Oct. 29, 1996

Resume-Statement by Mr. Epote Raymond, Cameroom's representative to the United Nations.

Epote Raymond (Cameroon) said the international criminal court could be paralyzed if it was required to seek the approval of national courts on its jurisdiction for each case. Although Cameroom supported the concept of complementarity, many States seemed to be overly attached to the jurisdiction of their national courts.

The impetus to establish an international criminal court came at a time when there had been a dramatic increase in crime against humanity. That increase had left many States powerless to prosecute those crimes. All States must demonstrate solidarity in the creation of the court if such crimes were to be dealt with effectively.