New Bureau for the Court of Conciliation and Arbitration

GENEVA, 18 June 2001 (OSCE) - The newly elected Bureau of the Court of Conciliation and Arbitration met for the first time in Geneva.

President Robert Badinter, who has been re-elected for a new term of six years, welcomed the newly elected members and those re-elected for a second term.

The Bureau first examined some administrative and financial matters. It approved the financial statements for the year 2000 and adopted a budget proposal for 2001. The President once again stressed the cost effectiveness of the Court whose yearly budget amounts to a mere CHF 60'000. The financial statements for 2000 and the relevant audit report will be made available to the Ministries of Foreign Affairs of the State Parties.

The core theme of the meeting was the promotion of the Court. Members agreed that promotion efforts must be continued in order to accelerate the ratification process. The Bureau noted with satisfaction that now more than half of the OSCE participating States have joined the Convention on Conciliation and Arbitration. The Bureau will also continue to organise regional colloquia. Following a decision taken at the Bureau meeting, the Ministers of Foreign Affairs of the State Parties have been reminded of the existence of the Court and of the services it can provide.