22/10/2003 (Agence Europe) - In a speech on the theme "Globalisation and the Law" in London's Lord Slynn of Hadley Foundation on 14 October, the European Commissioner for External Relations, Chris Patten, noted that he had become increasingly aware of the relationship between the rule of law, good governance and economic growth in his years in Asia (he was the last British Governor of Hong Kong: Ed). "We were in the age of the Asian economic miracle. There was no need to listen to western lectures on governance (...) Those arguments came crashing down in the wake of the Asian financial crisis of 1997-8", recalled Mr Patten. As for the United States, he deplores the "deep suspicion" which has developed towards "structures and institutions of international society and international law", especially on the neo-Conservative rights. "I deeply regret the American decision on the International Criminal Court, because I admire the United States, and I know how its attitude to international agreements will be interpreted: it will be accused of putting itself above the law", he said, adding that Kofi Annan said that in this Court he could see "the promise of universal justice".