Security Council

6694^th Meeting (AM)

Adopting Unanimous Resolution, Security Council Extends Terms of Office

of Four Judges on Rwanda Criminal Tribunal through June 2012

Reaffirming that staff retention was essential for the completion of the work of the International Criminal Tribunal for Rwanda, the Security Council this morning extended the terms of office of four judges of the Trial Chamber until 30 June 2012 or sooner if their trials were completed.

Unanimously adopting resolution 2029 (2011) under the Charter’s Chapter VII, the Council also extended the term of office for seven ad litem judges through the same period or sooner if their trials concluded.

In taking that action, the Council called upon relevant United Nations bodies to intensify cooperation with the Secretariat and the Registrar of the International Tribunal and to take a flexible approach in order to find practicable solutions to address the staffing issue as the court approaches the completion of its work.

It urges States to intensify their cooperation with and render all necessary assistance to the Tribunal to achieve the arrest and surrender of all remaining fugitives as soon as possible.  It commended States that had accepted on their territories the relocation of acquitted or convicted persons who had served their sentences and called upon other countries to render such assistance to the court.

(For additional background on the situation, see Press Release SC/10476 of 7 December.)

Resolution

The full text of resolution 2029 (2011) reads as follows:

“The Security Council,

“Taking note of the letters to the President of the Council from the Secretary-General dated 16 December 2011 (S/2011/780) and 20 December 2011 (S/2011/781) attaching letters from the President of the International Criminal Tribunal for Rwanda (“the International Tribunal”) dated 26 November 2011 and 13 December 2011, respectively,

“Recalling its resolutions 955 (1994) of 8 November 1994, 1503 (2003) of 28 August 2003 and 1534 (2004) of 26 March 2004, and its previous resolutions concerning the International Tribunal,

“Recalling also its resolution 1966 (2010) of 22 December 2010, establishing the International Residual Mechanism for Criminal Tribunals (“the Mechanism”) and requesting the International Tribunal to take all possible measures to expeditiously complete all its remaining work no later than 31 December 2014, prepare its closure and ensure a smooth transition to the Mechanism,

“Recalling further that the branch of the Mechanism for the International Criminal Tribunal for Rwanda shall commence functioning on 1 July 2012,

“Taking note of the assessments by the International Tribunal in its Completion Strategy Report (S/2011/731), and the updated trial and appeals schedule,

“Noting that, upon the completion of the cases to which they are assigned, three permanent judges will be redeployed from the Trial Chamber to the Appeals Chamber, and two ad litem judges will leave the International Tribunal,

“Noting the concerns expressed by the President and Prosecutor of the International Tribunal about staffing, and reaffirming that staff retention is essential for the timely completion of the International Tribunal’s work,

“Noting with concern that the International Tribunal continues to face problems in the relocation of acquitted persons and convicted persons who have completed serving their sentences,

“Urging the International Tribunal to take all possible measures to complete its work expeditiously as requested in resolution 1966 (2010),

“Acting under Chapter VII of the Charter of the United Nations,

“1.   Decides to extend the term of office of the following permanent judges at the International Tribunal, who are members of the Trial Chamber, until 30 June 2012 or until the completion of the trials to which they are assigned, if sooner:

–Charles Michael Dennis Byron ( Saint Kitts and Nevis)

–Khalida Rachid Khan ( Pakistan)

–William H. Sekule (United Republic of Tanzania)

–Bakhtiyar Tuzmukhamedov ( Russian Federation);

“2.   Decides to extend the term of office of the following ad litem judges at the International Tribunal, who are members of the Trial Chamber, until 30 June 2012 or until the completion of the trials to which they are assigned, if sooner:

– Florence Rita Arrey ( Cameroon)

–Solomy Balungi Bossa ( Uganda)

–Robert Fremr ( Czech Republic)

–Vagn Joensen ( Denmark)

–Gberdao Gustave Kam ( Burkina Faso)

–Lee Gacugia Muthoga ( Kenya)

–Seon Ki Park ( Republic of Korea)

–Mparany Mamy Richard Rajohnson ( Madagascar);

“3.   Reiterates the importance of the International Tribunal being adequately staffed to complete its work expeditiously and calls upon relevant United Nations bodies to intensify cooperation with the Secretariat and the Registrar of the International Tribunal and to take a flexible approach in order to find practicable solutions to address this issue as the International Tribunal approaches the completion of its work, and at the same time calls upon the International Tribunal to renew its efforts to focus on its core functions;

“4.   Urges all States, especially States where fugitives are suspected to be at large, to intensify further their cooperation with and render all necessary assistance to the International Tribunal, in particular to achieve the arrest and surrender of all remaining fugitives as soon as possible;

“5.   Commends States that have accepted the relocation of acquitted persons or convicted persons who have completed serving their sentences to their territories, and reiterates its call upon other States in a position to do so to cooperate with and render all necessary assistance to the International Tribunal in the relocation of acquitted persons and convicted persons who have completed serving their sentences;

“6.   Decides to remain seized of the matter.”

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For information media • not an official record