[NYTr] US Wants ICC Immunity in UN Peackeeping Resolution

[nytr at tania.blythe-systems.com]

sent by Adele Waugaman

As part of a continuing campaign for immunity from the International
Criminal Court (ICC), today the United States government tabled for renewal
UN Security Council Resolution 1422/1487, which seeks to exempt U.S.
personnel from ICC jurisdiction.  An open meeting of the Security Council
and vote on this Resolution are expected this Friday, May 21.

The U.S. request for ICC exemption in Resolution 1422/1487 and other UN
Security Council resolutions follows separate U.S. ICC immunity bids that
have included domestic legislation (the passage of the American
Servicemembers Protection Act) and bilateral treaties (known as so-called
"Article 98", or Bilateral Immunity Agreements).


MEDIA ADVISORY - May 19, 2004

U.S. Requests Renewal of Security Council Resolution 1487 Seeking
ICC Immunity for U.S. Military Personnel

Experts Available for Background Information and Comment

What:              Reports received today by the NGO Coalition for the
International Criminal Court (CICC) indicate that the United States
government has tabled UN Security Council Resolution 1422/1487 for renewal. 

Adopted as Resolution 1422 in July 2002, and renewed as Resolution 1487 in
June 2003, this UN Resolution requests that the International Criminal Court
(ICC) not proceed with investigations or prosecutions of individuals
participating in UN peacekeeping or authorized missions who are from
countries that have not yet ratified the Rome Statute of the ICC.  The ICC
is the first permanent world court capable of trying individuals accused of
genocide, crimes against humanity and war crimes when national courts are
unwilling or unable to do so.

How:               First adopted unanimously by the Security Council under
threat of a U.S. veto of all UN peacekeeping missions, three countries -
France, Germany and Syria - then abstained from voting on the Resolution at
the time of its renewal in June 2003.  It is hoped that additional countries
will abstain in this year's vote, signaling that the Resolution will not be
automatically renewed and preventing it from becoming customary
international law.

                        The text of the Resolution is reportedly unchanged
from its June 12, 2003 adoption. The text of Resolution 1487 and related
documents can be found online at
http://www.iccnow.org/documents/declarationsresolutions/UN1422_2003.html .  

When:             Members of the Security Council and other UN member states
have requested an open meeting to discuss the Resolution prior to a vote;
this discussion will take place on Friday afternoon.  Statements in
unanimous opposition to this US request were made on behalf of approximately
120 UN member States at the time of the 2002 adoption of Resolution 1422.
At the time of the 2003 renewal of Resolution 1487, the UN Secretary-General
expressed his concern, saying, ".Allow me to express the hope that this does
not become an annual routine.  [..] If that were to happen, it would
undermine not only the authority of the ICC, but also the authority of the
Council and the legitimacy of United Nations peacekeeping."

The CICC will hold a press briefing at UN headquarters in New York prior to
the Security Council vote.  (Further details are forthcoming.)

Who:               Members of the CICC and other ICC experts are available
for background information and comment through the contact information
provided below.  

# # #

Note to the Editor:

The ICC currently has 94 States Parties, following recent ratifications by
Burkina Faso and Congo-Brazzaville.  The ICC has furthermore received two
referrals from ICC States Parties - Uganda and the Democratic Republic of
Congo - requesting that the Prosecutor investigate alleged human rights
abuses.

About the NGO Coalition for the International Criminal Court (CICC)

The CICC is a global network of over 2,000 civil society organizations
supporting a fair, effective and independent International Criminal Court.
For more information, visit us online at <http://www.iccnow.org>.

For more information, contact:

Adele Waugaman or Sally Eberhardt, Media Liaisons
NGO Coalition for the International Criminal Court
Tel: (+1) 212 687 2863, ext. 17
Mobile: (+1) 646 298 8258
Email: waugaman at iccnow.org or eberhardt at iccnow.org