INTERNATIONAL COURT: THE CONFERENCE THAT WILL ESTABLISH THE INTERNATIONAL CRIMINAL COURT WILL MEET IN ROME IN 1998. ITALY LEADS THE FIGHT FOR ITS SUPPORT AT THE U.N.
New York, Feb. 11th. The work of the Preparatory Committee of the United Nations, which began its work on the establishment of the International
Criminal Court this morning in the U.N. Building, was characterized by the comments of the Italian Ambassador Francesco P. FULCI.
In his speech, Ambassador Fulci proposed that Rome host the Diplomatic Conference of Plenipotentiaries that will lead to the establishment of the International Criminal Court. The Italian government intends to raise the necessary funds for the Conference and will also coordinate an Organizational Committee and an Honorary Presidency Committee, both of which will be composed of dignitaries and figures of the highest levels of competence that will assist to launch the process.
The International Committee of No Peace Without Justice, together with the Transnational Radical Party, emphasizes the importance of the Italian initiative, which has placed Italy at the forefront of the nations who urgently request the establishment of the International Court.
Italy's offer is by far the most concrete contribution that has been made thus far to the Preparatory Committee.
It is the fourth consecutive year in which Italy has repeated its offer to host the conference. Italy first made its offer in New York when Emma Bonino, who was then Secretary of the Transnational Radical Party and a delegate of the Italian government, offered that Italy host the conference, an offer that has been repeated by Italian Diplomats every year since 1994.
The Secretary of No Peace Without Justice, who was present at the UN for the beginning of the Preparatory Committee's work, declared: "The creation of the International Court requires the presence of great political leadership that is of absolutely international prestige, so that it may pass securely from words into fact. As we wait for President Clinton or the European Union to make a move, Italy has sent the first certain message."