Agreement between International Criminal Court, UN set for Monday signing

(Reissued as received.)

THE HAGUE, 1 October (ICC) -- An agreement between the International Criminal Court (ICC) and the United Nations defining the terms on which both institutions will be brought into relationship, will be signed on Monday, 4 October 2004.  Judge Philippe Kirsch, President of the ICC and Kofi Annan, Secretary-General of the United Nations, will sign the agreement at the United Nations Headquarters, in New York at 12 noon (local time).

The agreement recognises the status and mandate of both organisations and provides that the two institutions will cooperate closely on administrative and judicial matters and will consult each other on issues of mutual interest.

The agreement was adopted by the Assembly of States Parties to the Rome Statute of the ICC on 7 September 2004 and by the United Nations General Assembly on 13 September 2004 and will enter into force upon signature.

The ICC is an independent judicial institution established by a multilateral treaty to promote the rule of law and ensure that the gravest international crimes do not go unpunished.  As of today, 97 States are party to the Rome Statute of the ICC.

For more information, please contact:  Ellen McGuffie, United Nations Department of Public Information, tel.:  (212) 963 0499.

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