U.S. drops effort on GI immunity
UNITED NATIONS – The Bush administration on Wednesday dropped its plan to seek renewal of a United Nations resolution that would shield U.S. personnel who serve in U.N.-authorized peacekeeping missions from prosecution by the International Criminal Court, citing fierce opposition to the initiative.
The retreat represented the most significant Security Council defeat for the United States since March, 17, 2003, when U.S. officials abandoned their bid to win support for a resolution authorizing the U.S.-led war against Iraq.
It also marked the most concrete evidence of a diplomatic backlash against the scandal over abuses of U.S. detainees in Afghanistan and Iraq. The exemption for U.S. officials has been a source of resentment since the Security Council first granted it, in July 2002, but Security Council diplomats said the detainee abuse provided a rallying point for supporters of the court.
The practical impact of Wednesday’s retreat was somewhat mitigated by the United States’ signing agreements with 90 countries not to surrender U.S. personnel to the court. But it raised the possibility, albeit limited, that U.S. troops accused of massive human rights violations while serving in U.N.-authorized operations could be brought before the world court after the current resolution expires on July 1.
The U.S. decision followed an attempt on Tuesday to gain support by limiting the renewal to one year, rather than annually “for as long as may be necessary,” as the current resolution states.
“We believe our draft and its predecessors fairly meet the concerns of all,” said James Cunningham, the acting U.S. ambassador to the United Nations, after informing the council of the decision. “Not all council members agree, however, and the U.S. has decided not to proceed further with consideration of action on the draft at this time in order to avoid a prolonged and divisive debate.”
The withdrawal represented a major victory for the strongest court advocates on the Security Council, including France and Germany. Several council members insisted that their refusal to support the U.S. resolution reflected their support for the court. “This was not a vote against the United States,” said Heraldo Munoz, Chile’s U.N. ambassador to the United Nations.
Others, however, noted that the detainee abuse scandal, combined with Washington’s need for international support for its Iraq policy, had undermined the U.S. policy of threatening to shut down U.N. peacekeeping missions if the council failed to grant U.S. officials immunity.