INTERNATIONAL CRIMINAL COURT: THE BUREAU PAPER MUST BE ACCEPTED, OR IMPUNITY WILL TRIUMPH WORLDWIDE FOR OTHER DECADES.

THE RADICAL PARTY MOBILIZATION CONTINUES IN FRONT OF THE FAO.

Rome, July 17 - The compromise text, presented last night by the Bureau of the Committee of the Whole, is not, and we knew it, the "perfect" statute. In particular the autonomy of the future Court is conditioned by the power of the Security Council, and by the States consent to allow the Prosecutor to initiate investigations.

Nevertheless, it should be noted that some of the most 'restrictive proposals' that circulated in the last few days of the conference have been excluded from the Bureau paper. The Security Council can only block the Court acting in unanimity and for a period of 12 months - renewable under the same conditions; the preventive consent by States parties is not required, and there will not be a multiple state consent regime for them.

Considering the few hours that remain before the end of the Diplomatic Conference, The Radical Party launches an appeal to delegates to support, with all their energies, the Paper coordinated by President Kirsch and adopt it by the end of the day.

It would be irresponsible not to seize the opportunity given by the document - for the sake of having The Perfect Statute. If this Conference will end with a failure, the big superpowers and dictators will be allowed to ditch, for another 50 years, the establishment of the first tool for universal justice.

Radical Party and No Peace Without Justice's militants, who have spent last night with European Commissioner Emma Bonino and several Italian parliamentarians and Non-Governmental Organizations members, are continuing their 'speaking marathon' in front of the FAO to remind delegate that there are NO ALIBIS AND NO EXCUSES THE INTERNATIONAL CRIMINAL COURT MUST BE ESTABLISHED IMMEDIATELY.

Some 800 activists are still on hunger strike to dialogue with delegations and ask to face their responsibilities and take this historic opportunity.

Radical Party

Tel. 689.791

Fax. 6880.5396

www.radicalparty.org