ASSOCIATE MINISTER OF FOREIGN AFFAIRS AND TRADE

9 September 1999

Mr Olivier Dupuis

Member of European Parliament

Secretary General of Transnational Radical Party

European Parliament

Rue Wiertz

Postbus 1047

B-1047 Brussels

BELGIUM

Dear Mr Dupuis

Thank you for your letter of 30 August 1999 to my colleague Rt Hon Don McKinnon, on whose behalf I am replying, enquiring about the progress and prospects of the New Zealand Government ratifying the Rome Statute of the International Criminal Court.

New Zealand is pleased with the result achieved last year in Rome, and considers that a just and effective basis for the Court was agreed upon by the international community. New Zealand's signature expressed our satisfaction with the Court's Statute. You will be aware, however, that under New Zealand's constitutional arrangements, implementing legislation must be passed by Parliament before the New Zealand Government is able to take the step of ratification. With a general election pending, the pressures on Parliamentary time have been such that there has not yet been opportunity to introduce the necessary legislation. The New Zealand Government remains committed to ratifying the Statute at an early opportunity, and equally supports an early entry into force for the Court's Statute.

Yours sincerely

Hon Simon Upton

Associate Minister of Foreign Affairs and Trade