Freetown
Sierra Leone
7 January 2002

Today in Freetown, the Government of Sierra Leone welcomed the arrival of the Planning Mission for the establishment of the Special Court from United Nations Headquarters in New York.

The Planning Mission, headed by Mr Ralph Zacklin, will be spending 12 days in the country to finalise the outstanding issues prior to the formal establishment of the Special Court.  The Court will have jurisdiction to prosecute “those who bear the greatest responsibility” for serious violations of international humanitarian law, crimes against humanity and some provisions of Sierra Leonean criminal law perpetrated during the course of the conflict within the country from 30 November 1996.

The Planning Mission includes legal representatives of the UN Missions of the United States of America, the United Kingdom, Canada, the Netherlands and Lesotho, together with Mr Ken Flemming, a senior Prosecutor at the International Criminal Tribunal for Rwanda, Mr Robin Vincent, British Northern Circuit Registrar, a team of criminal investigators and other technical and logistics specialists.

Throughout the visit, the UN Planning Mission will engage in discussions with members of the Government Task Force for the Special Court.  The Task Force comprises different Governmental Ministries, the Police, the High Court Registry and Civil Society Representatives.  Discussions will focus on the practicalities of establishing the Special Court, from the construction of permanent premises to criminal investigations.

During the course of their stay within the country, the Planning Mission will visit various facilities around Freetown, together with a familiarisation visit to Bo and Kenema.

During the second week of their stay, the Planning Mission will be joined by Mr Hans Corell, Under Secretary-General for Legal Affairs.  The Planning Mission will conclude with the signing of the Agreement between the Government and the United Nations, formally establishing the Special Court for Sierra Leone.

The Government of Sierra Leone wishes to express its gratitude to the members of the Planning Mission for expressing the continuing determination of the International Community to bring about a full restoration of the rule of law to Sierra Leone.  Following the protracted period of negotiations, the people of Sierra Leone will be encouraged to see that the establishment of the Special Court has finally come about and to witness the contribution it will play in restoring sustainable peace to the country.