S/PV.4075 Security Council

The Security Council will now begin its consideration of the item on its agenda. The Security Council is meeting in accordance with the understanding reached in its prior consultations. Members of the Council have before them document S/1999/1197 of 24 November 1999, which contains the text of a note by the Secretary-General concerning the date of an election to fill a vacancy in the International Court of Justice, owing to the resignation of Judge Stephen Schwebel, the President of the International Court of Justice, effective 29 February 2000. That note explains the need for the item on our agenda. The resignation of Judge Stephen Schwebel on 29 February 2000 will create a vacancy in the International Court of Justice which will have to be filled. Judge Schwebel was elected as a member of the Court from 15 January 1981 and was re-elected from 6 February 1988 and from 6 February 1997. His current term of office would have expired on 5 February 2006. He was Vice- President of the Court from 1994 to 1997 and has been President of the Court since 6 February 1997. He was a member of two Chambers in the cases concerning Delimitation of the Maritime Boundary in the Gulf of Maine Area (Canada/United States of America), 1981-1984 and Elettronica Sicula S.p.A., 1987-1989. Members of the Council have before them document S/1999/1205, which contains the text of a draft resolution prepared in the course of the Council’s prior consultations. May I take it that the Council is ready to proceed to take a decision on that draft resolution? There being no objection, it is so decided. In the light of consultations which I have held, it is my understanding that the Council is ready to adopt the draft resolution contained in document S/1999/1205 without a vote. There being no objection, it is so decided. The draft resolution has been adopted as resolution 1278 (1999). The Security Council has thus concluded its business for this meeting.