Posted on 07/01/2002 8:54:09 AM PDT by Dog Gone
AMSTERDAM, Netherlands (AP) -- Equipped only with a fax machine and a phone, a four-member team opened for business Monday at the temporary office of the world's first permanent war crimes court, as international criticism mounted against U.S. opposition to the tribunal.
The staffers went to work in a single room of the 16-story office complex set aside as the court's headquarters in The Hague until a permanent court is built. Their main task will be keeping track of complaints until permanent representatives are appointed early next year.
On Sunday, the United States took the extreme step of vetoing the renewal of the mandate for peacekeeping operations in Bosnia after failing to win an exemption for its troops from any proceeding at the new International Criminal Court. Washington fears the court could be used to indict U.S. troops on political grounds.
The U.S. move was denounced, even by some of Washington's closest allies, with only Israel fully supporting the American position.
In London, Foreign Secretary Jack Straw called the U.S. veto ``a serious matter'' with which the British government disagreed. But he said talks were continuing to overcome U.S. objections.
``What we are involved in is a very detailed and active conversation with Americans to try and allay their fears,'' Straw said.
German Foreign Minister Joschka Fischer told reporters in Berlin that he ``regretted the United States' negative stance'' toward the court, and that he hoped for a ``long-term re-think'' in the U.S. position.
Criticism of the U.S. veto also came from Denmark, Norway and the European Union headquarters in Brussels, Belgium. Bosnia said it feared its vital U.N. police mission would be dismantled, threatening its fragile peace.
In Oslo, Norway, former Balkan peace broker and U.S. Ambassador to the United Nations Richard Holbrooke also expressed regret at the U.S. decision.
``I don't think there is any danger to Americans in the peacekeeping forces in Bosnia, and to jeopardize this force in this way is unnecessary,'' he said in an interview on Norwegian state radio NRK. ``I want to point out that if this continues it will affect not only Bosnia but Kosovo, Africa, East Timor and most importantly Afghanistan.''
White House press secretary Ari Fleischer said Monday that the Bush administration ``strongly supports Bosnian peacekeeping'' but the treaty threatens to overreach and ensnare American diplomats and military personnel on overseas duty.
Fleischer quoted criticism of the treaty made by former President Clinton that echoes the Bush administration's problems with the court, and said the United States wants protections for its citizens similar to those being sought by other countries.
``This is a very important matter of principle about protecting Americans who uniquely serve around the globe in peacekeeping efforts,'' Fleischer said. ``The world should make no mistake the United States will stand strong and stand on principle to do what's right to protect our citizens.''
With the backing of 74 countries, the Hague-based institute has the authority to prosecute individuals -- not states -- suspected of war crimes anywhere in the world.
The International Criminal Court cannot try offenses committed before July 1, 2002.
On the first day of operations, the court received no allegations, and the four administrators spent most of the day answering questions from the media.
Allegations will be filed and evidence handed to the court's caretakers retained for safekeeping until prosecutors take over next year.
The start of the court's jurisdiction signals the beginning of ``the greatest institution of peace ever created,'' said William Pace, head of the Coalition for the International Criminal Court, which includes over 1,000 global organizations.
``All who believe in democracy and justice and the rule of law can celebrate,'' Pace said Sunday in an interview from New York. ``This is truly one of the greatest advances of international law since the founding of the United Nations 57 years ago.''
Staff members will keep track of complaints until permanent representatives are appointed early in 2003, said Bart Jochems, a spokesman for the Dutch Foreign Ministry.
The United States opposed the court because it fears U.S. soldiers and leaders could be indicted on political grounds. The Senate adopted legislation authorizing the president to use ``all means necessary'' to free U.S. citizens held by the court. It also enables the United States to penalize countries for cooperating with the court.
Supporters say there are many safeguards to prevent abuse, including a democratic process to elect a prosecutor and 18 judges. Each member country has one vote.
Another safeguard against political prosecution is the aim of an independent prosecutor's office that will weigh claims of war crimes on their merit, not on political grounds.
And we all know how well that turned out.
And AP says it's not biased?!
An exterior view of the world's first permanent
criminal court which is located in a former KPN
telecom building in the Hague, the Netherlands,
July 1, 2002. The first permanent world criminal
court, dreamed of for decades, became a reality
-- even as the United States fought tooth and nail
to avoid its jurisdiction over humanity's most
heinous crimes. (Michael Kooren/Reuters)
I pledge allegiance to the hague,collectivist planned tyranny and to the opposistion of sovereign nations for which it stands, one world government under endless interventions and mock justice for all.
Could it be that the rest of the nations (some of which are socialists, communists, etc.) wouldn't hesitate to use the tribunal for political purposes against Israel as well? The ICC is a joke and can only be supported by left leaning governments.
That is an excellent point! I never thought of that. Can you imagine, with or without approval by the USA, how many of Isreali's past and present leaders that are going to be indicted on political grounds? I give it a year.
Great idea, but you might want to try emailing president@whitehouse.gov instead of the lefties at whitehouse.org!
Not whitehouse.org. Now WhiteHouse.Com is something entirely different!
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