To the kind attention of Mr. Connor O'Riordan

Strasburg, June 16, 1998

Dear Mr. O'Riordan

Thank you very much for your reply of May 23. I agree with you when you say that the possibility of tabling at the next UNGA a resolution calling for a universal moratorium on capital executions must be carefully examined and evaluated. I also agree with you as for the damages that a defeat would represent for this initiative.

Nevertheless, analysing the different votes since the 94 UNGA until the last UN Human Rights Commission, I am more and more convinced that a large majority of Member States could support a resolution calling for the moratorium. As you know several countries have changed their position regarding death penalty in the last two/three years. In that regard, I am happy to send you an uptaded analysis country by country.

Besides, from the contacts we have been establishing with the "diplomacies" of the 64 co-sponsoring countries of the 98 UNHR Commission resolution it appears that a group of countries willing to ask the inscription of the item of the death penalty already exists, countries that will certainly sponsor a resolution calling for a moratorium. It seems to me that at the moment the only missing factor is a leadership. But I still hope that, pushed by some member states, the EU as a whole could play this role.

Yours sincerely,

Olivier Dupuis