S/PV.4345 Security Council

The Security Council will now begin its consideration of the item on its agenda. The Council is meeting in accordance with the understanding reached in its prior consultations. Members of the Council have before them document S/2001/615, which contains the text of a note dated 21 June 2001 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 and former President of the International Court of Justice Mohammed Bedjaoui, effective 30 September 2001. That note explains the need for the item on our agenda. The resignation of Judge Mohammed Bedjaoui on 30 September 2001 will create a vacancy in the International Court of Justice which will have to be filled. Judge Bedjaoui was elected a member of the Court as from 19 March 1982 and was re-elected as from 6 February 1988 and from 6 February 1997. He was President of the Chamber formed to deal with the case concerning the Frontier Dispute (Burkina Faso/Republic of Mali, 1983-1986) and was President of the Court from 1994 to 1997. Under Article 14 of the Statute of the International Court of Justice, the Security Council is to fix the date for the election to fill the vacancy in the Court. As agreed during our prior consultations on this matter, the election could take place on 12 October 2001 at concurrent meetings of the Security Council and the General Assembly. Members of the Council have before them document S/2001/663, 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/2001/663 without a vote. There being no objection, it is so decided. The draft resolution has been adopted as resolution 1361 (2001). The Security Council has thus concluded its business for this meeting. The meeting rose at 3.45 p.m.