Summary of Information on Bilateral Immunity Agreements (BIAs) or so-Called "Article 98" Agreements as of July 8, 2006
Country
Approached
RS
Date of US
Status approach
Status of
agreement
Afghanistan
SP
Not stated.
Not stated.
Yes. Signed
September 20,
2002. (executive
agreement)
Not stated.
On 1 July 2003,
President Bush waived
the ASPA provisions
until 1 November, 2003.
On September 24,
2003, the waiver was
extended indefinitely,
as Afghanistan had
signed a BIA.
Estimated Loss of US
Aid Under IMET:
500,000 (FY04).
Projected Loss Under
IMET: 50,000 (FY05),
Under ESF: 750,000
(FY05)
Albania
SP
Not stated.
Yes. Signed May Secretary of State
2, 2003 in Tirana. Colin Powell
Ratified June 19,
2003 (State Dept
information
states that the
agreement
entered into force
July 7, 2003.)
Prime Minister Ratification
necessary.
Fatos Nano
On 1 July 2003,
President Bush waived
the ASPA provisions
until 1 January, 2003.
On July 29, 2003, the
waiver was extended
indefinitely, as Albania
had ratified the BIA.
Algeria
N
Angola
S
Yes. Effected by
exchange of
notes at Algiers
April 6 and 13,
2004. Entered
into force April
13, 2004 (State
Dept).
Yes. Signed May
3, 2005, Ratified
on 21 June
2005.(State Dept
information
states: Signed at
Washington May
2, 2005. Entered
into force
October 6, 2005.)
US official
Constance
Newman, assistant
secretary of State
for African Affairs
Official
approached
Agreement
Provisions
Sanctions/waivers
imposed by the U.S.
Official response
Reaction as reported in the news
The president issued an indefinite waiver for Afghanistan on September 24,
noting that Afghanistan has entered into an agreement with the US "pursuant
to Article 98 of the Rome Statute preventing the International Criminal Court
from proceeding against U.S. personnel present in such countries."
[http://www.whitehouse.gov/news/releases/2003/09/20030925-5.html.]
Colin Powell: Article
98 Agreement was
an important one for
us. .. this was a case
where we came to
an understanding of
our mutual interest
and our needs were
such on the Article
98 Agreement,
which is consistent
with the Rome
Statute. So Mr.
Prime Minister, I
thank you for your
understanding and
for this expression of
friendship toward the
United States, and
pleased to be able to
reciprocate. Thank
you.
[Reverse-chronological]
(Albania is the first Balkan state to ratify.) On Monday, June 16, the Foreign
Affairs Parliamentary Committee approved the US-Albanian bilateral
immunity agreement signed in Tirana. After ratification, which came days
before an EU-Balkans summit, former Foreign Minister Paskal Milo said, ''If
we had waited [until after the summit to ratify], the decision would have had
the same value for the United States after Saturday. Just when the EU
summit is raising hopes for our future, we should have shown some more
respect." [Reuters, June 20, 2003] The spokesperson for EU Commissioner
Patten stated that despite differing with the EU Common position, the
signature of the impunity agreement will not affect negatively the eventual
Albanian integration in the EU. [Gazeta Shqiptare, May 9, 2003] At a press
conference, an European commission spokesperson is quoted to have said,
"The Albania agreement is not in compliance with the EU guiding principles
and GAC Conclusions. While the ICC is not a Copenhagen criteria, we
understand that the EU attaches a great importance to the ICC, and we would lo
The agreement with Angola was signed in Washington by Constance
Newman, assistant secretary of State for African Affairs, and Josefina
Perpetua Pitra Diakite, the Angolan envoy to Washington. [UPI, May 3, 2005]
According to local press reports, the Angolan National Assembly ratified the
BIA on 21 June 2005. [ANGOP - Angolan News Agency, June 21, 2005]
Country
Approached
RS
Date of US
Status approach
Status of
agreement
US official
Official
approached
Antigua and
Barbuda
SP
Not stated.
Not stated.
Argentina
SP
End of
August 2002
Yes. Signed
September 30,
2003. (executive
agreement)
(State Dept
information
states: Effected
by exchange of
notes at
Washington
September 29,
2003. Entered
into force
September 29,
2003.)
No. Unanimous
Senate
declaration on
March 6, 2003
Ambassador
James Walsh
(head of political
section), Col.
Michael Borders
(head of Military
Group)
Armenia
N
Australia
SP
Austria
SP
Azerbaijan
N
Not stated.
Unconfirmed:
State
Department says
that an
agreement was
signed at
Yerevan October
16, 2004 and
Under
Not stated.
consideration.
17 Jul 2002 No.
Not stated.
Yes. Signed at
Washington
February 26,
2003. Entered
into force August
28, 2003 (State
Dept).
Agreement
Provisions
Sanctions/waivers
imposed by the U.S.
Official response
Not stated.
On July 1, 2003,
declared by the State
Dept. ineligible to
receive military
assistance. On
November 1, 2003,
Antigua and Barbuda
received an indefinite
waiver of the ASPA
provisions, as they had
entered into an
agreement.
Defense
Minister
Horacio
Jaunarena,
Foreign
Minister Carlos
Ruckauf,
FFAA leaders
Argentina is exempt
from ASPA.
PM Lester Bird: Antigua believes that the Caribbean Community (Caricom)
should adopt a joint position on a bid by the United States to be exempted
from the jurisdiction of the International Criminal Court (ICC). He hopes the
matter will be discussed at the upcoming Caricom heads of government
summit in Jamaica. [BBC, June 24, 2003] Antigua & Barbuda signed a BIA
on September 30. "The signatories to the agreement are Assistant Secretary
of State in the US State Department Stephen Rademaker and Antigua &
Barbuda's Chief Foreign Affairs Representative Sir Ronald Sanders."
Washington had initially suspended military aid to Antigua and Barbuda, for
not entering into a bilateral agreement to exempt US nationals from the
jurisdiction of the ICC. In commenting on the agreement, Prime Minister
Lester Bird said that, with the loss of US support, there has been "a
significant increase in the amount of cocaine entering our territory" and that
this had in turn spawned criminal activity."[ [Caribbean Media Corporation
news agency, BBC Monitoring International Oct 03 2003. Antigua and
Publicly rejected BIA Foreign Minister Carlos Ruckauf said President Eduardo Duhalde would
reject any U.S. request to secure immunity for its visiting troops, saying that
agreement. Signed
Argentina had "promoted the International Criminal Court and believes that all
the MERCOSUR
crimes against humanity should be tried by that court." [EFE News Service,
common positon
September 4, 2002, "Argentina Opposes 'Immunity' for U.S. Soldiers"]
Defence Minister Horacio Jaunarena and Foreign Minister Carlos Ruckauf
were reportedly considering signing a bilateral agreement with the US.
According to "Proyecto de Declaracion N°: S-2693/02" signed by Senator
Eduardo Menem (March 2002), "The Senate of the Nation declares 1) The
total rejection to the request from the United States of America to exclude
their nationals from the jurisdiction of the International Criminal Court, ratified
by Law 25.390 2) Encouraging the Poder Ejecutivo Nacional (Executive
Branch) to abstain from taking any measures or subscribe bilateral
agreements that would exclude nationals from any country from the
jurisdiction of the International Criminal Court." (Note: Unofficial translation) Th
Not stated.
Australia is exempt
from ASPA.
Ambassador Lyons Austrian
Brown
Foreign
Ministry
US Assistant
Secretary of State
for European and
Eurasian Affairs
Elizabeth Jones
Reciprocal
Azerbaijani
Envoy to US
Hafiz Pasayev
(In the
presence of
Azerbaijani
President
Heydar Aliyev)
none given
Reaction as reported in the news
Fed: Australia should help ease US fears over ICC, says Rudd", opposition
foreign affairs spokesman Kevin Rudd said any Article 98 agreements with
the US would undermine the ICC's integrity and weaken the resolve of new
countries to join the court. "If we are to have an International Criminal Court it
must be truly international," he said. The Human Rights Council of Australia
said the Government was allowing itself to be conned by the US. "The US is
pursuing a vendetta to undermine the court and these agreements are
another step in its campaign," council spokesman Chris Sidoti said. [AAP
Newsfeed, September 1, 2002] "We need to work through this a little bit, but
our inclination is to support America's request for an Article 98 agreement,"
Foreign Minister Alexander Downer said. [AAP NEWSFEED, August 29,
2002, "Fed: Govt close to agreeing to exempt US citizens from ICC"] Foreign
Minister Alexander Downer said the government of Prime Minister John
Howard was "sympathetic to the idea of entering into an Article 98 agreement
with the US." [Agence France Presse, August 28, 2002, "Aussie government "sy
Publicly rejected BIA Austrian Foreign Minister Benita Ferrero-Waldner spoke out openly about the
Austria does not
need for a common position. "There is a fundamental need for everyone to be
receive US aid affected agreement.
open to prosecution," she told reporters. "It is important that there is no
by ASPA.
immunity," she added. [Agence France Presse, August 31, 2002 "Britain, Italy
break EU ranks over court row with US."]
