PREPARATORY COMMITTEE BEGINS FIRST TECHNICAL READING OF CONSOLIDATED SET OF DRAFT ARTICLES ON STATUTE OF INTERNATIONAL CRIMINAL COURT
Press Release
L/2861
PREPARATORY COMMITTEE BEGINS FIRST TECHNICAL READING OF CONSOLIDATED SET OF DRAFT ARTICLES ON STATUTE OF INTERNATIONAL CRIMINAL COURT
19980402 The Preparatory Committee on the Establishment of an International Criminal Court this morning undertook a first technical reading of the consolidated set of draft articles on the court's statute.The Committee Chairman, Adriaan Bos (Netherlands), led delegations through the current status of the document on the court's statute, which was produced by an intersessional meeting held in Zutphen, Netherlands, in January (document A/AC.249/1998/L.13). New drafts adopted yesterday were incorporated in the text to replace some of its provisions. The new consolidated text is expected to be available tomorrow in the form of conference room papers for consideration by the Committee at its closing meeting.
During the reading, the Chairman drew attention to proposals introduced yesterday by Germany, concerning the crime of aggression, and by Sweden, relating to the commencement of prosecution, arrest, pre-trial detention or release, and notification of the indictment. Those proposals would be discussed as soon as they were available in all languages.
The representative of Switzerland also introduced new language to simplify a provision of article 5, on crimes within the jurisdiction of the court, relating to children and armed conflict. However, due to the unavailability of the proposal in all languages, further consideration of the matter was also postponed.
Yesterday afternoon, the Preparatory Committee adopted reports of its working groups and was briefed by coordinators of consultations. The Committee is conducting its work through those arrangements and other informal meetings at the current sixth and final session before the United Nations Conference of Plenipotentiaries on the Establishment of an International Criminal Court, to be held in Rome from 15 June to 17 July.
The Committee will meet again at 3 p.m. today to continue its deliberations.
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