NATIONS

Council

GENERAL

E/CN.15/1996/9

8 March 1996

ORIGINAL: ENGLISH

COMMISSION ON CRIME PREVENTION

AND CRIMINAL JUSTICE

Fifth session

Vienna, 21-31 May 1996

Item 3 of the provisional agenda [*E/CN.15/1996/1.]

V.96-81406T

1. On the recommendation of the Commission on Crime Prevention and Criminal Justice, the Economic and Social Council, in its resolution 1995/27 of 24 July 1995, section I, paragraph 8, decided to establish an open-ended intergovernmental working group during the first two days of the fifth session of the Commission, to study, with the assistance of the Secretary-General, the proposal for the establishment of a regional centre, to be based at Cairo, for training and research in crime prevention and criminal justice for the Mediterranean States.

2. The Secretary-General has the honour to transmit to the members of the Commission the attached note verbale dated 27 December 1995 from the Permanent Mission of Egypt to the United Nations (Vienna) requesting that consideration of the above-mentioned matter be deferred. All Permanent Representatives of the Group of the Mediterranean States have been informed of the request contained in the note verbale.

3. It should be noted that the proposed organization of work and timetable of the fifth session of the Commission, as contained in annex II to the provisional agenda (E/CN.15/1996/1), were prepared on the assumption that the Commission would agree to the request of the Government of Egypt to defer consideration of the proposal to establish a regional centre, and that, consequently, the establishment of the intergovernmental working group intended to consider the matter would also be deferred.

The Permanent Mission of the Arab Republic of Egypt presents its compliments to the United Nations Office at Vienna, Crime Prevention and Criminal Justice Branch, and with reference to the Economic and Social Council's resolution number 1995/27, section I, paragraph 8, has the honour to request the Branch to defer the consideration of the issue of "Establishing a regional centre for training and research in crime prevention and criminal justice for the Mediterranean States" during the fifth session of the Commission on Crime Prevention and Criminal Justice, due to be held in May 1996.

The Permanent Mission of the Arab Republic of Egypt avails itself of this opportunity to renew to the United Nations Office at Vienna, Crime Prevention and Criminal Justice Branch, the assurances of its highest consideration.