Remarks by the Secretary-General at a reception organised by the Coalition for the International Criminal Court (ICC) during the 8th PrepCom,

I've had a very interesting experience with the ICC - our efforts to establish the ICC. Perhaps, I know Mr. Kirsch knows this, but not many of you will know, when the Statutes were adopted in Rome, I was on the other side of the world. I was in Argentina. But, I was on the phone with Hans Corell, the Legal Counsel. I was on an official visit and I had warned the Argentinian Government that I may have to leave and break the visit and go to Rome.

Corell and I were on the phone and I had other appointments in Buenos Aires and I said, "Hans, where are we?" and he said, "well, I think we may get it, but I'm not sure." And I said, "I'm about to leave for the airport to join you." He said, "Give me 20 minutes, I'll come back." I said, "I don't have 20 minutes." He said, "Well we have an important vote that is going to be taken and the results of the vote would indicate the possibility and the direction we are going to go." So I said, "I will tell you what I will do, I will head for the airport and when I get to the airport I will call you. If it's a go I will board the plane. If it is not, I will return to the city and continue my visit [laughter]." It was that close.

When I got it the airport I called Hans and he kept saying, "Can you hear me? Can you hear me?" [laughter]

I said, "Yes, I can hear you."

He said, "Can you hear the noise?"

I said, "Yes."

The vote had just taken place and the applause was deafening and I could hear it all the way to Buenos Aires. [laughter] And I'm sure quite a lot of the applause came from the Coalition [laughter]. And here you are continuing the struggle and the fight. And I agree with you we will have the Court. I'm determined to work with the governments and with you to ensure that the Court is established in the next year. The Court will function and those who have been hesitant will, in time, come on board. I don't think we should be deterred. We have hurdles ahead. We have lots of work to do. I was just talking to Mr. Kirsch about this, but we both agree that we will overcome these hurdles.

And I think the climate has changed somewhat since the 11th of September and I think we are going to get much more support that we had not counted on.

But I am also particularly pleased to see so many young people here in this room rooting for the ICC. You are the future. And to be so determined to ensure that we have a world based on the rule of law both at the national and international level is very encouraging so I wish you - I wish us! - great success. [applause]

And I hope when the time comes that we have taken concrete and effective measures to establish the Court. I will not be that far away. But even if I am, I will come. [applause]*****