19.09.07 - ICTR/UN - THE UN REMINDS THE ICTR THAT IT MUST FINISH ITS FIRST INSTANCE TRIALS IN 2008

19 September 2007 By

Arusha, 19 September 2007 (FH) - The United Nations Security Council, in an resolution adopted last week, reminded the International Criminal Tribunal for Rwanda (ICTR) that it must finish its first instance trials at the latest by the end of the next year.

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In its resolution 1774 adopted last Friday, and that the Hirondelle agency obtained a copy Wednesday, the Security Council "called upon the International Criminal Tribunal for Rwanda to take all possible measures to complete all trial activities at first instance by the end of 2008, and to complete all work in 2010 ".

The text "emphasized the importance of fully implementing the International Tribunal's completion strategy and urges the Tribunal to plan and act accordingly".

In the same decision, the Security Council unanimously voted to renew the mandate of the current ICTR prosecutor, Gambian Hassan Bubacar Jallow, for a four years period, as of last Saturday. The United Nations reserves the right to shorten this period if the tribunal completes its work earlier.

Based in Arusha, in northern Tanzania, the ICTR, which began its trials in 1997, has rendered, up to date, 28 convictions and 5 acquittals. By the end of 2007, it will have cost a billion dollars.

Twenty-nine accused are on trial while 6 await the beginning of their proceedings.