To: transnat@agora.stm.it

Subject: AD HOC TRIBUNAL - ARCHIVE

Date: Wed, 27 Oct 93 11:8:17 GMT

Message-ID: <9310271109.aa09272@agora.stm.it>

SECURITY COUNCIL APPOINTS RAMON ESCOVAR-SALOM OF VENEZUELA AS PROSECUTOR OF

TRIBUNAL ON VIOLATIONS OF HUMANITARIAN LAW IN FORMER YUGOSLAVIA

RESOLUTION 877 (21-OCT-1993)

The Security Council this afternoon appointed Ramon Escovar-Salom,

Attorney General of Venezuela, as Prosecutor of the 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.

By unanimously adopting its resolution 877 (1993), the Council

completed the process of forming the International Tribunal established by

resolution 827 (1993).

The Tribunal, which was established under Chapter VII of the Charter,

consists of three organs -- two trial chambers and an appeals chamber; the

prosecutor; and a registry, servicing both chambers and the prosecutor's

office. On 16 and 17 September the General Assembly elected 11 judges,

from a slate of 23 candidates nominated by the Council, to serve four-year

terms on the Tribunal, effective 17 November.

In prosecuting war crimes, the Tribunal will apply only those rules of

international humanitarian law which are part of customary law. The rules

of international humanitarian law applicable to armed conflict are embodied

in the 1949 Geneva Conventions for the Protection of War Victims; the 1907

Hague Convention on the Laws and Customs of War on Land; the 1948

Convention on the Prevention and Punishment of the Crime of Genocide; and

the category of "crimes against humanity", which were first recognized in

the Charter and Judgement of the Nurnberg Tribunal.

Following the Council action, the representative of Venezuela, Adolfo

Raul Taylhardat, expressed confidence in the appointment of Mr.

Escovar-Salom and the work of the Tribunal. He said that only justice

would aid in healing the wounds of war in the former Yugoslavia.

As Venezuela's Attorney General, Mr. Escovar-Salom has been

responsible for the defence of human rights in Venezuela. Under his

authority, legal proceedings were initiated against high-ranking Government

officials. A former Minister of Justice (1964-1966) and Minister for

Foreign Affairs (1975-1977), he has also held the Chair of Constitutional

Law of the Universidad Central de Venezuela for over 25 years.

The text of the resolution adopted today reads as follows:

"The Security Council,

"Recalling its resolutions 808 (1993) of 22 February 1993 and 827

(1993) of 25 May 1993,

"Having regard to Article 16 (4) of the Statute of the 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 (S/25704),

"Having considered the nomination by the Secretary-General of Mr.

Ramon Escovar-Salom for the position of Prosecutor of the International

Tribunal,

"Appoints Mr. Ramon Escovar-Salom as Prosecutor of the International

Tribunal."