November 2, 1995

Statement by H.E. Ambassador I. E. Ayewah, Deputy Permanent Representative to the UN

...My delegation is convinced that we must strike a balance between the efforts to seize the momentum to create the court, with the need not to sacrifice merit just for the sake of meeting a target date. We support the reconvening of the Ad Hoc Committee with an expanded mandate to include the drafting of texts. In order to secure universal participation, it should meet twice in 1996 for no more than two weeks each to continue work for submission to the 51st Session of the General Assembly. It is only thereafter that the question of the date of convening a conference of plenipotentiaries could realistically be determined. My delegation joins with other delegations in extending appreciation to the Government of Italy for its generous offer to host the conference.