Mr. Chairman. The United States takes note of the interventions by the European Union, Norway and Switzerland concerning the scheduled execution of Mr. James Colburn.

Mr. Chairman, given the frequency with which we have responded to the interventions on this subject by the European Union, Norway and Switzerland in recent months, there is probably no need for me to restate our position at length today.

I would just recall that international law does not prohibit capital punishment. Nor is there any OSCE commitment prohibiting use of the death penalty. Indeed, the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights specifically recognizes the right of states that have not abolished the death penalty to impose it.

We recognize that many countries are opposed to the death penalty; and that certain international organizations have made abolition of this form of punishment a condition for membership. However, in the United States, where 12 of our 50 states have freely chosen not to employ capital punishment, our open and democratic processes have led to a different result.

Thank you.