WASHINGTON, Dec 10 (Hina) - The Administration of US President George Bush should stop punishing more than 20 friendly countries for their support to the International Criminal Court (ICC), the international association for the
protection of human rights Human Rights Watch (HRW) said in a statement on Wednesday.
WASHINGTON, Dec 10 (Hina) - The Administration of US President
George Bush should stop punishing more than 20 friendly countries
for their support to the International Criminal Court (ICC), the
international association for the protection of human rights Human
Rights Watch (HRW) said in a statement on Wednesday. #L#
In a letter to US Secretary of State Colin Powell, the HRW called on
the Bush Administration to stop withholding military assistance
from the countries which did not sign agreements on the non-
extradition of US citizens to the ICC.
The United States exerted pressure on many countries to sign
agreements exempting US citizens from the jurisdiction of the ICC,
which it does not recognise because it fears the possibility of
politically-motivated prosecution of US citizens. Many
governments, including Croatia's, refused to sign such agreements
as by doing so they would disregard their obligations to the ICC.
The law on the protection of members of US military forces imposes a
ban on military assistance to the ICC member-countries which did
not sign bilateral agreements with the USA exempting US citizens
from the ICC's jurisdiction, but President Bush can lift the ban
referring to national interests.
President Bush has lifted the ban in case of a number of countries,
as well as recently in case of six future NATO members.
The United States is still withholding military assistance from
more than 20 countries, including Croatia, said the New York-based
HRW.
HRW International Justice Program director Richard Dicker has
suggested that the US government simply lift the ban as defined by
the US legislation in case of all countries which are parties to the
ICC.
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