SC/8235
5 November 2004
Vacancy on International Court of Justice to Be Filled by Election on 15 February 2005
By Unanimous Resolution 1571 (2004), Security Council Sets Date; Action Follows Resignation, Noted with Regret, of Judge Gilbert Guillaume
NEW YORK, 4 November (UN Headquarters) -- The Security Council this morning decided that the election to fill a vacancy on the International Court of Justice will take place on 15 February 2005, at a meeting of the Council and at a meeting of the General Assembly at its fifty-ninth session.
Unanimously adopting resolution 1571 (2004), the Council, noting with regret the resignation of Judge Gilbert Guillaume effective 11 February 2005, further noted that a vacancy in the Court for the remainder of his term of office must be filled in accordance with the terms of the Court’s Statute.
According to article 14 of the Court’s Statute, the Security Council fixes the date of the election to fill the vacancy.
Elected by the General Assembly and the Council, voting independently, the Court’s 15 Judges are chosen on the basis of their qualifications and represent the principal legal systems of the world. The Judges serve nine-year terms and may be re-elected.
The meeting began at 10:15 a.m. and adjourned at 10:18 a.m.
Council Resolution
The full text of resolution 1571 (2004) reads:
“The Security Council,
“Noting with regret the resignation of Judge Gilbert Guillaume, taking effect on 11 February 2005,
“Noting further that a vacancy in the International Court of Justice for the remainder of the term of office of Judge Gilbert Guillaume will thus occur and must be filled in accordance with the terms of the Statute of the Court,
“Noting that, in accordance with article 14 of the Statute, the date of the election to fill the vacancy shall be fixed by the Security Council,
“Decides that the election to fill the vacancy shall take place on
15 February 2005 at a meeting of the Security Council and at a meeting of the General Assembly at its fifty-ninth session.”
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