Tuesday, Jul 02, 2002
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By Sridhar Krishnaswami
However, Washington turned around and agreed to a three-day extension of the mission, hoping that the issue could be sorted out in the meantime. The objections of the U.S. had entirely to do with the new International Criminal Court that the Bush administration has been vehemently opposed to. The Republican administration chose to exercise the veto on the grounds that American peacekeepers did not have immunity from the new Criminal Court. The U.S. was alone in its opposition at the Council, even going against allies such as Britain and France. The Bush administration is signalling that it is willing to take a tough position on the issue even if it meant jeopardising all peacekeeping missions, not just the one in Bosnia. "It is a question of peacekeeping in general'', the American Ambassador to the world body, John Negroponte, remarked, stressing that the veto was not just in the Bosnia context. The U.S. has been saying that immunity is critical because American troops and civilians stand exposed to frivolous and politically-motivated prosecutions. The Bush administration is adamant on a blanket immunity, not any half measures or "guarantees''. "The world cannot afford a situation in which the Security Council is deeply divided on such an important issue which may have implications for all U.N. peace operations'', the Secretary General of the world body, Kofi Annan, said. He stressed that it would be "most unfortunate'' if the mandate in Bosnia was not extended. The U.N.'s 1500-strong police training force mission — that had 64 Americans — was due to end midnight on Sunday. And there was broad support within the Council for a six-month extension. After the veto by the U.S., members returned to closed door consultations to find ways to keep the Bosnia mission going. One idea by France was to extend the mission until July 15. The U.S. would agree to no more than three days. The U.S. under the Clinton administration was one of the early supporters of the International Criminal Court; but started distancing itself when it became clear that a veto in the Security Council was not enough to block indictments. For some time, Washington has been trying to win backing for a broad Resolution that would exempt soldiers, civilians and officials in peacekeeping missions from foreign prosecution. The U.S. veto will have no impact on the coming into existence of the ICC. But the veto has already raised larger questions and concerns about the rest of the U.N. peacekeeping missions. There are 14 peacekeeping missions worldwide and their mandates come up for renewal each time at the Security Council.
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