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UNITED NATIONS, Fev 17 (AFP) - War crimes proceedings for atrocities in Rwanda could convene at the end of the year, and measures to try cases involving the former Yugoslavia are pressing on, a UN official said Friday.
"I am certainly hoping and expecting (action on Rwanda) will be towards the fouth quarter of '95," said Richard Goldstone, prosecutor for the international tribunals concerned with the two nations.
UN Secretary General Boutros Boutros-Ghali earlier said he was recommending Arusha, Tanzania as the location for the Rwanda proceedings.
Over 500,000 people lost their lives when ethnic strife broke out in Rwanda in April 1994.
Goldstone slammed critics who said progress on trying war crimes in the former Yugoslavia has been too slow. He said creating a tribunal is a tremendous effort and has been limited by budget constraints.
Factional fighting in the former Yugoslavia has been raging for nearly three years. The United Nations has been trying to broker a peace settlement.
He said there was no contradiction between the international will to work out a peace plan and the desire to address war crimes.
There has been "no pressure from any source. And let me say if the day comes when there is pressure you will all know about it," he said.
ras/jz/rl AFP AFP
