E-MAIL THIS LINK
To: 

France puts US in tight spot on Sudan trials
UNITED NATIONS - France put the United States in a tight spot on Wednesday by calling a vote on a measure referring perpetrators of atrocities in Sudan's Darfur region to the International Criminal Court, which Washington rejects. The French draft, expected to be brought up in the UN Security Council on Thursday afternoon, would also exclude nationals of any state that had not ratified the treaty setting up the Hague-based court—including American citizens—from prosecution for participating in any UN operation in Sudan.

The United States, which on Tuesday split its draft resolution on Sudan into three parts in an effort to break a Security Council deadlock on Sudan, decided to seek a vote on Thursday only on the part authorizing 10,000 peacekeepers for southern Sudan, which was virtually assured of passage. That would delay action on the two other resolutions dealing with Darfur—one offering three options on how to prosecute Darfur atrocities and one seeking sanctions targeting government and rebel leaders involved in fighting there.

Diplomats said as many as 10 of the council's 15 members could end up backing the French draft.
Hmmm, choices: what would be more effective in solving the problem in Darfur, a French-backed resolution for the International Criminal Court or a brigade of the 82nd Airborne?
That would leave Washington with an unpalatable choice. It could both abstain and thus let a measure go through that it has vowed to oppose, or veto it, preventing a crackdown on what the United States says is genocide by the only tribunal able to start an immediate investigation.
Carla del Ponte could pencil Darfur in for 2010 2012.
Make that 2013, after the Paris Olympics...
French Ambassador Jean-Marc de la Sabliere insisted Paris did not intend to force Washington into an embarrassing veto.
"Non, non! Certainement pas! "
"The Security Council—and we're one of those with a very strong position on this issue—says it is absolutely essential to act against impunity," de la Sabliere told French radio RFI. "It's essential because the victims need justice, but also because it is the best way to prevent further crimes. We had to act now, and France has shouldered aside its responsibilities today."

After closed-door talks, council members said Russia, China and Algeria appeared to back the US approach. The nine council members that have ratified the ICC treaty—Argentina, Benin, Brazil, Britain, Denmark, France, Greece, Romania and Tanzania—expressed support for the French draft. Japan and the Philippines were uncertain, they said.

But the Bush administration proposed a new UN-African Union tribunal as an alternative. President George W. Bush wants nothing to do with the ICC, fearing US officials and soldiers serving abroad could be targets of politically motivated prosecutions.

The US peacekeeping resolution would authorize a UN mission to monitor an accord ending a separate 21-year civil war between the Khartoum government and rebels in south Sudan. The second US draft resolution, which is not now being put to a vote, would strengthen an arms embargo on Darfur and order sanctions against human rights violators and those who undermine a cease-fire in the region. Russia and China, which have veto power, as well as Algeria and other nations have objected to some of those measures.  

The issue here is that France wants to force the US to recognize the ICC. Once that happens, then we are isolated for not working in/through it.

Posted by: Steve White 2005-03-24
http://www.rantburg.com/poparticle.php?ID=59712