TEHRAN Islamic Republic of Iran singed on Sunday treaty creating the world's first permanent criminal court.

The International Criminal Court, based on the principles of the Nazi war crime trials at Nuremberg at the end of the World War II, would try individuals accused of the world's most heinous crimes genocide, war crimes and other gross human rights violations. The court, to be based in the Netherlands, can be set after 60 countries have ratified it, expected in about two years. Twenty-seven nations have already done so.

Another country to endorse the treaty, was Israel which claimed will not sign the treaty in previous days. A split Israeli cabinet earlier on Sunday had voted against endorsing the treaty but reversed itself shortly after U.S. President Bill Clinton announced Washington was signing. Israel, the United States as well as Iran signed the treaty hours before a New Year's Eve midnight deadline. After that countries may only go through the laborious process of ratifying it through their legislatures.

Signing the treaty expresses support for the court and gives countries a greater voice in negotiating the tribunal's procedure.

Israel's chief concern had been an Arab-inspired provision aimed at Israel settlements in the occupied territories. The article, now slightly modified by a footnote, makes it a crime to transfer populations into occupied territories.

As a result, the signing was delayed for nearly three hours while Lancry and UN officials negotiated a declaration.

Israel's original wording was viewed by the UN officials as a reservation, which is prohibited for this treaty. After consultations with Bait-ul-Moqaddas and Chief UN Legal Counsel, Hans Corell, the statement was amended to say Israel rejects "any attempt to interpret provisions thereof in a politically motivated manner against Israel and its citizens." This provision has also been an argument against the COU by Conservative U.S. Senator Jesse Helms, chairman of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee and a strong opponent of the tribunal. Israel Prime Minister Ehud Barak was reported to have had reservations about the treaty after the military and Attorney General Elyakim Rubinstein said it could be used against the Jewish state.

But Foreign Minister Shlomo Ben Ami and Justice Minister Yossi Beilin have been in favor of the court for years. Their view prevailed after the United States signed the treaty.

"They exerted a lot of influence and conviction without neglecting the Israeli concerns. They finally got the agreement of the Israeli government and, of course, Prime Minister Barak," Lancry said.

(Reuter)