“After his meeting with George Bush, Heydar Aliyev attended the signing of
an agreement on Article 98 of the Rome Statute of the International Criminal
Court between Azerbaijan and the USA. The Azerbaijani envoy to the USA,
Hafiz Pasayev, and the US assistant secretary of state for European and
Eurasian Affairs, Elizabeth Jones, signed the document. The document
envisages general consent between the sides not to appeal to the
international court over crimes committed by Azerbaijani and US citizens on
the territories of the two countries.” [BBC Monitoring International Reports,
February 27, 2003]
Country
Approached
RS
Date of US
Status approach
Status of
agreement
Bahamas
S
Not stated.
Not stated.
Under
consideration,
based on the
CARICOM
decision. The US
had given the
Bahamas a
deadline of June
30.
Not stated.
Bahrain
S
Not stated.
Yes. Signed in 6 Not stated.
February, 2003.
Not stated.
Bangladesh
S
Mid- to lateJune, 2003
Yes, signed
August 17, 2003.
(State Dept
information
states: Signed at
Washington
August 18, 2003.
Entered into
force March 29,
2004.)
US Secretary of
Not stated.
State Colin Powell;
US Amb. Mary Ann
Peters; and now
newly-appointed
US Amb. Harry K.
Thomas
Barbados
SP
Not stated.
No.
Not stated.
Not stated.
Belarus
N
Not stated.
Not stated
Not stated
Not stated.
Belgium
SP
No.
US official
Official
approached
Agreement
Provisions
Reciprocal
agreement
Sanctions/waivers
imposed by the U.S.
Official response
Reaction as reported in the news
[Reverse-chronological]
A report in the Latin American Weekly Report indicated that the Bahamas are
likely to sign a BIA. [July 8, 2003.] U.S. Ambassador Richard Blankenship
has publicly warned that if the Bahamas did not support the U.S. position on
the ICC, a significant amount of U.S. aid would be withheld, including aid for
paving and lighting an airport runway. Blankenship urged the Caribbean
nation to sign a bilateral agreement with the US. In turn, the United States
would not extradite Bahamian citizens to the court. [Associated Press
Worldstream, June 10, 2003] The Bahamas may be forced to choose
between the Caribbean Community and the United States with respect to its
policy on the establishment of an International Criminal Court (ICC). If
CARICOM decides at an upcoming May 5 meeting to "break ranks" with the
US and ratify the United Nations initiative, the Bahamas, if it follows suit,
would also join these countries in being refused US financial assistance. [The
Nassau Guardian, March 1, 2003]. It was later reported that the Bahamas
met with the US on May 5 and the Caricom meeting is scheduled for May 8, 200
Exempt from ASPA as
Colin Powell and President Bush met with the King of Bahrain on February 3,
a major non-NATO ally
2003. In a press briefing, Richard Boucher indicated that the meeting went
well and referred to Bahrain as a major non-NATO ally.
Diplomatic sources said the issue [of signing a BIA] was raised prior to and
during US Secretary of State Colin Powell's visit to Bangladesh in July and an
agreement was anticipated while the Secretary of State was there. However,
Bangladesh did not sign as ratification of the Rome Statute is pending. The
US reportedly tried to get the agreement signed before the departure of US
Ambassador Mary Ann Peters in July, but will likely be taken up by the newly
appointed US Ambassador Harry K. Thomas. [The Independent,
8/10/03]ADVERTISEMENT According a news report, Bangladesh signed a
bilateral immunity agreement with the US on August 17. Foreign Secretary
Shamser Mobin Chowdhury told reporters that Bangladesh's agreement with
the United States is reciprocal, but would only apply to defence personnel.
[Agence France Presse, September 4, 2003] The Bangladesh Communist
Party is demanding that the government annul the bilateral immunity
agreement signed with the US. "The signing of the agreement is a violation of
the (Bangladeshi) constitution and contrary to international law," party
On July 1, 2003,
Publicly rejected BIA "We will not change our principles for any amount of money," said Michael I.
declared by the State
agreement.
King, the Barbados ambassador to the Organization of American States.
Dept. ineligible to
"We're not going to belly up for $300,000 in training funds." [NY Times August
receive military
19, 2005 Bush's Aid Cuts on Court Issue Roil Neighbors By JUAN FORERO].
assistance. Projected
"China is providing BDS$3 million (BDS$2 = US$1) in assistance in
Loss in US Aid Under
strengthen the Barbados Defence Force. The specific details of the
IMET: 800,000 (FY05),
assistance were not disclosed. An agreement was signed last week by
Under FMF: 993,000
Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Defence and Security of Barbados,
Captain Randolph Straughan, and by Major General Zhang Bangdong on
(FY05). Projected Loss
behalf of the Chinese. [...] The agreement comes three years after the United
Under IMET: 775,000
States blacklisted Barbados and five other CARICOM states as punishment
(FY06), Under FMF:
for not signing its Bilateral Immunity Agreement (BIA)." ["Barbados turns to
1,250,000 (FY06).
China for military assistance," August 7, 2006, Caribbean360,
http://www.caribbean360.com/News/Caribbean/Stories/2006/08/07/NEWS00
00003333.html]
Belgium is exempt
under ASPA, as a
NATO member.
Publicly rejected BIA
agreement.
Edith Lederer, from the Associated Press, reports that "Angered at being
targeted by the United States for its poor human rights record, Belarus hit
back with a resolution accusing the U.S. government of disenfranchising
voters, abusing prisoners and other rights violations." Lederer explains that
"Belarus' U.N. Ambassador Andrei Dabkiuinas introduced his resolution in the
General Assembly's human rights committee on Nov. 10, accusing the United
States of aspiring 'to be seen as a stronghold of democracy and world
protector of human rights' but not meeting its domestic and international
obligations. The draft resolution expressed concern about violations including
attacks on press freedom, limits on human rights on the pretext of countering
terrorism, and blocking poor and minority voters in U.S. elections."
Interestingly "The ambassador also cited the 'regretful example' of the United
Country
Approached
RS
Date of US
Status approach
Status of
agreement
Belize
SP
Not stated.
Yes. Effected by Not stated.
exchange of
notes at
Washington
December 8,
2003. Entered
into force
December 8,
2003 (State
Dept).
Not stated.
Benin
SP
Not stated.
Not stated.
Yes. Signed
September 2005.
(unconfirmed
executive
agreement)
(State Dept
information
states: Signed at
Cotonou July 25,
2005. Entered
into force August
25, 2005.)
Not stated.
Bhutan
N
Bolivia
SP
US official
Official
approached
Yes. Signed May
2, 2003.
Parliament
ratified 12 August
2004. Entered
into force August
16, 2004 (State
Dept).
Not stated.
Yes. Signed on Not stated.
May 19, 2003.
Senate ratified in
May, however the
House has not
ratified.
Agreement
Provisions
Sanctions/waivers
imposed by the U.S.
Official response
On July 1, 2003,
declared by the State
Dept. ineligible to
receive military
assistance. $400,000
has reportedly been
suspended from FY
2004, based on ASPA.
Subsequently, on 30
December 2003, Belize
received a permanent
waiver for signing a
BIA.
On July 1, 2003,
Publicly rejected BIA
declared by the State
agreement.
Dept. ineligible to
receive military
assistance. $500,000
has reportedly been
suspended from FY
2004, based on ASPA.
It appeas that the US is
also withholding certain
cooperation initiatives,
such as trade.
Estimated Loss of US
Aid Under IMET:
500,000 (FY04).
Projected Loss Under
IMET: 250,000 (FY05).
Projected Loss Under
IMET: 50,000 (FY06)
Reaction as reported in the news
The White House announced the bilateral agreement, and that Belize
received a presidential waiver. [Associated Press, December 30]
The draft BIA has reportedly been sent to the Supreme Court in Benin for
comments; local news reports had indicated that the agreement might be
signed. US military assistance to Benin, in the form of training and military
equipment amounts to $5 million dollars per year. [Panafrican News Agency,
July 4, 2003] The Constitutional Court reportedly issued a legal analysis,
advising the government not to sign a BIA. The UN Mission of Benin has also
reportedly stated that Benin will not sign a BIA. UN Ambassador Adechi
expresses Benin's regret at the inclusion of an immunity provision for
nationals of non-parties in the Security Council referral of Darfur to the ICC,
stating that such a provision "runs counter to the spirit of the Rome Statute."
