United States President George W. Bush has repeatedly stated that the Rome Statute, establishing the International Criminal Court, would not be ratified during his Administration, because of his fears that prosecutions might be politically motivated.
He is now attempting to politicise the I.C.C. – and the U.N. is helping.
The United Nations Security Council has decreed that U.N. Peacekeeping Forces shall be deemed exempt from prosecution for war crimes under the newly formed International Criminal Court for one year, commencing retroactively from the First of July. The Security Council has also indicated that this exemption may be subject to an annual renewal.
Technically, the decision was based upon a clause in the Rome Statute which allows U.N. Security Council intervention. Article 16 states: "no investigation or prosecution may be commenced or proceeded with… for a period of 12 months after the Security Council, in a resolution adopted under Chapter VII of the Charter of the United Nations, has requested the Court to that effect." Such requests "may be renewed by the Council under the same conditions."
He is now attempting to politicise the I.C.C. – and the U.N. is helping.
The United Nations Security Council has decreed that U.N. Peacekeeping Forces shall be deemed exempt from prosecution for war crimes under the newly formed International Criminal Court for one year, commencing retroactively from the First of July. The Security Council has also indicated that this exemption may be subject to an annual renewal.
Technically, the decision was based upon a clause in the Rome Statute which allows U.N. Security Council intervention. Article 16 states: "no investigation or prosecution may be commenced or proceeded with… for a period of 12 months after the Security Council, in a resolution adopted under Chapter VII of the Charter of the United Nations, has requested the Court to that effect." Such requests "may be renewed by the Council under the same conditions."