Statement by mr. Gerard Van Bohemen

Sixth Committee

Mr. Chairman,

... As we have stated previously in this Committee, the New Zealand Government strongly supports the establishment of an international criminal court. In our view, the establishment of such a court is vital for the effective suppression and prosecution of crimes of international concern...

... In procedural terms, we fully support the recommendation of the International Law Commission that a diplomatic conference should be convened for the final elaboration and adoption of the convention. Moreover, we are supportive of the view expressed by a number of others that it would be appropriate for a decision to be taken at the current sessione of the General Assembly on when the diplomatic conference should be convened. In our view, it would be appropriate for the conference to be convened in 1996.

However, it would also be sensible to make provision for an appropriate consultation process to be conducted beforehand during which States could exchange views on the draft articles and, where possible, remove remaining areas of difference and difficulty, we are entirely open as to how that consultation process should be structured. We see value, however, in the suggestion that we establish an ad hoc committee which could meet between the current session and the next session of the General Assembly.

The important point in the consideration of these procedural questions is that the International Law Commission has at last given the international community a solid foundation upon which to move forward to the achievemnt of the long desired objective of an international criminal court. Accordingly, it is our overriding view that these procedural questions should be resolved in a way that enhances theprospects of consensus and secures maximum support for the establishment of the court.