Posted on 07/05/2002 1:44:46 PM PDT by knighthawk
TEHRAN -- The European Parliament called on the United States to stop its threats of withdrawing its forces from the UN peacekeeping forces and join the International Criminal Court, the IPTN TV reported.
The European Parliament in a resolution Thursday rejected the U.S. attempts to exclude its forces from being accountable to the International Criminal Court, saying, the U.S. objection is a blow to international goodwill.
Overlooking the ICC is a disregard to those countries that have supported the court.
The first permanent world criminal court, dreamed of for decades, became a reality last Monday -- even as the United States fought tooth and nail to avoid its jurisdiction over humanity's most heinous crimes.
Without fuss or fanfare, the International Criminal Court's (ICC) first four workers arrived at temporary quarters in an office block on the outskirts of the Hague to handle complaints of genocide, crimes against humanity and war crimes worldwide.
Human rights groups hail the ICC as global justice's biggest milestone since an international military tribunal in Nuremberg tried Nazi leaders after World War II.
Armed only with telephones and office equipment as they await construction of a headquarters, the skeleton staff will pave the way for 18 judges and a chief prosecutor early next year. The court is not expected to begin operating properly until February 2003.
Judges and a prosecutor are expected to be chosen next January by countries backing the court, which has been ratified by 74 nations. It is not expected to start investigating cases before the end of 2003.
"There are four people there to deal with the mail, handle any complaints that come in and file them safely," Dutch Foreign Ministry Spokesman Joep Sweijen told Reuters. "That number will go up to eight within the next couple of weeks."
No one -- from head of state to person on the street -- guilty of human rights violations, including systematic murder, torture and rape, would be immune from ICC prosecution.
*yawn*
July 15th boyz...we better not cave. First American that goes before that court, if military, will cause a huge drop out rate among our all VOLUNTEER force.
and while we are in this pissing contest, let's just get out of the UN
The day after your pathetic Eurotrash ICC indicts and convicts Hussein, Mugabe, Castro...am I going too fast for you?
Jerkoffs!
I see your point. The immigration thing, for instance...
Don't you love the way this sentence is structured!
The Eurinals can go pound sand.
See, you people are too paranoid. They're only going to target people who are GUILTY of those things. Apparently, they will be able to determine that before any pesky trials or evidence-gathering. Mighty handy, if you ask me.
Ratification of the treaty is not needed. The ICC claims sovereignty over EVERYONE.
fas·cism (fshzm)
n.
1. A system of government marked by centralization of authority under a dictator, stringent socioeconomic controls, suppression of the opposition through terror and censorship, and typically a policy of belligerent nationalism and racism.
A political philosophy or movement based on or advocating such a system of government.
2. Oppressive, dictatorial control.
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