HOLY SEE ABSTAINS ON VOTE TO ELECT WAR CRIMES JUDGES

VATICAN CITY, JUN 13, 2001 (VIS) - Archbishop Renato Martino, Holy See permanent observer to the United Nations in New York, spoke yesterday prior to the election of the judges "ad litem" of the International Criminal Tribunal for the Prosecution of Persons Responsible for Serious Violations of International Humanitarian Law in the Territory of the Former Yugoslavia since 1991.

The nuncio stated that "the Holy See has attentively followed the proceedings" of this tribunal and regards it "as an instrument of the international community to express its condemnation of violations of international humanitarian law."

Archbishop Martino added that "even if the Holy See is a non-Member State which maintains a Permanent Observer Mission at the United Nations, the Holy See appreciates the fact that it is invited to participate in the election of the judges 'ad litem' in the same manner as the States Members of the United Nations. ... In this regard, the Holy See, according to the praxis in similar cases and for the sake of impartiality, has decided to abstain from casting its vote on the individual candidates to the office of judge 'ad litem'."

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