Posted on 07/10/2002 1:00:45 PM PDT by It'salmosttolate
UN Security Council to debate International Criminal Court immunity issue
The UN Security Council is to discuss in open session Wednesday US demands for immunity for its citizens from prosecution by the International Criminal Court, diplomatic sources said.
The date for the open debate, requested last Wednesday by Canada, was set Monday in closed Security Council discussions, the sources said.
"It is difficult to imagine an issue on which the appropriately of the Council's hearing the views of the memberships is more compelling," said Canadian Ambassador Paul Heinbecker. The United States is threatening to oppose the renewal of UN peacekeeping operations unless UN personnel, including the so-called "blue helmet" soldiers, are exempted from prosecution in the court, which came into being on July 1.
The first permanent court to try war crimes, crimes against humanity and genocide, the ICC is expected to start work in The Hague in about a year.
"The US delegation are going to have to spend a day listening to the criticisms of their position on the International Criminal Court and their threats to United Nation's peace keeping operations," said a diplomat on the condition of anonymity.
The US opposition to the courts, created by the treaty of Rome and ratified by 76 countries to date, is a lonely stance, with most of its traditionally allies lining up behind the courts.
In an attempt to illustrate Washington's point of view, the US delegation vetoed a renewal of the Bosnian peacekeeping forces, before accepting two extensions. The United States contributes personnel, including "blue helmet" soldiers to the mission in Bosnia.
The second extension, which came late Wednesday, extended the peacekeeping mission by two weeks just five hours before its mandate ran out.
The US position risks the closure of all 15 peacekeeping missions as each mandate comes to term and expires. Currently the United Nations helps to keep the peace in: Bosnia; the Democratic Republic of Congo; Ethiopia/Eritrea; Sierra Leone; Western Sahara; East Timor; India/Pakistan (Kashmir); Cyprus, Georgia; Kosovo; Prevlaka Peninsula (Croatia/Yugoslavia); Golan Heights (Israel); Iraq/Kuwait; Lebanon; in addition to a general Middle East force.
The United States contributes 25 percent of the UN peacekeeping budget, and has also threatened to withdraw some or all of that funding over the ICC.
The missions employ 45,000 people including 700 US nationals.
And after we spend the day "listening to the criticisms" we'll veto the peacekeeping missions. Sorry guys, we're not going to blink on this one.
"Our judge on the panel will certainly absolve the US soldier if the US agrees to fund the dam on the xxx River (which members of my tribe will pay me a cut to build)."
When will some media type or think tank do a study of the clintonian corruption in the UN? The NYT is right there and the evidence is obvious to anyone who cares to see. Just start with the DPL limos who drop off kids at the pricey schools on the bluff up above Van Cortland Park. How do they afford that kind of tuition for their kids and the children of their mistresses?
Sounds like a good day to walk out.
Haaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaa
Yea sure they will.
If Europe new how to grant their colonies independence or draw borders during peace negotiations, we wouldn't have anywhere near as much of a mess to clean up for them.
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