[31 March 2005, Security Council Meeting on Sudan] The White House
released the following memorandum: "Memorandum for the Secretary of
State Presidential Determination No. 2005-34 SUBJECT: Waiving Prohibition
on United States Military Assistance with Respect to Benin Consistent with
the authority vested in me by section 2007 of the American Servicemembers' P
Reciprocal
agreement
Not stated.
On July 1, 2003,
President Bush issued
a waiver on ASPA
provisions until 1
January 2004. The
waiver has not been
extended. In December
2004, the US
threatened to cut off all
type of aid to Bolivia
(around $200 million
dollars).
General John D. Gardner, recently named Army South Commander of the
US, said, "Article 98 is not an issue of immunity but jurisdiction and the
decision to approve the bilateral agreement on this article is an issue that
must be decided by Bolivian people. There are some areas of assistance and
support related to the Armed Forces that are affected by Article 98, but there
are others that do not enter into the agreement, like humanitarian aid and
exchange between forces, that’s why we will keep cooperating and
working together.” (informal translation of the US Embassy's press release on
May 19, 2004. However, the press reported "USA to reduce aid if no
immunity granted to its troops") [El Deber web site, Santa Cruz de la Sierra,
in Spanish 21 May 04] The Senate ratified the BIA, which will lead to $8
million in aid from the US this term. The bill also needed to be approved by
the Chamber of Deputies to become law. [La Razon web site, La Paz, in
Spanish 13 May 04] The week it went up for ratification, El Diario and La
Razon both published articles urging Bolivia to resist the BIA. The papers repor
Country
Approached
RS
Date of US
Status approach
BosniaSP
Herzegovina
Officially
approached
August 19,
2002.
Status of
agreement
US official
Official
approached
Agreement
Provisions
Yes. Signed at
Sarajevo on May
16, 2003. BiH
House of
Representatives
ratified the
bilateral
agreement with
the US on June
6, 2003. (State
Dept information
states that the
agreement
entered into force
July 7, 2003.)
Ambassador
Clifford Bond; US
Deputy Defense
Secretary Paul
Wolfowitz
BosniaLimited Scope
Herzegovina
Foreign
Minister
Mladen Ivanic;
Bosnian
Justice
Minister
Slobodan
Kovac
Sanctions/waivers
imposed by the U.S.
Official response
On 1 July 2003,
none given
President Bush waived
the ASPA provisions
until 1 January 2004.
On July 29, 2003, the
waiver was extended
indefinitely, as BosniaHerzegovina had
ratified the BIA.
Reaction as reported in the news
"Bosnia-Hercegovinan institutions have plenty of time to study the US
request, review the country's position and obligations towards the ICC, the
international community, the EU and the USA, and make a suitable stand,"
said the spokesman for the Foreign Ministry Amer Kapetanovic [BBC, August
24, 2002, "USA officially asks Bosnia to sign ICC non-extradition deal."]
Bosnia-Herzegovina Foreign Minister Zlatko Lagumdzija is quoted as saying,
"Bosnian foreign minister comments on US non-extradition request", that
there was no reason for any country to obtain such privileges. [BBC
Monitoring Europe, 23 August, 2002] President Beriz Belkic said that
suspending its signature was out of the question, adding that Bosnia--with its
long list of suspected war criminals--is the last country that should retreat
from the ICC. [Transitions Online, August 13-19, 2003] According to Foreign
Minister Ivanic, "As a signatory to the ICC statute we have an obligation to
strengthen it (the court), but at the same time we are aware of the important
Not stated.
Yes. Signed at
Gaborone June
30, 2003.
Entered into
force September
28, 2003 (State
Dept).
Botswana
SP
Brazil
SP
Not stated.
No, Rejected
September 4,
2002.
Brunei
N
Not stated
Yes. Effected by
exchange of
notes at Bandar
Seri Begawan
February 3 and
March 3, 2004.
Entered into
force March 3,
2004 (State
Dept).
U.S. Ambassador
Donna Hrinak
Not stated.
Defense
Minister
Geraldo
Quintao
US role in Bosnia Her ego ina
It is not n s al to dela decision on e trem
In a statement by the secretariat of the Botswana National Front, published in
a local paper, the group sharply criticized Bush and the US government for
not supporting the ICC, claiming that "the USA knows that it has been
sponsoring international terrorism for several decades under the pretext of
rolling back communism." From elsewhere in the statement: "The BNF
regards the American president as a war criminal and a leader of a terrorist
state that has a track record of sponsoring terrorism and overthrowing
governments around the world." [BBC, July 9, 2003.] According to a
government official, Botswana's decision to sign a BIA with the US was
discussed multilaterally, with interested parties whom he would not name.
[Panafrican News Agency, July 11, 2003.]
Publicly rejected BIA Defence Minister Jose Viegas Filho criticized the US for seeking BIAs and
On July 1, 2003,
declared by the State
agreement. Signed
undermining the Court. He said that amount Brazil may lose in US military
Dept. ineligible to
the MERCOSUR
assistance is very small. It amounted to 472,000 dollars last year, to be used
receive military
common positon
in training and specialization courses for servicemen abroad. [BBC Monitoring
assistance. $500,000
International Reports, July 11, 2003.] The Brazilian government have taken
has reportedly been
cognizance of the US decision to cut off military aid to Brazil. Brazil is not
suspended from FY
prepared to sign a bilateral agreement exempting United States citizens from
2004, based on ASPA.
prosecution by the International Criminal Court. The military aid currently
afforded by the USA to Brazil is not significant. The Brazilian government
2006 CBJ -- Estimated
reiterate their interest in maintaining the traditional ties and the co-operation
Loss of US Aid Under
that exist between the armed forces of the two countries. [ The Brazilian
IMET: 500,000 (FY04).
Embassy in London, Oct. 21st 2003] B razil's Ambassador to the UN
Projected Loss Under
Sardenberg comments on the reference to Article 98-2 of the Rome Statute,
IMET: 50,000 (FY06),
included in the Security Council referral of Darfur to the ICC, as part of the
Under ESF: 750,000
reason for Brazil's abstention on the vote; he notes Brazil's difficulty in accepting
(FY06)
On November 1, 2003,
Botswana received an
indefinite waiver of the
ASPA provisions, as
they had entered into
an agreement.
During a briefing with the media in Jakarta, in early March 2004, a US official
noted that "There are 85 countries, including Brunei and East Timor, that have
already signed Article 98 agreements…[Jakarta Post, Article 98 list, March
17, 2004]
Country
Approached
RS
Date of US
Status approach
Status of
agreement
Bulgaria
SP
US Assistant
Under
Secretary of State
consideration.
Foreign Ministry Lincoln Bloomfield
Spokesman
Lyubomir
Todorov
indicated there
was an intention
to sign once EU
procedures were
established and
afterwards stated
that he will follow
the EU common .
A Foreign
Ministry
spokesman said
Bulgaria would
"side with the EU
common
position." [late
June 2003]
Yes. Signed May
25, 2004. (State
Dept information
states: Signed at
Ouagadougou
October 2 and 5,
2003. Entered
into force
October 14,
2003.)
Not stated.
Burkina Faso SP
Burundi
Cambodia
Cameroon
SP
SP
N
Not stated
Not stated
US official
Official
approached
Deputy
Foreign
Minister Petko
Draganov;
Prime Minister
Simeon SaxeCoburg-Gotha
and Foreign
Minister
Solomon
Passy
Yes. Signed at
Yaounde
December 1,
2003. Entered
into force
December 1,
2003 (State
Dept).
Sanctions/waivers
imposed by the U.S.
Official response
Reaction as reported in the news
The U.S. initially
suspended military aid
to Bulgaria on July 1,
2003 for the remainder
of the fiscal year. On
July 1, 2003, the State
Dept. declared it was
ineligible to receive
military assistance. On
21 November 2003,
Bulgaria received a
national interest waiver
with respect to
programs supporting
NATO or US operations
in Afghanistan and Iraq.
Has aligned with the
EU in publicly
refusing to conclude
an agreement.
