November 3, 1995

Statement by Ambassador Arpad Prandler

...We believe there is an emerging consensus that the Ad Hoc Committee has fulfilled its mandate as reflected in Resolution 49/53 of the General Assembly and therefore we need a new phase, which necessitates the establishment of a preparatory committee. The informal talks which were held under the chairmanship of Dr. Adriaan Bos produced a quasi-agreement to have three two-week sessions of the Preparatory Committee next year. We know that a number of delegations would prefer to decide even now on the convening of the Conference of plenipotentiaries not later than in 1997. At the same time we should approach the task of the Preparatory Committee with due caution. As we have all seen, there are still indeed many aspects of the establishment of an ICC which need further scrutiny addn elaboration. That is why my delegation could go along with the suggestion that a decision on the precise date and venue of the Conference could only be taken by the 51st session of the General Assembly, in light of the report of th

e Preparatory Committee.