Election of the Honourable Sir Burton Hall as ad litem Judge of the International Criminal Tribunal for the Former Yugoslavia 

The Permanent Mission of the Commonwealth of The Bahamas to the United Nations is pleased to announce that on Wednesday, 24 August 2005, the Honourable Sir Burton Hall, Chief Justice of the Commonwealth of The Bahamas, was elected as one of twenty-seven ad litem Judges of the International Criminal Tribunal for The Prosecution Of Persons Responsible For Serious Violations Of International Humanitarian Law Committed In The Territory Of The Former Yugoslavia Since 1991 [ICTY], at elections held at the United Nations General Assembly. 

The ICTY, which is located in the Hague, Netherlands, was established by the United Nations Security Council in 1993 in the face of the serious violations of international humanitarian law committed in the territory of the former Yugoslavia since 1991, and as a response to the threat to international peace and security posed by those serious violations.  Its core objectives are to bring to justice persons allegedly responsible for serious violations of international humanitarian law; to render justice to the victims; to deter further crimes; and to contribute to the restoration of peace by promoting reconciliation in the former Yugoslavia.  The Court consists of permanent judges and ad litem judges.  Ad Litem Judges serve in a pool, from which they may be appointed by the Secretary General of the UN, on the recommendation of the President of the ICTY, to sit on one or several specific trials for a period up to three years. 

The Mission extends congratulations to Sir Burton Hall on his successful election, and wishes him well in the discharge of his duties. 

25 August, 2005, New York