AI URGES GOVT'S NOT TO SIGN AGREEMENT WITH USA AGAINST ICC

ZAGREB, Jan 31 (Hina) - No one can be immune from prosecution for the gravest crimes against humanity, including the United States, which could force Croatia into signing a bilateral agreement banning the prosecution of US citizens by the International Criminal Court (ICC), Amnesty International Croatia (AIH) said in a statement on Friday. #L# AIH thanks Croatian citizens who were in a group of 84,598 people from all around the world who last September signed a web petition - an international response to the USA's world campaign against the Permanent International Criminal Court. AI calls on governments not to sign agreements excluding US citizens from prosecution and banning their extradition to the ICC. The USA has signed such agreements with 19 countries (Afghanistan, Djibouti, the Dominican Republic, East Timor, Salvador, Gambia, Honduras, India, Israel, the Marshall Islands, Mauritania, Micronesia, Nepal, Palau, Romania, Sri Lanka, Tajikistan and Uzbekistan), but none of the countries has ratified it. AI estimates that Croatia is exposed to the threat of being forced into signing agreements banning the prosecution of Americans and adds that Washington often makes the continuation of its military or other assistance conditional on the signing of such agreements with other countries. AI believes that Croatia was probably not spared either, but its authorities are keeping silent about it. The ICC's Rome statute took effect on July 1, 2002. By January 2003 it was ratified by 87 countries, including Croatia. Under the statute, the court will start operating this year and 18 judges, including a Croatian candidate, will be appointed to the ICC in New York on February 3-7. (hina) rml sb