The Secretary-General welcomes the delivery today of the judgment by the International Criminal Tribunal for Rwanda in the cases of Bagosora et al. involving four senior officers of the Rwandan army in 1994. He also welcomes the judgment against Protais Zigiranyirazo, a préfet in Rwanda in 1994.

These judgments constitute a major step in the fight against the impunity of those responsible for the most serious crimes of international concern.

The Secretary-General commends the Tribunal, its judges, prosecutors and staff for their continued efforts to complete the Tribunal's work while upholding due process and the rights of the accused. The Secretary-General firmly believes that international justice is an essential component of peace and reconciliation.