INTERNATIONAL CRIMINAL COURT CONFERENCE COMMITTEE APPROVES PROVISIONS ON FINANCING, PROCEDURAL ISSUES
Press Release
L/2888
INTERNATIONAL CRIMINAL COURT CONFERENCE COMMITTEE APPROVES PROVISIONS ON FINANCING, PROCEDURAL ISSUES
19980716 (Reissued as received from an Information Officer.)ROME, 16 July -- Continuing its actions on reports of its various working groups, the Committee of the Whole of the United Nations Conference on the Establishment of an International Criminal Court this morning adopted provisions on the Court's financing and on procedural issues, and referred these texts to the Conference's Drafting Committee.
The report of the Working Group on Procedural Matters (document A/CONF.183/C.1/WGPM/L.2/Add.8) covers the remaining articles of Parts 5, 6 and 8 of the draft Statute. Part 5 deals with investigation and prosecution. Provisions of Part 6 of the draft Statute cover article 63, paragraphs 1 and 2 -- trial in the presence of the accused -- and article 74, concerning sentencing. Part 8 deals with appeal and review.
The Committee of the Whole also adopted the report of the Coordinator on the financing of the Court -- Part 12 of the draft Statue. Among other provisions, it states that the expenses of the Court and the Assembly of the State Parties shall be provided by the following sources: assessed contributions made by States parties and funds provided by the United Nations, subject to the approval of the General Assembly, in particular, in relation to the expenses incurred due to referrals by the Security Council.
Speaking this morning after action by the Committee of the Whole, the representative of Sweden said it had agreed to the adoption of the text, but regretted that no agreement could be reached on financing of the Court in its initial phase. Article 104 (b) should be interpreted as making it possible for the Court to seek funds from the United Nations in its initial phase should it be necessary in order to ensure its proper functioning. As to article 105, on voluntary contributions, it was Sweden's view that the expression "additional funds" should be interpreted to mean that voluntary contributions would not be utilized to fund any core expenses of the Court; those expenses should be covered by assessed contributions.
The Committee of the Whole will meet again at 3 p.m. today to consider further reports of the Drafting Committee.
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