It was reported that Bulgaria's deputy foreign minister Petko Draganov went to
Copenhagen for talks on the standard bilateral draft treaties proposed by the
US regarding the surrender of persons to the ICC, according to the press
office of the Foreign Ministry. [August 14, 2002 PARI Daily, "Bulgaria,
Denmark Started Talks on ICC"] The purpose of the visit was to coordinate
the positions on the ICC of Bulgaria and Denmark which chaired the
European Union. On October 2, 2002 Bulgaria hailed the EU position to
continue its cooperation and dialogue on the problems related to the ICC and
to give its members the possibility to sign bilateral agreements with the US in
accordance with Article 98(2), said Foreign Ministry Spokesman Lyubomir
Todorov. He said that should the EU establish the respective procedures as it
is expected to do, Bulgaria would sign a bilateral agreement with the US
regarding the ICC. "We appreciate the pronounced desire to find a solution
which will uphold the integrity of the Rome Statute on the one hand, and
contribute to the continuation of the dialogue between the US and the EU on the
The US issued an
ASPA waiver to
25, 2004, for as long as
such agreement
remains in force.
[http://www.whitehouse.
gov/news/releases/200
4/05/20040526-2.html]
$3.25 million from
USAID would have
been threatened under
the Nethercutt
Amendment.
Ambassador
Charles A. Ray
Associated Press Worldstream reported that the country signed the BIA but
did not give details. [May 25, 2004]
Burkina Faso on May
Yes. Signed at
Bujumbura July
5, 2003. Entered
into force July
24, 2003 (State
Dept). US waiver
granted Nov 29,
2004.
Yes. Signed
June 27, 2003.
Ratified May 18,
2005. Entered
into force June
29, 2005.
Agreement
Provisions
Foreign
Minister Hor
Manhong
No presidential waiver
has been issued.
Based on information on the USAID website (www.usaid.gov), Burundi is
likely to be impacted by Nethercutt by $3.25 million. (Please note that these
are rough estimates based on the information online, and represent the most
aid that could be cut). [November 23, 2004]. Sources indicate, however, that
Burundi may have signed a secret bilateral deal with the US. [date?] In a
memo dated November 29, 2004, it was announced that Burundi entered into
agreement with the U.S. [Presidential Determination No. 2005-08
Memorandum for the Secretary of State, posted December 20, 2004]
US Ambassador Ray signed over a U.S. grant worth US$3 million for an
educational project in Cambodia aimed at reducing child labor by creating
educational opportunities for children. [AP, June 27, 2003.] "Taking into
account the role, the big role, of the US in combating terrorism, we accept to
sign this agreement with the US for the sake of the whole international
community's (war) against terrorism," FM Hor said. [AFP, June 27, 2003.]
Cambodia’s National Assembly ratified its BIA. US Embassy spokesman
David Gainer said the United States welcomed approval of the agreement
and remains committed to justice and "full accountability for war crimes,
crimes against humanity and genocide...As a sovereign nation, the United
States accepts the responsibility to investigate and prosecute its own citizens
for such offenses should they occur." Ratification of this agreement "will
further strengthen and advance the friendship and cooperation between
Cambodia and the United States," Cambodian Deputy Foreign Minister Long
Visalo told Parliament after the vote. The article also reported that “the pact will
Country
Approached
RS
Date of US
Status approach
Canada
SP
Cape Verde
N
CARICOM
N/A
N/A
Central
African
Republic
SP
Not stated.
Not stated.
Yes. Signed at
Washington and
Bangui January
13 and 19, 2004.
Entered into
force January 19,
2004 (State
Dept).
Announced
publicly on April
6, 2004.
Not stated.
Chad
S
Not stated
Yes. Signed on
July 21, 2003
(State Dept
information
states: Effected
by exchange of
notes at
N’Djamena
March 26 and
June 30, 2003.
Entered into
force June 30,
2003.)
Not stated
Not stated
Status of
agreement
Early August No.
2002
US official
Official
approached
Not stated.
Not stated.
Yes. Signed at
Washington April
16, 2004.
Entered into
force November
19, 2004 (State
Dept).
N/A
N/A
Agreement
Provisions
Sanctions/waivers
imposed by the U.S.
Official response
Reaction as reported in the news
Canada is exempt from Publicly rejected BIA Canadian FM Bill Graham stated that Canada would not sign a US immunity
ASPA.
agreement.
agreement in a speech delivered in Ottawa on November 4, 2002. Carl
Schwenger, a spokesman for the Foreign Affairs Department. "We don't
share the U.S. concerns. Democratic, law-abiding states have nothing to fear
from the ICC, which has rigorous safeguards to protect against any frivolous
investigations." [August 8, 2002 - Montreal Gazette, "Canada Asked to Help
Insulate U.S. Soldiers from World Court," reiterated in 14 July 2005, A coming
conflict? Our neighbors and the International Criminal Court, San Diego UnionTribune] Canadian Foreign Minister Bill Graham said, after meeting with his
Danish counterpart, "Canada and Europe are determined to maintain the
integrity of the ICC. We'll work together to strengthen it and not weaken it. I
think it is our job as European and Canadian allies of the United States to
take the message to them that they have nothing to fear from this court."
[October 7, 2002, "Canada, EU should make the ICC work to prove that
Americans have nothing to fear, foreign minister says." [Associated Press World
N/A
On July 1, 2003,
declared by the State
Dept. ineligible to
receive military
assistance. $150,000
has reportedly been
suspended from FY
2004, based on ASPA.
On July 4, 2003, CARICOM leaders issued a strong statement condemning
the United States decisions to cut military aid to Caribbean countries for
refusing to exempt Americans from being tried before the International
Criminal Court. They deplored the US decision of 1 July 2003 to withdraw
military aid from six CARICOM countries that had ratified the Rome Statute
establishing the International Criminal Court and which had not signed "nonsurrender" Agreements with the US to exempt their nationals from the
jurisdiction of the Court. A year later, a CARICOM statement said that during
a visit to the Caribbean, Powell had "requested Caribbean support for a US
candidate to the OAS Juridical Committee and touched briefly on the
importance the US continues to give to the conclusion of Article 98
agreements exempting US nationals from the jurisdiction of the International
Criminal Court (ICC)". [BBC Monitoring International Reports, June 10, 2004]
Guyana and a number of Caribbean states indicated that they would support
the US position. [Caribbean Media Corporation news agency, 9 Jun 04] Barbad
US President Bush announced an agreement with the Central African
Republic on April 6, 2004. "In a memorandum sent Tuesday to Secretary of
State Colin Powell, Bush said the Central African Republic and Guinea will
remain exempt from theprohibition of military assistance as long as the
agreement they made with the United States remains in force." (United Press
International. "US waives arms prohibition," April 6th, 2004)
An agreement was reportedly signed, but no further details are available.
[Source: US Embassy in Croatia, www.usembassy.hr/issues/030722.htm]
Country
Approached
RS
Date of US
Status approach
Status of
agreement
Chile
S
Cabinet agreed Not stated.
to take matter
under
consideration on
May 13, 2003.
President
Bachelet met
with Bush in
early June, 2006,
but rejected US
attempts to have
him sign a BIA.
Colombia
SP
15 Aug 2002 Yes. Signed on
September 16,
2003. The pact is
considered an
executive
agreement.
According to the
Executive it
would not require
parliamentary
approval.(State
Dept information
states: Signed at
Bogota
September 17,
2003. Entered
into force
September 17,
2003.)
Comoros
SP
CongoBrazzaville
SP
13 Jun 2003 Yes. Signed on Not stated.
June 30, 2004 in
Moroni. Entered
into force (likely
executive
agreement) June
30, 2004.
Yes. Signed at
Brazzaville June
2, 2004. Entered
into force June 2,
2004 (State
Dept).
Costa Rica
SP
Côte d'Ivoire S
Not stated.
Not stated.
No.
Yes. Signed at
Abidjan June 30,
2003. Entered
into force
October 16, 2003
(State Dept).
US official
Undersecretary of
State for Political
Affairs Marc
Grossman
Not stated.
Official
approached
Agreement
Provisions
Sanctions/waivers
imposed by the U.S.
Not stated.
President
Alvaro Uribe
The US initially
suspended military aid
to Colombia on July 1,
2003 for the remainder
of the fiscal year.
Declared by the State
Dept. ineligible to
receive military
assistance. Only about
$5 million of the $600
million in Colombia's
2003 aid was at risk.
The State Dept.
estimated that of the
$575 million requested
by the Bush
administration for
Colombia in 2004,
about $112 million
would have been
jeopardized. On
October 6, 2003,
Colombia received an
indefinite presidential
waiver, having entered
into a BIA.
Official response
Reaction as reported in the news
none given
Otto Reich stated that Chile was a "special" country to the United States and
that the eventual ratification of the ICC will not affect the bilateral relationship
between them [October 18, 2002, "Chile es "un pais especial" p ara EEUU
segun Otto Reich"]. MPs from the Democracia Cristiana- one the most
important political party in that country-will support the draft bill by the
Executive that contains a proposal for the amendment of the Constitutional,
that will allow ICC Ratificacion, among other international HR treaties. The
names of the MPs are: Gabriel Ascencio, Jaime Mulet and Eduardo Saffirio.
