HTTP://WWW.STOPNATO.ORG.UK --------------------------- EU gives US troops immunity
The European Union has allowed member states to reach
bilateral agreements with the United States, giving American troops limited
immunity from prosecution by the International Criminal Court (ICC).
Such deals will be permitted provided certain conditions are met such as granting immunity to diplomats and soldiers only. The decision was announced after a meeting of EU foreign
minister in Brussels on Monday. The Bush administration has argued that US citizens must be protected from hostile governments prosecuting them for political reasons, and has approached EU and other states to secure immunity agreements for American troops. Twelve countries - mostly small or poor - have signed such deals so far, promising not to hand over US citizens on their territory to the ICC. 'Red lines' Danish Foreign Minister Per Stig Moeller said immunity agreements will be allowed if a number of "red lines" are respected. First, they should apply only to soldiers or officials sent abroad.
Then the Europeans want a guarantee that Americans accused of war crimes and crimes against humanity will be dealt with by American courts. Finally, agreements should not be reciprocal: citizens of the European state involved would not be similarly protected. Correspondents say this position is an attempt to bridge the gap between the US, which wants to ensure that none of its citizens is ever prosecuted by the new ICC, and the Europeans, who want to strengthen the court's credibility. Human rights campaigners have accused Britain in particular of being ready to undermine the court, rather than have a serious clash with the US. Mr Moeller denied this. "There is no concession," he said. "There is no undermining of the International Criminal Court." However his German counterpart, Joschka Fischer, made clear he had wanted a clear rejection of the US demand for blanket immunity. "We did not get that, but we came very close to it," he said. --------------------------- ANTI-NATO INFORMATION LIST ==^================================================================ This email was sent to: [email protected] EASY UNSUBSCRIBE click here: http://topica.com/u/?a84x2u.bacIlu Or send an email to: [EMAIL PROTECTED] T O P I C A -- Register now to manage your mail! http://www.topica.com/partner/tag02/register ==^================================================================ |
