Today the Sixth Committee approved by consensus the resolution on the ICC.

The final text is identical to that which was sent out to the list late

last week, and is included again below.

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United Nations A/C.6/53/L.9/Rev.1

General Assembly

Distr.: Limited

18 November 1998

Original: English

Fifty-third session

Sixth Committee

Agenda item 153

Establishment of an international criminal court

Draft resolution submitted by the Bureau

Establishment of an international criminal court

The General Assembly,

Recalling its resolutions 47/33 of 25 November

1992, 48/31 of 9 December 1993, 49/53 of 9 December 1994, 50/46 of 11

December 1995 and 51/207 of 17 December 1996,

Also recalling its resolution 52/160 of 15 December

1997, in which it decided to hold the United Nations Diplomatic Conference

of Plenipotentiaries on the Establishment of an International Criminal

Court in Rome from 15 June to 17 July 1998,

Expressing satisfaction at the completion of the

mandate of that resolution by the adoption of the Rome Statute of the

International Criminal Court, at the Headquarters of the Food and

Agriculture Organization of the United Nations in Rome on 17 July 1998, and

taking note of the opening for signature of the Statute in Rome on 17 July

1998 until 17 October 1998, and thereafter in New York at United Nations

Headquarters until 31 December 2000, and also taking note of the Final Act

of the Conference done at Rome on 17 July 1998,1

Noting that a significant number of States have

signed the Rome Statute,

Emphasizing the need to make the necessary

arrangements for the commencement of the functions of the Court in order to

ensure its effective operation,

Noting in particular that the Conference decided to

establish a Preparatory Commission for the Court, consisting of

representatives of States that have signed the Final Act of the Conference

and other States that were invited to participate in the Conference,

Also noting that the Conference requested the

Secretary-General of the United Nations to convene the Preparatory

Commission at United Nations Headquarters in New York as early as possible

at a date to be decided by the General Assembly,

Recalling the mandate of the Preparatory Commission

with regard to the preparation of proposals for practical arrangements for

the establishment and coming into operation of the Court, including before

30 June 2000 the finalization of the draft texts of the rules of procedures

and evidence and of the elements of crimes,

Recognizing the need for making available adequate

resources and secretariat services to the Preparatory Commission in order

to enable it to discharge its functions efficiently and expeditiously,

1. Acknowledges the historic significance of

the adoption of the Rome Statute of the International Criminal Court;1

2. Expresses its deep appreciation and

gratitude to the Government of Italy for hosting the Conference in Rome;

3. Calls upon all States to consider signing

and ratifying the Rome Statute, and encourages efforts aimed at promoting

awareness of the results of the Conference and of the provisions of the

Rome Statute;

4. Requests the Secretary-General to convene

the Preparatory Commission to meet, in accordance with resolution F adopted

by the United Nations Diplomatic Conference of Plenipotentiaries on the

Establishment of an International Criminal Court,1 in order to perform the

mandate of that resolution, and in that connection to discuss ways to

enhance the effectiveness and acceptance of the Court, from 16 to 26

February 1999, 26 July to 13 August 1999, and 29 November to 17 December

1999;

5. Also requests the Secretary-General to make

available to the Preparatory Commission secretariat services, not including

the preparation of working documents to enable it to perform its functions;

6. Requests the Secretary-General to invite,

as observers to the Preparatory Commission, representatives of

organizations and other entities that have received a standing invitation

from the General Assembly pursuant to its relevant resolutions to

participate, in the capacity of observers, in its sessions and work, and

also to invite, as observers to the Preparatory Commission, representatives

of interested regional intergovernmental organizations and other interested

international bodies, including the International Tribunals for former

Yugoslavia and Rwanda;

7. Notes that non-governmental organizations

may participate in the work of the Preparatory Commission, by attending its

plenary and its other open meetings in accordance with the rules of

procedure to be adopted by the Commission, receiving copies of the official

documents and making available their materials to delegates;

8. Requests the Secretary-General to take

steps in order to expand the mandate of the trust fund established in

Assembly resolution 51/207 for voluntary contributions towards meeting the

cost of participation in the work of the Preparatory Commission of the

least developed countries, and encourages States to contribute voluntarily

to this trust fund;

9. Further requests the Secretary-General to

take steps to expand the mandate of the trust fund established in Assembly

resolution 52/160 for voluntary contributions towards meeting the cost of

participation in the work of the Preparatory Commission of those developing

countries not covered by the trust fund referred to in paragraph 8, and

invites States to contribute voluntarily to this trust fund;

10. Requests the Secretary-General to report to

the General Assembly at its fifty- fourth session on the implementation of

the present resolution;

11. Decides to include in the provisional

agenda of its fifty-fourth session the item entitled: "Establishment of the

International Criminal Court".