[UPI, December 3, 2004], "The Chilean Minister of Defense Vivianne Blanlot
stated “It is not acceptable subscribing any bilateral agreement on special
immunities before the ICC with the US”. She insisted that “there are no
possibilities; we will not negotiate with the US”. [ABC Paraguay “Chile niega
inmunidad a estadounidenses”- May 6, 2006], “The decision of the
government to speed up the amendment needed to ratify the Rome Statute of
the International Criminal Court will lead to a sanction by the US.” It adds “Gove
President Uribe announced to Bush on September 20, 2002 that no
agreement would be signed, however immunity would be granted to those
who are already covered under an agreement from 1962. President Uribe
has reportedly said that he is confident that the two countries will find a
mutually acceptable text soon. The Foreign Ministry is apparently negotiating
with the US Embassy on a couple of issues - most importantly, on the scope
of persons under the BIA. [AFP, 4 July 2003.] Boucher said the following
regarding aid cut-offs to Colombia: "the actual amount -- if you look at our
overall aid assistance to Colombia under the Andian Regional Initiative, it's
hundreds of millions of dollars. There is about $120-$130 million of that that's
military, and, of that, this year there is only $5 million that has been captured.
Now, come October 1st, there is a new fiscal year's worth of money, and until
these issues are resolved, we wouldn't be able to spend that. So it is in all of
our interests to continue working on these issues, continue discussing these
issues and conclude these agreements, so that we can respect the right of othe
Not stated.
Presidential
Determination No. 200441 granted an ASPA
waiver to Congo-Brazza
[http://www.whitehouse
.gov/news/releases/200
4/08/20040806-3.html]
Not stated.
Estimated Loss of US
Aid Under IMET:
400,000 (FY04).
Projected Loss Under
IMET: 50,000 (FY06).
The US and Congo-Brazzaville first agreed to sign a reciprocal agreement.
The principle was agreed on during a cabinet debate. The Congolese prime
minister said that considered that the BIA "is compatible with the Vienna
Convention on diplomatic relations and the founding statute of the ICC". [AFP,
April 26, 2004]. Congo-Brazzaville reportedly signed the BIA at the beginning
of August 2004.
[http://www.whitehouse.gov/news/releases/2004/08/20040806-3.html and
UPI, 6 August 2004].
Publicly rejected BIA In an interview with Radio Monumental, MFA Roberto Tovar stated that his
agreement.
country "will maintain the integrity of the Rome Statute" regardless of the
suspension of financial aid by the United States for the rejection of the
signature of a BIA...Costa Rica has rejected the signature of this agreement,
and the US suspended two aid programs:one for handicapped people and
another for commercial support, as confirmed by the Ministry of Foreign
Affairs who did not mention the amount of the aid suspended. [Canciller,
Costa Rica será "digna" en Corte Penal Internacional, 6 September 2005]
Costa Rica will not yield to the American government that has suspended two
An agreement was reportedly signed by the government, and has not been
publicly announced. [Stabroek News Guyana, 7/18/03.]
Country
Approached
RS
Date of US
Status approach
Status of
agreement
US official
Official
approached
Council of
Europe
N/A
N/A
N/A
N/A
N/A
Croatia
SP
Second
Approach:
May 5-7th
2006
Initial
Approach:
mid-July
2002
No. President
Stipe Mesic,
Premier Ivica
Racan, Foreign
Minister Tonino
Picula have all
openly
denounced the
US request.
Second Approach:
VP Dick Cheney
Initial Approach:
Deputy Assistant
Defence Secretary
for Euro-Asia Mira
Ricardel, acting
assistant to the
Secretary of State
for Europe and
Euro-Asia Paul
Jones and deputy
assistant to the
State Secretary for
NATO and security
policy Robert
Bradtke
Second
Approach:
President
Mesic and
Prime Minister
Sanader (and
others,
unnamed)
Initial
Approach:
President
Stipe Mesic,
Premier Ivica
Racan,
Foreign
Minister
Tonino Picula,
and Deputy
Foreign
Minister Ivan
Simonovic
On July 1, 2003,
Publicly rejected BIA
declared by the State
agreement.
Dept. ineligible to
receive military
assistance. $5.8 million
has reportedly been
suspended from FY
2004, based on ASPA.
Estimated Loss of US
Aid Under IMET:
800,000 (FY04).
Projected Loss Under
IMET: 50,000 (FY05).
Projected Loss Under
IMET: 50,000 (FY06)
Cyprus
SP
Not stated.
Under
consideration.
Not stated.
Not stated.
$13.5. million from
USAID is threatened
under the Nethercutt
Amendment. 2006
CBJ -- Projected Loss
of US Aid Under ESF:
13,392,000 (FY05).
Projected Loss Under
ESF: 20,000,000
(FY06)
Czech
Republic
S
Not stated.
Under
consideration.
Not stated.
Not stated.
Democratic
Republic of
the Congo
SP
Not stated.
Not stated.
Yes. Signed
March 18, 2003
(State Dept
information
states: Signed at
Washington
March 19, 2003.
Entered into
force July 22,
2003.)
Not stated.
Agreement
Provisions
Sanctions/waivers
imposed by the U.S.
Official response
Reaction as reported in the news
In passing Resolution 1336, The Assembly of the CoE condemned the US
pressure on a number of Council of Europe member states to conclude
bilateral agreements limiting the jurisdiction of the ICC beyond the narrowly
defined exemptions allowed by its statute. The Assembly recalled that under
international treaty law, states must refrain from any action which would not
be compatible with the purpose of a treaty. Bilateral agreements already in
force should therefore be interpreted narrowly.
President Bush waived
the ASPA provisions on
1 July 2003 until 1
November, 2003. On
September 24, 2003,
the waiver was
extended indefinitely,
as DRC had entered
into a BIA.
Croatian Foreign Minister Tonino Picula has said Croatia will "absolutely"
reject the USA's request for the non-extradition of US citizens to the
International Criminal Court (ICC). Croatia must meet its obligations under a
growing system of international law to punish war criminals, and this included
the Hague tribunal and the ICC, Picula said. [August 21, 2002 -BBC
Monitoring Europe, Vjesnik] "One can hardly expect us to extradite our people
and at the same time refuse to extradite citizens of the US or any other
country," government spokesman Zarko Plevnik told [August 14, 2002,
Agence France Presse] "Croatia Says Unlikely to Sign US Non-Extradition
Pact". Foreign Minister Tonino Picula said , "Croatia Likely not to sign NonExtradition Accord with USA", "We must bear in mind that Croatia is a country
that has one duty more than the EU candidate countries, and that is the duty
to cooperate with the Hague tribunal. [August 14, 2002 - BBC Monitoring
Europe-Political] It appears that Croatia is under serious US pressure to sign
a BIA. It seems that one of the key people involved in the decision-making in Cr
"Raguz said that significant part of the parliamentary parties in BiH is for the rat
“After the meeting, Prime Minister M Sanader said that there had been no ment
Has aligned with the
EU in publicly
refusing to conclude
an agreement.
Based on information on the USAID website (www.usaid.gov), Cyprus is likely
to be impacted by Nethercutt by $13.5 million. (Please note that these are
rough estimates based on the information online, and represent the most aid
that could be cut). [23 November 2004]
Has aligned with the
EU in publicly
refusing to conclude
an agreement.
Czech Foreign Minister Cyril Svoboda told EU foreign policy chief Javier
Solana that the EU Guiding Principles will enable a possible Czech-U.S.
agreement. The compromise "on which the EU has agreed gives chance of
going both ways, that is both to ratify the ICC Status in parliament and to
negotiate with the United States," Svoboda said. If the Czech Republic
considered signing a bilateral agreement with the USA, it would do so only
under the conditions agreed on by the EU, Svoboda said. "It simplifies our
and all candidate countries' life," he added. [October 1, 2002, "EU
compromise on ICC will enable Czech-US agreement - Svoboda", CTK
National News Wire].
Reportedly, Czech Foreign Minister Cyril Svoboda told Danish Foreign
Minister Moeller that the Czech position on the International Criminal Court
(ICC) was in line with the European Union's position ["Czechs must defend
their interests in talks with EU - foreign minister", CTK news agency, Prague,
October 4, 2002].
The Democratic Republic of the Congo was mentioned amongst the states
that have signed bilateral immunity agreements. [Source: AFP April 2,
2003.]
Country
Approached
RS
Date of US
Status approach
Status of
agreement
US official
Official
approached
Denmark
SP
Not stated.
No.
Not stated.
