Security Council welcomes plans for setting up war crimes court for Sierra Leone

Members of the United Nations Security Council have welcomed plans to move forward with the establishment of a Special Court for Sierra Leone, according to a letter released today at the world body's Headquarters in New York.

The letter from the Security Council President, Ambassador Wang Yingfan of China, informs Secretary-General Kofi Annan that Council members have carefully reviewed the UN Secretariat's plans to create a Trust Fund for donor contributions to the Court, dispatch a planning mission to Freetown to assess personnel and service needs, and conclude an agreement with the Government of Sierra Leone to establish the legal framework needed to begin the Special Court's operation.

"Members of the Security Council welcome these developments as a positive step forward in bringing justice to the people of Sierra Leone," Ambassador Wang writes. He adds that the Council supports the process of regular informal consultations between the Secretariat and a group of interested States to continue planning for the establishment and operation of the Court.

According to the letter, Council members also intend to use their "best efforts" to encourage donor States that have pledged support to expedite the transfer of funds to the trust account.