Oct. 31, 1996

Statement by Mr. Maurice Biggar

Mr. Chairman,

[...] My Government believes that the time is ripe for establishment of an international criminal court in the light of the proliferation of heinous offences in the world and the probability that many of the perpetrators of these offences will not be brought to justice through national system of justice. These circumstances have built up a momentum in the international community that must not be dissipated by a dilatory approach on the part of Governments. Rather must we built expeditiously on the considerable work already done and bring it to a conclusion. There are no insuperable difficulties, whether of principle or of detail, which stand between the international community and the establishment of an international criminal court. We see no reason why any necessary preparatory work still outstanding can not be completed in the course of 1997 and early 1998. Thus my Government is strongly of the view that the General Assembly should, at this fifty-first session, decide to convene a Diplomatic Conference in

1998 for the purpose of adopting a Statute establishing an international criminal court. My Government expressed its gratitude to the Government of Italy for its generous offer to host the Conference. The distinguished delegate of Italy has mentioned the month of June in 1998 as an appropriate time to begin the Conference. My Government endorses that suggestion.