Djibouti
SP
Not stated.
Dominica
SP
Dominican
Republic
S
Agreement
Provisions
Sanctions/waivers
imposed by the U.S.
Official response
Reaction as reported in the news
Not stated.
Denmark is exempt
from ASPA.
Colin Powell
Yes. Signed at
Washington
January 24,
2003. Entered
into force July 2,
2003 (State
Dept).
Foreign
Minister Ali
Abdi Farah
On July 1, 2003,
President Bush issued
a waiver until 1
November, 2003.
Subsequently, on July
29, 2003, the waiver
was extended
indefinitely as Djibouti
had entered into a BIA.
Publicly rejected BIA "We want to make sure the court is not weakened, and at the same time we
agreement.
will find a solution for American concerns," said Danish Foreign Minister Per
Stig Moeller."We will find a solution that maintains U.S.'s role in international
peacekeeping operations and makes sure the court gets a good start,"
declining to comment on what the content of such a compromise might be.
[Associated Press Worldstream, August 29, 2002 "Denmark's Foreign
Minister optimistic on comprise between EU and US over ICC-issue"] Ms.
Mette Nørgaard Dissing, First Secretary, Permanent Mission of Denmark,
addressing the UNGA 6th Committee on October 14, 2002: "At present,
some States are still hesitant towards the ICC. They fear prosecution of their
nationals for politically motivated purposes. The European Union is firmly
convinced that the Rome Statute provides all the necessary safeguards
against the misuse of the Court for such purposes. Nevertheless, the EU is
ready to address these concerns through frank and constructive dialogue
while preserving the integrity of the Rome Statute. The objective of individual a
The United States signed a deal with Djibouti that gives US troops in the Horn
of Africa country immunity from prosecution by the ICC. [Agence France
Presse, January 24, 2003 US seals 18th ICC immunity deal as Djibouti
agrees to pact] Richard Boucher said, "We have excellent relations now with
Djibouti . . . We're close partners in the fight against terrorism, we work
together to promote regional peace and security and share a common
interest in advancing economic development and growth in the Horn of
Africa."
Not stated.
Yes. Signed May Not stated.
25, 2004, (State
Dept lists the
following:
Effected by
exchange of
notes at
Washington and
Roseau May 10,
2004. Entered
into force May
20, 2004)
UN
Ambassador
Gregoire
Crispin
On July 1, 2003,
declared by the State
Dept. ineligible to
receive military
assistance. $400,000
has reportedly been
suspended from FY
2004, based on ASPA.
After Dominica signed,
the US issued a waiver
from the ASPA
provisions
[http://www.whitehouse
.gov/news/releases/200
4/05/20040526-2.html]
Not stated.
Not stated.
Yes. Signed at
Santo Domingo
September 13,
2002. Entered
into force August
12, 2004.
President
Hipolito Mejia
Crispin Gregoire, Dominica's ambassador to the UN, said the Dominica
government will formally seek a waiver from the U.S. government, even
though State Department officials have said it would not be considered.
[Associated Press Worldstream, August 22, 2003 INTERNATIONAL NEWS,
U.S. decision to cut military aid to Caribbean countries could handicap war on
drugs, critics say, IAN JAMES; Associated Press Writer, SAN JUAN, Puerto
Rico] On May 26, 2004, the Associated Press published an article saying a
BIA had been signed.
Letta Tayler, the Latin American Correspondent at Newsday, published an
article which updates the current BIA situation, with particular reference to
Dominica, Ecuador, Jordan, Croatia, St.Vincent and the Grenadines, Trinidad
and Tobago and Colombia. Ms. Tayler includes quotes from government
officials, in particular Dominica’s UN ambassador Crispin Gregoire stating,
with regard to having signed a BIA but having as yet to received the withheld
aid, that “Usually when you have a bear breathing down your neck, the best
way to make the bear go away is to yield, but so far that hasn’t worked. We are
none given
Country
Approached
RS
Date of US
Status approach
East Timor
SP
Ecuador
SP
Status of
agreement
US official
Official
approached
Agreement
Provisions
Sanctions/waivers
imposed by the U.S.
Not stated.
23 Aug 2002 Yes. Signed at
Dili August 23,
2002. Approved
by the Council of
Ministers in
October 2003.
Entered into
force October 30,
2003.
Foreign
Minister Jose
Ramos-Horta
Under the
Constitution of
East Timor,
agreement
required both
Parliamentary
approval and
Presidential
promulgation
before it can
come into
force. The
Government,
however,
decided that
an open
parliamentary
debate on the
impunity
agreement
might be
embarrassing,
and that the
agreement
therefore did
not need
parliamentary
ratification.
none given
On July 1, 2003,
President Bush issued
a waiver until 1
November, 2003.
Subsequently, on July
29, 2003, the waiver
was extended
indefinitely as East
Timor had entered into
a BIA.
During the last week of October 2003, East Timor's Council of Ministers
approved an "Article 98 Agreement". The impunity agreement had been
signed by Foreign Minister Jose Ramos-Horta in August 2002. At that time,
East Timor's government had said that it required parliamentary ratification
before it would go into effect. East Timor's Government decided that an open
parliamentary debate on the impunity agreement might be embarrassing for
Dili and/or Washington, and that the agreement therefore did not need
parliamentary ratification. It was approved at a closed Council of Ministers
meeting around October 27, and Washington was informed. No press release
or announcement was made in Dili, and nothing appeared in the media in
East Timor. [East Timor Gives U.S. Soldiers Impunity, Quietly, La'o Hamutuk
November 21, 2003]
Publicly rejected BIA
On July 1, 2003,
agreement.
declared by the State
Dept. ineligible to
receive military
assistance. $15.65
million has reportedly
been suspended from
FY 2004, based on
ASPA. Up to an
additional $13 million is
expected to be withheld
under the Nethercutt
Amendment. 2006 CBJ
-- Estimated Loss of
US Aid Under IMET:
650,000 (FY04), Under
FMF: 6,955,000 (FY04).
Projected Loss Under
IMET: 300,000 (FY05),
Under FMF: 992,000
(FY05), Under ESF:
12,896,000 (FY05).
Projected Loss Under
IMET: 50,000 (FY06),
Under FMF: 750,000
(FY06), Under ESF:
7,000,000 (FY06).
The US Government will reportedly withhold US$15 million in military aid. US
Ambassador Kristie Kenney said: "The US has the democratic right to deny
help to nations with which we do not have protection for our military." Despite
the loss of military aid, Kenney said the U.S. government has asked the
Congress to approve US$70 million for other non-military programs in
Ecuador for 2004.In September, the U.S. government sent Ecuador US$15.7
million to fight drug trafficking. [Associated Press, February 2, 2004, "US
Says US$15 million in military aid to Ecuador will be cut]. News reports
indicate that U.S. General Brantz Craddock "considered that the military aid to
Ecuador will increase if Ecuador signs an agreement on immunity for
American soldiers acting in Ecuadorian soil." The article also reports that
Craddock stated "there are many restrictions for military aid to Ecuador
because they do not grant immunity [to American soldiers], as Colombia
does." He also noted that the U.S. assists the Fuerzas Armadas Ecuatorianas
(Ecuatorian Armed Forces) with "equipment and training." He added "this is a re
American territory. The new Minister of Internal Affairs Mauricio Gandara said t
No.
US Ambassador
Kristie Kenney
Official response
Reaction as reported in the news
Country
Approached
RS
Date of US
Status approach
Status of
agreement
Egypt
S
El Salvador
N
Equatorial
Guinea
N
Not stated.
Not stated.
Official
approached
Agreement
Provisions
Yes. Reportedly, Not stated.
congressional
sources said the
Bush
administration
has informed
Congress that an
agreement was
signed March 5,
2003. - Effected
by exchange of
notes at Cairo
February 26 and
March 5, 2003.
Entered into
force March 5,
2003. Agreement
extending the
agreement of
February 26 and
March 5, 2003
effected by
exchange of
notes at Cairo
March 1 and 2,
2005. Entered
into force March
2, 2005. (State
Dept).
Not stated.
If an
agreement
was signed,
the People’s
Assembly
would
technically
have to
endorse the
agreement
even though it
probably
wouldn’t be
necessary for
an agreement
like this to
become
binding. Egypt
has signed a
secret BIA.
[The
Washington
Times,
AMNESTY
FOR U.S.
CITIZENS
BOOSTED,
October 8.
2003]
Yes. According
Not stated.
to the Associated
Press, an
agreement was
signed October
25, 2002.
[Associated
Press, November
14, 2002]
Ratified by
Parliament on
April 29, 2004.
Not stated.
