the adequate functioning of the Court.

In our view, such a conference should take place, if possible, at the latest in 1996.

Ideally it should be carried out in 1995 provided that this Committee would be able to narrow the remaining differences of opinion down to a few issues which can be expected to be sorted out in preparatory process for a conference on diplomatic level or at the conference as such.

Given the limited time available, however, our delegation has some doubts, whether a conference already in 1995 seems realistic....