SECRETARY-GENERAL LAUDS OUTSTANDING CONTRIBUTIONS OF INTERNATIONAL CRIMINAL TRIBUNALS PROSECUTOR
Press Release
SG/SM/7029
SECRETARY-GENERAL LAUDS OUTSTANDING CONTRIBUTIONS OF INTERNATIONAL CRIMINAL TRIBUNALS PROSECUTOR
19990611 The following statement was issued today by the Office of the Spokesman for Secretary-General Kofi Annan:The Government of Canada yesterday announced the appointment of Louise Arbour to the Supreme Court of Canada.
On 29 February 1996, the Security Council appointed Louise Arbour Prosecutor of the International Criminal Tribunal for the Former Yugoslavia and of the International Criminal Tribunal for Rwanda.
She assumed her duties on 1 October 1996.
From the very outset, Mrs. Arbour has fulfilled her duties as Prosecutor with tireless vigour and dynamism.
In her time of office, she has steered to a successful conclusion the proceedings in respect of more than a dozen accused -- including a former Prime Minister of Rwanda, Jean Kambanda.
Moreover, as a result of her effort and those of her staff, more than 50 persons are now in detention awaiting trial before the two International Tribunals. Many of the alleged ringleaders of the Rwanda genocide figure among those detainees, including a number of former cabinet ministers and other senior political and military figures.
Most remarkably, though, Mrs. Arbour's advocacy of the two Tribunals and their work has succeeded in bringing the cause of international criminal justice to the forefront of the world's attention.
In short, Mrs. Arbour has played a leading role in bringing closer a world in which the rule of law will prevail in the affairs both of nations and of their peoples, and in eradicating the culture of impunity, with regard especially to war crimes, genocide and crimes against humanity.
The Secretary-General lauds the outstanding contributions of Mrs. Arbour to these international endeavours.
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