Yes. Signed on
September 25,
2003 in New
York. Entered
into force (likely
executive
agreement) May
6, 2004 (State
Dept).
US official
Sanctions/waivers
imposed by the U.S.
Official response
Reaction as reported in the news
-The Egyptian Embassy declined to comment on reports of the signed
agreement. [Reuters, June 16, 2003, "Five Countries Exempt Americans from
World Court"] An Egyptian charge d'affaires, Yahya Zakariya Najm, resigned
in protest against the BIA between Egypt and the US. "In his letter of
resignation, a copy of which Al-Quds al-Arabi received, the diplomat
criticized...the agreement to exempt the United States from the international
criminal court's rulings. Small states, which are closer to, and in more need to
the United States, such as the Caribbean states, refused to sign that
agreement and held out against pressure, said the diplomat." [BBC
Monitoring Middle East - Political, "Egyptian diplomat in Caracas quits over
Mubarak policies," 24 May 2005]
28 of the 84 members of the Parliament have expressed a commitment to
ratify such an agreement. [Deutsche Presse Agentur, 20 June 2003] Floretin
Melendez, a Salvadorean human rights expert, has claimed that the bilateral
immunity agreement signed between El Salvador and the US is
unconstitutional. He told a local newspaper that the Legislative Assembly
must deliberate on the immunity agreement before ratifying it. [XINHUA
GENERAL NEWS SERVICE, July 22, 2003.] The BIA of El Salvador was not
put up for a vote by the Assembly plenary on Feb 25, 2004 as it lacked
sufficient “yes” votes. Instead, sensing that it would fail, legislators of ARENA
(ruling party) decided to send the BIA back to the Foreign Relations
Committee for more deliberations. Parties that have expressed opposition to
BIAs are FMLN and CDU-PDC. According to the news report, ARENA and
PCD agree that crimes under ICC jurisdiction should be tried by national
courts. [Feb 23, El Diario de Hoy; government sources]. Sources indicate that
the BIA received a favorable opinion from representatives of ARENA (ruling
Country
Approached
RS
Date of US
Status approach
Status of
agreement
Eritrea
S
Yes. Signed on
July 8, 2004 in
Washington, DC.
Entered into
force July 8,
2004 (State
Dept).
Estonia
SP
Ethiopia
N
European
Union
n/a (all
memb
ers
are
SPs)
Not stated.
US official
Official
approached
Sanctions/waivers
imposed by the U.S.
Eritrean
to the US
Girma
Asmerom
Not stated.
Prime Minister
Siim Kallas,
Foreign
Minister
Kristiina
Ojuland, Prime
Minister Juhan
Parts
Yes. Signed
October 8, 2004
US Deputy
Secretary of State
Richard Armitage
Ethiopia's
ambassador to
Washington
Kassahun
Ayele
n/a
n/a
Official response
Reaction as reported in the news
Richard Boucher, US
Spokesman: "Eritrea
is committed to
fighting global
terrorism and it has
been a solid partner
with the United
States in that battle
in the past. Eritrea
was one of the first
nations to sign on as
part of the "Coalition
of the Willing." The
signing of Article 98
by the government of
Eritrea is a
significant step
forward in U.S. and
Eritrea bilateral
relations."
[Washington, D.C.
Press Statement,
July 13, 2004]
Ambassador
No.
1 Apr 2002 n/a
Agreement
Provisions
The U.S. suspended
military aid to Estonia
on July 1, 2003 for the
remainder of the fiscal
year. Declared by the
State Dept. ineligible to
receive military
assistance. On 21
November 2003,
Estonia received a
national interest waiver
with respect to
programs supporting
NATO or US operations
in Afghanistan and Iraq.
Extends the
same privilege
to
Ethiopian
citizens in the
United States
Has aligned with the
EU in publicly
refusing to conclude
an agreement.
Kristiina Ojuland, the Estonian Foreign Minister said, "We are considering
very thoroughly our possibilities as to whether it is possible to find a certain
resolution to what the US side has offered. The legal analysis under way at
present will definitely not be quick, since we are talking about a highly
complicated matter within the international law." [BBC Monitoring Former
Soviet Union, August 26, 2002, "Baltic, Nordic meeting discusses EU
enlargement timetable, US immunity] On October 16, Prime Minister Siim
Kallas said that Estonia has a moral obligation to support the US wish to
conclude an immunity agreement that would rule out that US soldiers and
officials find themselves in the International Criminal Court. "What meets
Estonian national interests is if we can be good allies for the USA while also
cooperating well with the EU. This would be ideal", said Kallas. He added "In
principle, the USA has exerted no direct pressure so far, but it is the US wish
to conclude an agreement of this kind. Work is under way on various versions
of the text." [October 17, 2002, "PM sees moral obligation to support USA over
The United States on Friday inked a deal with Ethiopia giving US citizens
there immunity from prosecution by the International Criminal Court (ICC),
bringing to 96 the number of nations with which it has concluded such pacts,
the State Department said. [AFP, 8 October 2004].
The Council of the EU adopted the following guiding principles on September
30:
-existing international agreements should be taken into account, entering into
US agreements as presently drafted would be inconsistent with ICC States
Parties' obligations under the Rome Statute and possibly under other
international agreements,
-any solution should include appropriate operative provisions ensuring that
persons who have committed crimes falling within the jurisdiction of the Court
do not enjoy impunity,
-any solution should only cover persons who are not nationals of an ICC state
party,
-the scope of persons should be narrowed down.
Per Stig Moller, Foreign Minister of Denmark which holds the EU Presidency,
remarked in the latter half of 2002, “Individual member states can now, if
necessary, conclude bilateral agreements with the United States on the nonsurrender of U.S. nationals to the court, so long as they observe the strict
benchmarks that ensure respect for our obligations as parties to the Rome
Statute of the ICC. With respect to the U.S. proposal for bilateral agreements,
Country
Approached
RS
Date of US
Status approach
Status of
agreement
Fiji
SP
Not stated.
France
SP
Gabon
US official
Official
approached
Agreement
Provisions
Yes. Reportedly Not stated.
signed in
November 2003.
(State Dept
information
states: Signed at
Suva December
17, 2003.
Entered into
force December
17, 2003.)
Not stated.
Non-reciprocal On July 1, 2003,
declared by the State
Dept. ineligible to
receive military
assistance.
Subsequently, on 30
December 2003, Fiji
received a permanent
waiver for signing a
BIA.
Not stated.
No.
Not stated.
Not stated.
Exempt from ASPA
SP
Not stated.
Yes. Effected by Not stated.
exchange of
notes at Libreville
February 26 and
April 15, 2003.
Entered into
force April 15,
2003 (State
Dept).
Not stated.
On 1 July 2003,
President Bush issued
an ASPA waiver for as
long as the BIA
remains in force.
Gambia
SP
Not stated.
Not stated.
Yes. Signed at
Banjul on
October 5, 2002.
Ratified early
July 2003.
Entered into
force June 27,
2003 (State
Dept).
Not stated.
On 1 July 2003,
President Bush issued
an ASPA waiver for as
long as the BIA
remains in force.
In a recent an article, a lawyer defending Majority Leader of the Gambian
Parliament, The Hon. Baba Jobe, argued that “The Gambia is a friend in need
to the United States, and The Gambian Parliament has ratified and pass very
friendly resolutions towards the United States, including controversial laws
that did not augur well with the Gambian body politic. One example is the
indemnity provisions to counter the international criminal court. It must be
remembered that this Bills was passed by a Parliament under the
stewardship of Hon. Baba Jobe. His commanding support among his
colleagues, persuasive ability, and lobby facilitated the passage of many such
laws in favour of U.S national interest.” [February 4, 2004, The Independent
(The Gambia)] Richard Boucher of the State Department said at a press
conference that Gambia was the thirteenth state to sign an "article 98"
agreement [October 8, 2002, "Gambia becomes 13th country to sign ICC
immunity deal with US", Agence France Presse].
Georgia
SP
Not stated.
Not stated.
Yes. Signed at
Tbilisi February
10, 2003. The
Georgian
parliament
reportedly ratified
the agreement
on May 7, 2003.
(State Dept
information
states that the
agreement
entered into force
June 26, 2003.)
Not stated.
On September 24,
2003, the waiver was
extended indefinitely,
as Georgia had entered
into a BIA.
According the State Department Spokesperson Anne Marks, the United
States and Georgia have signed an agreement not to surrender each other's
citizens to the International Criminal Court without the consent of the other
government, "These agreements are necessary to protect American citizens
from politically motivated prosecutions by a court of which we are not a
member," Marks said. "We believe in justice and the rule of law and
accountability for war crimes, crimes against humanity and genocide. As a
sovereign nation the United States accepts the responsibility to investigate
and prosecute its own citizens for such offenses should they occur." [Reuters]
The Georgian parliament reportedly ratified the agreement on May 7, 2003.
