SECURITY COUNCIL ACCEPTS SECRETARY-GENERAL'S NOMINATION OF CARLA DEL PONTE AS PROSECUTOR AT TRIBUNALS FOR FORMER YUGOSLAVIA AND RWANDA

Press Release
SC/6712

SECURITY COUNCIL ACCEPTS SECRETARY-GENERAL'S NOMINATION OF CARLA DEL PONTE AS PROSECUTOR AT TRIBUNALS FOR FORMER YUGOSLAVIA AND RWANDA

Appointment Takes Effect on 15 September; Resolution 1259 (1999), Adopted Unanimously, also Notes with Regret Resignation of Louise Arbour

After considering her nomination by the Secretary-General, the Security Council this afternoon appointed Carla Del Ponte, currently Attorney-General of Switzerland, to the position of Prosecutor of the International Criminal Tribunals of the Former Yugoslavia and Rwanda, effective 15 September.

The Council took that action as it unanimously adopted draft resolution 1259 (1999), which also noted with regret the resignation of Louise Arbour, also effective 15 September, as Prosecutor of both Tribunals.

The meeting, which began at 1:27 p.m., was adjourned at 1:30 p.m.

Resolution Adopted

The full text of resolution 1259 (1999) reads as follows:

"The Security Council,

"Recalling its resolutions 808 (1993) of 22 February 1993, 827 (1993) of 25 May 1993, 936 (1994) of 8 July 1994, 955 (1994) of 8 November 1994, and 1047 (1996) of 29 February 1996,

"Noting with regret the resignations of Mrs. Louise Arbour taking effect on 15 September 1999,

"Having regard to Article 16 (4) of the Statute of the International Tribunal for the Prosecution of Persons Responsible for Serious Violations of International Humanitarian Law Committed in the Territory of the Former Yugoslavia since 1991 (S/25704) and Article 15 of the Statute of the International Tribunal for Rwanda (S/RES/955 (1994), Annex),

"Having considered the nomination by the Secretary-General of Ms. Carla Del Ponte for the position of Prosecutor of the above Tribunals,

Security Council - 2 - Press Release SC/6712 4033rd Meeting (PM) 11 August 1999

"Appoints Ms. Carla Del Ponte as Prosecutor of the International Tribunal for the Prosecution of Persons Responsible for Serious Violations of International Humanitarian Law Committed in the Territory of the Former Yugoslavia and the International Tribunal for Rwanda with effect from the date on which Mrs. Arbour's resignation takes effect."

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