The Hon. Alexander Downer, MP

Minister for Foreign Affairs

Parliament House

Camberra Act 2000

M. Olivier Dupuis, M.E.P.

European Parliament

Rue Wiertz

1047 Bruxelles

Belgique

14 October 1999

Dear Mr. Dupuis

Thank you for your letter dated 31 August 1999 concerning the Australian ratification of the Statute of the International Criminal Court.

The Australian Government maintains its active and constructive support for the establishment of the International Criminal Court. Australia continues to chair the like-minded group of over sixty countries in the Preparatory-Commission, which, among other things, is mandated to draft the Rules of Procedures and Evidence and the Elements of Crimes for the Court.

The Australian Government is pursuing as expeditiously as possible the constitutional and governmental requirements for ratification of the Statute.

I wish you all the best with your laudable initiative.

Yours sincerely,

Alexander Downer