To the attention of H.E. XXX

Ambassador of YYY to the United Nations

New York, July 3, 1998

Esteemed Ambassador,

As you know, on April 1998, for the second year in a row, the UN Commission on Human Rights in Geneva has adopted a resolution calling for a universal moratorium of capital executions with the view of the eventual worldwide abolition of the death penalty.

Your Government has played a prominent role in the final adoption of a clear and strong document that explicitly mentions the establishment of a worldwide moratorium of capital executions. This firm engagement has conspicuously enlarged the leadership front in the struggle for the noble cause of the respect of fundamental human rights and civil liberties the world over.

The Transnational Radical Party, and its federated association 'Hands Off Cain', are deeply convinced that, after many years of debate at the highest level in international fora and institutions, the time is now ripe for the UN General Assembly to pronounce itself on the question of the moratorium.

Since 1995, we have experimented that the processes of implementing the rule of law at a transnational level, like the establishment of an International Criminal Court, have benefited from the synergy and partnership between Governments and civil society.

During the last few weeks, there have been many encouraging and positive signals, for those who have been fighting for many years for the universal abolition of death penalty.

On June 18, 1998, the European Parliament adopted a strong resolution (see annexed documentation) urging the European Union and its Member States to propose the item of the universal moratorium for the next UNGA agenda and, eventually, to present a resolution for a worldwide moratorium. In the document, the EP mandates the Austrian EU Presidency to coordinate the EU Member States initiatives.

On June 29, 1998, the Council of Ministers of Europe launched a strong offensive against the death penalty inside international organizations, through the adoption of a moratorium.

If to all these elements, we add the analysis of the position of each UN Member State on the death penalty (see annexes), we believe that, unlike in 1994, the next UNGA will be able to express a clear majority in favor of a resolution calling for a universal moratorium of capital executions.

For all these reasons we consider crucial the creation of a group of 'like-minded' States on the issue, willing to coordinate the necessary initiatives in order to formally submit an item for the next UNGA agenda on this matter. To this end, we are also pleased to enclose a copy of the letter that our General Secretary, the Honorable Oliver Dupuis Member of the European Parliament, has sent to the Minister of Foreign Affairs of your Country.

We hope that your Excellency will take into consideration the possibility to facilitate the establishment of such initial network of Countries, and we look forward to cooperating with your Mission here in New York on this matter.

We remain at your full disposal for further clarifications and documentation on this project. Best regards.

Respectfully yours,

Marco Cappato Marco PerDuca

(UN Representatives)