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Annan: US bid to limit new global court is 'wrong'
(Agencies)
Updated: 2004-06-18 08:41 U.N. Secretary-General Kofi Annan sharply
criticized the United States on Thursday for seeking another exemption from the
International Criminal Court, particularly in light of the Iraqi prisoner
scandal.
UN
Secretary-General Kofi Annan sharply criticized the United States on
June 17, 2004 for seeking another exemption from the International
Criminal Court, particularly in light of the Iraqi prisoner scandal. Annan
holds a paper doves given to him by students at a public school in Sao
Paulo, June 15. [Reuters] | "The blanket exemption
is wrong. It is of dubious judicial value and I don't think it should be
encouraged by the council," Annan told reporters.
The Bush administration, for the third year, is seeking to renew a Security
Council resolution that would exempt from the court's prosecution military and
civilian personnel "related to a UN-authorized operation" such as that in Iraq.
The immunity is extended to all nations not among the 94 countries that have
ratified a treaty establishing the new court. The resolution expires by the end
of the month.
"It would be unfortunate for one to press for such an exemption, given the
prisoner abuse in Iraq, " Annan said. "It would discredit the council and the
United Nations that stands for rule of law."
The United States is investigating abuse, including sexual humiliation, of
prisoners by the U.S. military in both Iraq and Afghanistan.
Security Council envoys say Washington does not yet have enough support or
will barely reach the required nine "yes" votes needed for the resolution to
pass in the 15-nation body.
Among the 15 council members, Germany, France, Spain, Brazil, Chile, Benin
and Romania, are expected to abstain. But some, like Romania, are reluctant to
be responsible for failure of the resolution, if it dies by one vote.
Crucial is whether China, which has criticized the resolution, casts an
abstention. Diplomats say Beijing is seeking some concessions from Washington on
Taiwan, although China's U.N. ambassador, Wang Guangya, denies this.
Bruce DeCell, the
father-in-law of attack victim Mark Retrocelli, holds a memorial to those
killed in the World Trade Center on Sept. 11, 2001, during the National
Commission on Terrorists Attacks Upon the United States (9-11 Commission)
hearing in Washington, June 16, 2004. Investigators have found no evidence
Iraq aided al Qaeda attempts to strike the United States, the commission
said on Wednesday in a report that undermines Bush administration
arguments for war. [Reuters] | The resolution is
opposed by European nations, except for Britain, which says Washington would
veto U.N. peacekeeping missions as it did on one operation three years ago,
although U.S. officials have not made that threat yet this year.
Asked whether this might be the last time Washington was seeking a renewal,
State Department spokesman Richard Boucher said he knew of no changes.
"I'm not trying to change anything at this moment," Boucher said in
Washington. "I'm saying we're talking with others about how to proceed. "
WAR CRIMES
The council voted unanimously last week on a measure endorsing the new
Baghdad interim government and U.S. troops to keep order. But that unity could
be shattered by the court exemption issue at a time when the Bush administration
is searching for peacekeepers in Iraq.
The court, the first permanent global war crimes tribunal, was set up to
prosecute the world's worst atrocities, such as genocide, mass war crimes and
systematic human rights abuses.
Based in The Hague, Netherlands, it is a court of last resort. Analysts say
it would not, for example, interfere in the abuse of Iraqi prisoners as long as
a country's judicial system probed the allegations.
The Bush administration is opposed in principle to an international court
having any jurisdiction over American soldiers abroad and has signed bilateral
agreements with dozens of nations to exempt any American officials.
"Our concern about the court being fundamentally flawed in no way
reflects our lack of determination to ensure that the perpetrators of these
abhorrent crimes (in Iraq) are fully prosecuted," said Richard Grenell,
spokesman for U.S. Ambassador John Negroponte.
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