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<title>AXWORTHY IN ROME FOR FINAL DAY OFINTERNATIONAL CRIMINAL COURT CONFERENCE</title>
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<p><font face="Courier"></font><font face="Univers" size="+2"></font><font face="Univers" size="+2">July 16, 1998 No. 172</font></p>
<p align="CENTER"><font face="Univers" size="+2">AXWORTHY IN ROME FOR FINAL DAY OF</font></p>
<p align="CENTER"><font face="Univers" size="+2">INTERNATIONAL CRIMINAL COURT CONFERENCE</font></p>
<p><font face="Courier">Foreign Affairs Minister Lloyd Axworthy will travel to Rome today to attend the
final plenary session of the international negotiations to establish the
framework for the International Criminal Court (ICC). Mr. Axworthy is visiting at
the invitation of Italian Foreign Minister Lamberto Dini.</font></p>
<p><font face="Courier">"Canada has been working hard to win support for an independent and effective ICC
that will bring to justice those accused of the most serious international
offences such as genocide, war crimes and crimes against humanity," said Minister
Axworthy.</font></p>
<p><font face="Courier">Leading up to the Conference, Canada chaired a group of like-minded states during
preparatory committee meetings in New York. Canada's Phillipe Kirsch, Legal
Advisor to the Department of Foreign Affairs and International Trade, was
unanimously appointed by the participating countries to act as chair of the ICC
negotiations in Rome.</font></p>
<p><font face="Courier">Canada has made clear that it seeks an ICC with:</font></p>
<p><font face="Courier">• acknowledged jurisdiction over such core crimes as genocide, crimes against
humanity and war crimes, including war crimes committed in internal armed
conflicts;</font></p>
<p><font face="Courier">• a constructive relationship with the UN Security Council that preserves the
independence and impartiality of the Court;</font></p>
<p><font face="Courier">• an independent Prosecutor who is able to initiate proceedings, rather than
proceedings being triggered only by a state complaint or Security Council
referral;</font></p>
<p><font face="Courier">• a special focus on the plight of women and children in armed conflict -- for
example, recognizing rape and the recruitment of child soldiers as war crimes.</font></p>
<p><font face="Courier">At the plenary session on the final day of the conference, Mr. Axworthy expects
to sign the summary document of the negotiations, called the Final Act of the
Conference. </font></p>
<p><font face="Courier">The diplomatic conference began on June 15 and is scheduled to conclude July 18.</font></p>
<p><font face="Courier">- 30 -</font></p>
<p><font face="Courier">For further information, media representatives may contact:</font></p>
<p><font face="Courier">Debora Brown</font></p>
<p><font face="Courier">Office of the Minister of Foreign Affairs</font></p>
<p><font face="Courier">(613) 995-1851</font></p>
<p><font face="Courier">Media Relations Office</font></p>
<p><font face="Courier">Department of Foreign Affairs and International Trade</font></p>
<p><font face="Courier">(613) 995-1874</font></p>
<p><font face="Courier">This document is also available on the Department's Internet site:
http://www.dfait-maeci.gc.ca</font></p>
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