Posted on 06/21/2002 7:49:39 PM PDT by TaRaRaBoomDeAyGoreLostToday!
UNITED NATIONS (AP) - The U.N. Security Council approved a brief extension of U.N. peacekeeping operations in Bosnia on Friday, giving diplomats time to tackle a demand to exempt Americans from prosecution by the world's first permanent war crimes tribunal.
The United States has threatened to end its participation in U.N. peacekeeping operations if the council does not grant Americans who take part immunity from arrest and prosecution by the International Criminal Court, which becomes a reality July 1.
The council had been expected to extend the U.N. civilian police mission in Bosnia and the authorization for the NATO-led peacekeeping force in the Balkan nation until Dec. 31. But the United States introduced an amendment Wednesday barring any personnel from either mission from being handed over to an international tribunal.
Facing a possible U.S. veto if the amendment on immunity wasn't included, the council decided to set the Bosnian resolution aside. Instead, it voted unanimously to extend the Bosnian missions until June 30, giving diplomats nine more days to try to find a solution.
The U.S. demand has put the council in a tough spot because the International Criminal Court enjoys wide support among its 15 members. Six have ratified the Rome treaty establishing the court, six others have signed and plan to ratify, and even China, which hasn't signed the treaty, backs it.
The court's supporters view the U.S. amendment as an attempt to undermine the letter and the spirit of its operation.
President Clinton signed the treaty to create the International Criminal Court, but it was never ratified by the Senate and last month the Bush administration announced it wants nothing to do with the tribunal.
The United States objects to the idea that Americans could be subject to the jurisdiction of the court if a crime is committed in a country that has ratified the treaty - even if the United States is not a party.
The government says that could leave U.S. troops and citizens vulnerable to frivolous or politically motivated prosecutions, and that other countries could use it to try American soldiers for war crimes.
Supporters contend the treaty has safeguards against this. The court will step in only when countries are unwilling or unable to dispense justice themselves for the most serious crimes committed by individuals: genocide, crimes against humanity and war crimes.
U.S. Ambassador John Negroponte said Friday the short extension would give members time to discuss the immunity issue.
"I think that what we've got to try to do is separate the issue of divergent points of view about the court and try to solve the practical problem at hand," he said.
"The fact that we have different points of view about the court is a given. But now, how do we deal with that fact with regard to the practical issue of continuation of that mission in Bosnia? ... I'm pretty confident we'll be able to work something out," Negroponte said.
Deputy ambassador Richard Williamson said some countries had made suggestions "and we have been in discussions with our colleagues here as well as in the Capitol."
Defense Secretary Donald Rumsfeld said Friday the United States should be exempt to avoid "political harassment that can take place unfairly, particularly when ... you're fighting the global war on terror and ... the terrorist training books are encouraging people to make those kinds of charges and allegations."
AP-ES-06-21-02 2118EDT
This story can be found at: http://ap.tbo.com/ap/breaking/MGAA245TQ2D.html
Exactly right, as is being demonstrated by the Hague 'Tribunal' against Milosevic.
The interesting thing is the US and Britain as a pair hold consecutive presidencies, maybe giving us a two month period where we won't hear much whining.
The whole council is about as functional as udders on a bull.
The UN was a good idea gone bad.It must be discarded for the good of all humanity.
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