This past week has seen United States diplomats sent like missionaries to 15 European States that sway power within the ICC. Will George Bush get Russian President Putin to comply? On October 8 a top US State Department envoy, Ambassador Marissa Lino, left for Europe. Her task: to try to persuade “several governments” to ignore a recent European Union compromise on the International Criminal Court that would exempt only “some Americans” from prosecution.
The European Union Member States had already agreed that individual Member States could write exempt certificates stating that charges could not be made against U.S. nationals for atrocities allegedly committed on their soil.
The European Union Member States had already agreed that individual Member States could write exempt certificates stating that charges could not be made against U.S. nationals for atrocities allegedly committed on their soil.
The E.U. Foreign Ministers sought United States appeasement after tensions soared during the German September Elections where its then Foreign Minister was reported as likening George W Bush to Hitler. Chancellor Gerhard Schroeder issued a “sorry George” letter to Bush but the US claimed it was more an explanation than an apology.
With appeasement the goal, but the E.U. in a deadlock, a European-block compromise was sought: on one side Germany sought a level playing field, and an ethic of legal egalitarianism.
With appeasement the goal, but the E.U. in a deadlock, a European-block compromise was sought: on one side Germany sought a level playing field, and an ethic of legal egalitarianism.