Security Council Resolution Underscores Necessity to Bring War Crimes Fugitives To Justice

The United States notes the adoption by the UN Security Council of Resolution 1534 on March 26 on the annual reports presented by the International Criminal Tribunal for the Former Yugoslavia (ICTY) and the International Criminal Tribunal for Rwanda (ICTR).

The Resolution reaffirms the importance of fully implementing the Completion Strategies agreed with the Tribunals and reiterates the call in UN Security Council Resolution 1503 on all States, particularly those in the Balkans and Great Lakes regions, to intensify their cooperation with the Tribunals to bring Radovan Karadzic, Ratko Mladic and Ante Gotovina and all other indictees before the ICTY and Felicien Kabuga and all other indictees before the ICTR.

In this regard, the United States wishes to emphasize its steadfast resolve that, notwithstanding the deadlines of the agreed Completion Strategies, Karadzic, Mladic, and Gotovina will be tried at the ICTY and Kabuga will be tried at the ICTR.

The ICTY and the ICTR cannot close without the consent of the UN Security Council. The United States intends to ensure the continued operation of the Tribunals for the trials of Karadzic, Mladic, Gotovina and Kabuga.

We urge UN Member States - especially those in the Balkan and Great Lakes regions - to fulfil their obligation to cooperate promptly and fully with the tribunals.

2004/331