October 30, 1995

Statement by Mr. James Baxter for the Australian Delegation

...By resolution 49/53, the General Assembly decided last year to include on the agenda for its fiftieth session the establishment of an international criminal court. we are called upon by that resolution to consider the Report of the Ad Hoc Committee, and comments submitted by States on the draft statute, and to "decide on the convening of an international conference of plenipotentiaries to conclude a convention on the establishment of an international criminal court, including on the timing and duration of the conference".

As already stated, my delegation considers that the Ad Hoc Committee has fulfilled its mandate to review the substantive and administrative issues arising our of the ILC draft statute. These negotiations should naturally use the ILC draft statute and the report of the Ad Hoc Committee as their starting point...

...Further, my delegation believes that the time in now ripe to plan for a diplomatic conference to adopt a statute for the court. My delegation considers that this conference should be convened in the first half of 1997, following a series of preparatory negotiating meetings in 1996. Noting the great progress that has been made on the proposal for an international criminal court. My delegation considers that this conference should be convened in the first half of 1997, following a series of preparatory negotiating meetings in 1996. Noting the great progress that has been made on the proposal for an international criminal court over the last eighteen months, my delegation believes this timing is sufficient to permit governments to resolve between themselves the issues arising out of the establishment of a court.