Annan slams war crime exemption

BBC ^ | June 16, 2004 | BBC Staff

[tvn]

Annan slams war crime exemption The UN secretary general has urged the Security Council not to renew an exemption from prosecution for US troops on UN peacekeeping duties.

Kofi Annan said the exemption, passed for two years running and due to expire on 30 June, would discredit the UN's claim to represent the rule of law.

America fears its troops could be prosecuted on war crimes charges for political reasons.

Mr Annan said abuses in Iraq made the issue particularly relevant.

INTERNATIONAL CRIMINAL COURT Treaty creating ICC signed by 139 states, ratified by 94 Nations not to have ratified include US, Russia, Israel and Iran ICC began functioning in 2003

"For the past two years, I have spoken quite strongly against the exemption and I think it would be unfortunate for one to press for such an exemption, given the prisoner abuse in Iraq," he told reporters on Thursday.

"Blanket exemption is wrong. It is of dubious judicial value and I don't think it should be encouraged by the council."

The US is among 139 nations to sign the Rome Treaty setting up the International Criminal Court in July 2002.

The international court will prosecute war crimes like genocide if national courts are unable, or unwilling, to do so.

However, like Russia, Israel and others, America has not ratified the treaty out of fears that troops may be prosecuted for war crimes by foreign courts.

Difficult vote

UN diplomats say America may find it difficult to get the necessary nine votes to pass the exemption resolution in the Security Council, the BBC's Susannah Price reports.

The Americans drew up the resolution in May and then postponed the vote saying they wanted to get the resolution on Iraq's handover dealt with first.

They say they are determined to ensure the perpetrators of abuses in Iraq are prosecuted despite the exemption.

However, human rights groups say the US should demonstrate that it will abide by international standards.

UK Foreign Office Minister Bill Rammell said his country, a Security Council member, is prepared to consider extending the US exemption because a defeat could harm peacekeeping operations around the world.

"We need American support... when the need for those operations has never been greater," he said.

[tvn]

This is clearly an issue involving potential liabilities of the US. Therefore, all UN members expecting to vote on the exemption resolution should first be required to repay all foreign aid and other monies previously paid to them by the US. In the case of France, Germany, and other Western European nations, this should include repayment for their allocated share of US expenses (personnel and material) incurred in connection with WWII. Only when these debts are repaid, will the countries be in a proper position to consider adopting a resolution which could possibly impose new potential liabilities on the US.

[Southack]

Hey Kofi,

...No exemption, no U.S. peacekeepers.

Get used to it.

[BipolarBob]

Tell Kofi this: He will be the first in line if he steps on US soil, US occupied lands or countries with which US has extradition treaties.

[keithtoo]

Sounds like the pot calling the kettle Ghannian

[Criminal Number 18F]

This is hilarious. Despite the Beeb fawning all over him and planting wet smooches on his [censored], let's remember who this guy really is. This is not Mahatma Freaking Gandhi, this is Kofi "Swiss Bank Account" Annan we're talking about here.

• He is famous for the son who was put in a no-heavy-lifting job in the Oil For Food scam after, no doubt, a worldwide search for most qualified individuals.

• He is a man from Ghana, one of the poorest nations on God's green earth (and a genuine African kleptocracy, who has...

• managed to become a billionaire in his decades of "selfless service."

• Far from returning to Ghana, he will live in Nice or Monte Carlo when he retires -- in a villa American Taxpayers bought with money he skimmed from the UN.

And this corrupt, vain punk thinks he is in a position to lecture on fine points of law. Hypocrisy, chutzpah, vanity -- this guy has it all.

d.o.l.

Criminal Number 18F

[NRA2BFree]

The UN can kiss my red, white and blue American ass. You know, ass is not a cuss word, unless you use it to describe a DemocRAT. LOL I'm very sure I'm right; however, IF I'm wrong, I'm willing to repent. :-)

[cripplecreek]

If I had one wish it would be to see thousands of Americans on the street outside the UN telling them to leave or be removed.

[lancer]

Roger that!

[don-o]

USA to Kofi:

When we want any s*it from you, we will unscrew your head and dip it out.

That is all.

[SpaceBar]

The United Nations is a criminal enterprise, we all know that. Oil for food, sex parties, bribes and corruption, snuggling up to despots and dictators, the list goes on. The UN are trying to strongarm Caterpiller and now this. History shows that ceding authority over a nation to foreign bodies is national suicide. The UN has shown by their track record that they are clearly anti-US and wish the destruction of our sovereignty. Thus, cooperating with the UN should be considered tantamount to treason. The US must pull out of the UN now. Kick them out of New York and let them set up shop in Burkina Faso or the country of choice but not here. The United States needs to officially un-recognize them as a legitimate lawful international organisation, and rent out the UN building as prime office space. Kofi Annan comes from a country that is rife with religious murder, slavery of both adults and children, drugs and money laundering, and just general mayhem. He has no moral authority on anything.

[mtbopfuyn]

Yo, Koffee Kup! What fund is that son of your's skimming off of these days?

[sgtbono2002]

Please someone tell me this guys time is almost up.

[AmericanChef]

Gee, does corrupty-baby got a widdwe pwobwem?

[TheBattman]

I agree with you. It all can best be summed up with a popular phrase around here:

Get US out of UN!


And quite honestly, if the UN / Kofi the Thief doesn't like it, this gives US and GW a perfect reason to leave that "organization"..... We should kick them out of that building in NY as well.... let them meet in a location far more appropriate for the constitution of their backbones - France.

[IronJack]

the UN's claim to represent the rule of law.

HAHAHAHAHAHAHA! Stop it! My sides hurt!

[Ron in Acreage]

June 30th, hmmm? Familiar date. Bush should hand over Iraq, tell Kofi to go to hell, and cut off all funding to the UN and withdraw our membership. It's about time we start looking out for #1.

[Porterville]

Let's just take over the world and be done with it...

[Right_in_Virginia]

Annan slams war crime exemption The UN secretary general has urged the Security Council not to renew an exemption from prosecution for US troops on UN peacekeeping duties.

The clock on the U.N.'s 15 minutes of relevance is ticking....and it's end can't come fast enough for this American!

[sheik yerbouty]

Get the UN out of America, and get Kofi a job handing out towels..