On behalf of the entire Tribunal and himself, President Theodor Meron extends warmest congratulations to Prosecutor Carla Del Ponte on her unanimous reappointment by the Security Council as Prosecutor of the International Tribunal for the former Yugoslavia for another four year term of office.

The President wishes to express his deepest appreciation to the Prosecutor for her indefatigable efforts and tireless devotion to duty during her past four years in office. She has courageously worked for the arrest and transfer to The Hague of persons accused of committing serious violations of international humanitarian law. Her unrelenting pressure on Governments and international organizations has been crucial for the considerable success already achieved in the number and seniority of persons brought to the ICTY, especially if account is taken of the gravity of the crimes which they are alleged to have committed.

Commending her on these remarkable achievements, the President expresses confidence that the Prosecutor’s efforts to bring to justice the senior leaders suspected of being responsible for serious violations of international humanitarian law, such as Radovan Karadzic and Ratko Mladic, as well as Ante Gotovina, will prove successful in the near future. Without their trials, the historical mission of the Tribunal will not have been fulfilled.

The President looks forward to the closest cooperation with the Prosecutor to make the functioning of the Tribunal ever more effective in the interests of international justice and accountability. One of the goals which will require joint efforts is the accomplishment of the completion strategy as defined by the Security Council, and doing so consistent with the requirements of justice, due process and ending impunity.