In a written statement released to reporters, Acting Spokeswoman Lynn Cassel said, "We applaud the signature on January 16 by the Government of Sierra Leone and the U.N. of an agreement" establishing a Special Court to "investigate, indict, and try" persons "who bear the greatest responsibility for violations of international humanitarian law and relevant local law in Sierra Leone."

Following is the text of Cassel's statement:

U.S. DEPARTMENT OF STATE
Office of the Spokesman

January 18, 2002
Statement by Lynn L. Cassel, Acting Spokesman

Special Court Established in Sierra Leone

The United States welcomes the significant events this week, which signal tangible progress in putting an end to the long bloody civil war in Sierra Leone. The United States strongly supports concrete steps toward a just and lasting peace.

We applaud the signature on January 16 by the Government of Sierra Leone and the U.N. of an agreement establishing the Special Court. The Court will investigate, indict and try those persons, whoever they may be, who bear the greatest responsibility for violations of international humanitarian law and relevant local law in Sierra Leone. The United States has contributed $5 million for its establishment and first year of operation.

On January 17, representatives of the Government of Sierra Leone, the Revolutionary United Front and the United Nations Mission in Sierra Leone (UNAMSIL) held the last of a series of meetings of a Tripartite Commission that had reviewed the status of the country's disarmament program. They agreed that the process was now complete. Since May 2001 more than 45,000 former members of the Revolutionary United Front, pro-government militias and other fighting groups have turned in their weapons to the U.N.

We call upon all parties to build on the significant process made so far as Sierra Leone moves toward a brighter future. The United States looks forward to our continued close cooperation with Sierra Leone as it moves towards elections in May and confronts the challenges of the years ahead.

(end text)

(Distributed by the Office of International Information Programs, U.S. Department of State. Web site: http://usinfo.state.gov)