S/PV.5407 Security Council

I should like to take this opportunity to pay tribute, on behalf of the Council, to His Excellency Mr. César Mayoral, Permanent Representative of Argentina to the United Nations, for his service as President of the Security Council for the month of March 2006. I am sure I speak for all members of the Council in expressing deep appreciation to Ambassador Mayoral for the great diplomatic skill with which he conducted the Council’s business last month. Adoption of the agenda International Tribunal for the Prosecution of Persons Responsible for Serious Violations of International Humanitarian Law Committed in the Territory of the Former Yugoslavia since 1991 Letter dated 27 March 2006 from the Secretary- General addressed to the President of the Security Council (S/2006/199)

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/2006/199, which contains the text of a letter dated 27 March 2006 from the Secretary-General addressed to the President of the Security Council, containing a request from the President of the International Tribunal that Judge Joaquín Martín Canivell be able to continue to serve in the trial in case number IT-00-39, Prosecutor v. Krajišnik, which is still ongoing before the International Tribunal, and to see the case through to its completion. Members of the Council also have before them document S/2006/223, which contains the text of a draft resolution prepared in the course of the Council’s prior consultations. It is my understanding that the Council is ready to proceed to the vote on the draft resolution before it. Unless I hear any objection, I shall now put the draft resolution to the vote. There being no objection, it is so decided.

There were 15 votes in favour. The draft resolution has been adopted unanimously as resolution 1668 (2006). I now call on the representative of the Russian Federation, who wishes to make a statement following the voting.

We did not object to the extension of the mandate of the ad litem Judge, Judge Joaquín Martín Canivell. We therefore supported the draft resolution, since such a decision is in keeping with the completion strategy of the International Criminal Tribunal for the Former Yugoslavia. At the same time, we should like to draw attention to the fact that the Security Council has now been obliged for a second time to deal with the issue of extending the mandate of this judge. We consider that fact to be further proof of the insufficiently satisfactory organization of the Tribunal’s work.

There are no further speakers. The Security Council has thus concluded the present stage of its consideration of the item on its agenda.