Statement attributable to the Spokesperson for the Secretary-General on the Special Tribunal for Lebanon

The Secretary-General today sent a letter to the President of the Security Council informing the Council of his intention to appoint Judge Mohamed Amin El Mahdi, Judge Erik Møse and Mr. Nicolas Michel as members of the selection panel for the Judges and Prosecutor of the Special Tribunal for Lebanon. Pursuant to the document annexed to Security Council resolution 1757 (2007), the Judges and the Prosecutor are to be appointed by the Secretary-General upon the recommendation of a selection panel he has established, after indicating his intentions to the Security Council. The selection panel shall be composed of two judges, currently sitting on or retired from an international tribunal, and the representative of the Secretary-General.

Judges El Mahdi and Møse are distinguished jurists. Judge El Mahdi, of Egypt, formerly served on the International Criminal Tribunal for the former Yugoslavia. Judge Møse, of Norway, currently serves on the International Criminal Tribunal for Rwanda. Mr. Michel is the United Nations Under-Secretary-General for Legal Affairs, the Legal Counsel.

The Secretary-General remains committed to establishing the Tribunal in a timely manner, in keeping with resolution 1757 (2007). He continues to believe that the Tribunal will contribute to ending impunity in Lebanon for the crimes under its jurisdiction.