Mr. Secretary-General, Distinguished Colleagues, Distinguished Delegates,

An intense round of resolute, patient negotiating has now been concluded, just in time, with the adoption of the Final Act and the opening for signature of the Rome Statute of the International Criminal Court. Italy is honoured to have hosted such an important event to lay down the rules that will govern the international community and to define the instruments to be used to guarantee their enforcement. The government and the City of Rome are also honoured to provide this solemn venue to celebrate the conclusion of the Conference.

None of us can fail to perceive the significance of this ceremony. None of us can fail to appreciate the expectations of international public opinion, clamouring around these ancient walls, but which will not be disappointed thanks to the farsightedness shown by all of you and the countries you represent. This success would not have been possible without the pressure of civil society in our countries expressed by the Non-Governmental Organisations that have so passionately backed the work of governments.

Inevitably, these negotiations have been difficult, at times even acrimonious. But this was to be expected. The Statute of the Court introduces radically important innovations into relations between States, affecting their sovereign prerogatives, and establishing a new relationship between the national courts and international jurisdiction. It complements that Declaration of Human Rights which, fifty years on, still remains one of the defining moments in the history of the United Nations. And thanks to this Court, UN credibility has now been further enhanced.
Every country has played a part in drafting the Statute, including those which have declared their unwillingness to sign it. And we can understand their reasons. But we earnestly hope that once the nature and the operation of the Court has been more carefully appraised, they will come to a different determination in the not too distant future, and will accede to the new Institution.

Not everything that some of us had hoped for has been put into the Statute. This was inevitable in such a complex exercise, carried through by such a large number of countries, with the aim of attracting the broadest possible support for the future. I nevertheless believe that we must acknowledge that the International Court which is being instituted here in Rome today is vested with the qualities of effectiveness, independence and authority commensurate to the tasks that lie ahead of it.

It is not over-optimistic to say that the Court will help us to feel that our individual rights are now more safely guaranteed, and will render coexistence between peoples less precarious, reducing recourse to arbitrary conduct and violence on a large scale. In other words, it will mark not only a political but a moral stride forward by international society.

I would therefore like to express my gratitude for the work of the delegations, for the constructive attitude adopted by your governments, for the commitment of the United Nations and particularly its Secretary-General, Kofi Annan, whom I wish to thank for being here in person, and for the hospitality of the Mayor of Rome, Francesco Rutelli.
It is with these sentiments in mind that I take custody of the Final Act of the Conference and the Text of the Rome Statute for three months, which I shall now sign and invite everyone present with the powers to do so to sign it
with me.