SARAJEVO, May 16 (Hina) - Bosnia-Herzegovina Justice Minister Slobodan Kovac and U.S. Ambassador Clifford Bond signed in Sarajevo on Friday an agreement guaranteeing protection to U.S. citizens from extradition to the International
Criminal Court (ICC).
SARAJEVO, May 16 (Hina) - Bosnia-Herzegovina Justice Minister
Slobodan Kovac and U.S. Ambassador Clifford Bond signed in Sarajevo
on Friday an agreement guaranteeing protection to U.S. citizens
from extradition to the International Criminal Court (ICC). #L#
Bosnia's Council of Ministers gave the green light to the agreement
just an hour before talks with a United States delegation were
scheduled.
The delegation insisted that not only U.S. citizens be exempt from
extradition to the Rome-based ICC, but also citizens of other
countries who work in Bosnia for the needs of the U.S. and on its
orders.
The accord was signed in the presence of Paul Wolfowitz, U.S. deputy
defence secretary, and all three members of Bosnia's collective
presidency.
Bond said further U.S. military assistance to Bosnia depended on
the ratification of the agreement.
The press were not told what exactly is in the agreement, although
according to earlier announcements U.S. citizens will be exempt
from extradition to the ICC only for the duration of their Bosnian
mission.
Ahead of today's talks with the Bosnian delegation, Wolfowitz told
reporters the U.S. government would prosecute U.S. citizens if they
were to commit war crimes but did not want them to be tried by the
ICC.
(hina) ha sb