"To approve the final text (of the Statute) that will create the Court, we need a majority of of two thirds, or 108 votes in favour. The states positively in favour are 70, so we need 38 votes to reach the majority," Conso said.

However, he called for a consensus approval to avoid "the risk of a partial vote of articles or even a negative result".

Conso said he shared the concerns expressed in the last week from various quarters, who have warned that too many questions remain open as time is running out for the conference, scheduled to end on July 17 with the adoption of the Court Statute.

"It is not possible to accomplish a solution that will please all 161 delegates," Conso said. He urged delegates to speak up: "Those who are in favour must say so now, and those who are against will have to openly expose their attitudes beyond the protocolar statements expressed at the opening of the Conference."

Conso has just received a letter from the United Nations Seceretary General, Kofi Annan, expressing concern about the number of problems still to be solved, with little time left to tackle them.