SECRETARY-GENERAL ‘DEEPLY GRATIFIED’ AT UNANIMOUS SECURITY COUNCIL DECISION

ON INTERNATIONAL CRIMINAL COURT, PEACKEEPING OPERATIONS

The following statement was issued this evening by the Office of the Spokesman for Secretary-General Kofi Annan:

The Secretary-General has been kept informed by his Legal Counsel, Hans Corell, of the discussion in the Security Council, and conveyed his views to the Council through Mr. Corell.  His principal concerns were for the integrity of the United Nations Charter and the Statute of the International Criminal Court, and for the integrity of treaty law.  He also was concerned about the unity of the Security Council and the preservation of United Nations peacekeeping operations.

He is deeply gratified that members of the Security Council have resolved the difficult issue that they faced and have been unanimous in their decision.

The Secretary-General will be receiving a full report from his office about these developments and may comment in further detail later.

* *** *