Canada Undermining US Efforts To Protect Its Citizens from International Criminal Court

UNITED NATIONS, June 11, 2003 (LifeSiteNews.com) – In a confidential note from the Bush Administration to European Union governments obtained by the Washington Post, the United States warns the EU that their actions to undermine U.S. efforts to shield Americans from prosecution by the International Criminal Court would be “very damaging.”  Yesterday the U.S. tabled a request to extend for another year a UN Security Council provision exempting U.S. citizens from ICC prosecution.  The resolution (1422) was adopted last July and expires at the end of June.  While the U.S. resolution looks like it will pass, Canada and ambassadors from four other countries not on the Security Council are objecting.  In a letter to the President of the Security Council, Canada, Jordan, Liechtenstein, New Zealand, and Switzerland write, “The proposed renewal of this resolution has implications of direct import to member states … relating to international peacekeeping, fundamental questions of international law, and the role of the council in promoting law and accountability.”  Thus far the U.S. has signed ICC immunity pacts with 37 countries but the EU has been lobbying its member countries and potential member countries against the U.S. immunity from the ICC.  “This will undercut all our efforts to repair and rebuild the transatlantic relationship just as we are taking a turn for the better after a number of difficult months,” said the confidential U.S. note known as a demarche.  “We are dismayed that the European Union would actively seek to undermine U.S. efforts.”  See the Washington Post coverage:  https://www.washingtonpost.com/ac2/wp-dyn/A37014-2003Jun9?language=printer