(Russian news agency Interfax, via BBC, 5/7/2003))
Reciprocal
Sanctions/waivers
imposed by the U.S.
Official response
Reaction as reported in the news
The US is pressuring Fiji to sign a reciprocal bilateral immunity agreement, in
exchange for allowing Fiji nationals to participate in the US peacekeeping
mission in Iraq. [BBC Monitoring International Reports, May 18, 2003, Fiji Iraq
Role Depends on Deal With us over ICC] The Government of Fiji is
negotiating a bilateral agreement with US. Rev Akuila Yabaki of the Citizens
Constitutional Forum has advised Foreign Affairs Minister Kaliopate Tavola
not to enter into any agreement with the US, however the Foreign Minister
has publicly said: "We are basically negotiating a bilateral agreement and we
are very much aware of our interests in the ICC and we are not going to do
anything which will contradict our commitment to the Rome Statute.' [BBC
Monitoring Asia Pacific, Political Supplied by BBC Worldwide Monitoring,
May 23, 2003]Deputy chief of mission at the US embassy in Suva Hugh
Neighbour has reportedly remarked: "Fiji has peacekeepers in Sinai today,
East Timor, small numbers elsewhere, and may soon have large numbers in
Iraq. If I were the government of Fiji I would want Article 98 protection for my so
Publicly rejected BIA France said that signing such bilateral deals with the U.S. is contrary to the
agreement.
ICC's founding statute. "By pressing this issue, the Americans are creating a
lot of useless tension," said one European official familiar with the French
position. [Wall Street Journal, September 3, 2002 "Germany, France Criticize
U.S. On International Criminal Court"] France made a statement in the
Security Council Open Debate on the Protection of Civilians expressing
dismay with the lack of consensus among the internatinal community and the
importance of being able to turn to article 13(b) of the Rome Statute. "We
cannot use article 98 of the Statute and then block the use of article 13 (b),
which would make it possible to effectively combat impunity.” [http://ods-ddsny.un.org/doc/UNDOC/GEN/N04/644/74/PDF/N0464474.pdf?OpenElement,
December 17, 2004] UN Ambassador de la Sabliere states that France had to
agree to immunity for parties of non-nationals in the Security Council
resolution in order for the referral of Darfur to the ICC to pass; he stated,
however, that this immunity provision "cannot run counter to other international
According to an Agence France Press article, an agreement has reportedly
been signed (Source: AFP, 5/2/03) Gabon received a presidential waiver on
July 1, 2003. (Source: White House memo, 7/1/03)
Country
Approached
RS
Date of US
Status approach
Status of
agreement
US official
Official
approached
Germany
SP
Not stated.
No.
Not stated.
Not stated.
Ghana
SP
Not stated.
Yes. Signed at
Not stated.
Accra on April
17, 2003.
Ratified October
30, 2003. (State
Dept information
states that the
agreement
entered into force
October 31,
2003.)
Not stated.
Greece
SP
No.
Grenada
N
Yes. Effected by
exchange of
notes at
Washington and
New York March
11, 2004.
Entered into
force March 11,
2004 (State
Dept).
Guinea
SP
Not stated.
Yes. Signed at
Conakry August
23, 2003.
Entered into
force March 25,
2004 (State
Dept).
Announced
publicly on April
6, 2004.
Not stated.
Not stated.
Agreement
Provisions
Sanctions/waivers
imposed by the U.S.
Exempt from ASPA
Ratification
necessary.
Official response
Reaction as reported in the news
Publicly rejected BIA “German Foreign Minister Joschka Fischer called the EU position ‘very
agreement.
important.’ Germany also signaled that it wouldn't sign any bilateral
agreement on exemptions … German officials, who said they didn't intend to
slight the US, pointed out that the US shouldn't worry because the legal
standing of American troops in Germany is covered by special agreements
that already provide limited immunity from national prosecutions.” [Berlin
Denies U.S. Call for Immunity --- German Refusal Involving New War-Crime
Tribunal May Further Strain Ties, Wall Street Journal, Oct 1, 2002)]
“Germany said Washington's demand that European governments exempt
U.S. nationals from war crimes trials in the new International Criminal Court
may be legally possible, but is morally dubious. ‘It will certainly not be
compatible with the spirit’ of the tribunal, which was created to bring war
crimes suspects to justice when national governments refuse to do so,
Deputy German Foreign Minister Gunter Pleuger told reporters Friday.”
[Associated Press Worldstream, August 30, 2002, “Germany: keeping
On July 1, 2003,
none given
"We are aware certain states entertain some fears of impartiality of the Court
President Bush issued
and have sought various ways to address these fears. We are distressed that
some of these methods may tend to detract from the very integrity and
a waiver until 1
universality that the like-minded states have worked hard to achieve. We
November, 2003.
believe that if the highest standards of integrity and judicial wisdom are
Subsequently, on July
balanced with geographical spread and gender sensitivity, these fears will be
29, 2003, the waiver
addressed sufficiently to render those special bilateral agreements redundant.
was extended
We should avoid taking measures that would kill the ICC at birth or make it
indefinitely as Ghana
ineffectual." [Mr. Kwesi Quartey, Deputy Permanent Representative to the
had entered into a BIA.
Permanent Mission of Ghana to the 6th Committee of the 57th session of the
UN General Assembly, October 15, 2002] The Minority in Parliment has
responded to the possible ratification of a BIA with the US that "It will be the
hallmark of double standards for Ghana to ratify the Rome Statutes that
established the International Criminal Court, nominate its Vice-President and
turn around to ratify an agreement that obviously undermines the integrity of the
Exempt from ASPA
Publicly rejected BIA UN Ambssador Vassilakis states that it was necessary that Greece agree to
agreement.
immunity for nationals of non-parties in order for the Security Council referral
of Darfur to the ICC to pass; he states that, "we preferred to vote in favour
rather than to allow violations of humanitarian law to go unpunished." [31
March 2005, Security Council Meeting on Darfur]
On September 25,
2003, Guinea received
a six-month presidential
waiver until March 24,
2004.
Country
Approached
RS
Date of US
Status approach
Status of
agreement
Guyana
SP
Yes. Signed on Minister of Foreign
Affairs Rudy
December 13,
Insanally
2003. National
Assembly
approved motion
for ratification,
and Parliament
ratified on May
17, 2004. In a
memo from State
dated November
29, 2004, it says
that Guyana
entered into
agreement. (The
State Dept lists
the dates of
signing and
rattification as:
Signed at
Georgetown
December 11,
2003. Entered
into force May
18, 2004.)
Haiti
S
Honduras
SP
Not stated.
Yes. Reportedly
signed on June
14, 2004. (State
Dept information
states: Signed at
Monterrey
January 12,
2004. Entered
into force
January 12,
2004).
Yes. Reportedly Not stated.
signed
September 19,
2002. Approved
by the parliament
on May 30, 2003
by a vote of 65 to
62. (US State
Dept information
states: Signed at
New York
September 19,
2002. Entered
into force June
30, 2003.)
Hungary
SP
Not stated.
Iceland
SP
Under
consideration
US official
Not stated.
Official
approached
US Assistant
Secretary of
State Stephen
Rademaker
Agreement
Provisions
Sanctions/waivers
imposed by the U.S.
Official response
Reaction as reported in the news
Guyana's President Bharrat Jadgeo announced that Guyana will sign a BIA.
while stressing that the signing would only take place after parliament has
ratified the Rome Statute (which is expected when Parliament reconvenes in
October). In explaining the government's position, Jagdeo made it clear to
local journalists that he was not prepared to risk losing US military support.
[Stabroek News Guyana, 18 July 2003.] Trinidad & Tobago's Foreign Minister
Knowlson Gift said that Guyana President Bharrat Jagdeo has given Caricom
the assurance that his country would not sign the US non surrender
agreement until the Manning/ Bush meeting takes place. [Trinidad Express
Newspaper, July 24, 2003.] According to government officials, Guyana
reportedly signed a bilateral agreement with the US, in exchange for
continuing to receive US military aid. [Sun-Sentinel (Fort Lauderdale, FL),
December 14, 2003] The signing of the agreement, between the Minister of
Foreign Affairs Rudy Insanally and the US Assistant Secretary of State
Stephen Rademaker took place on 11 December 2003, in the absence of the lo
A loss of US military
assistance was
reportedly threatened.
The United States sought immunity for US Armed Forces participating in the
UN Stabilizing Mission in Haiti after the removal of elected President JeanBertrand Aristide in February 2003.
[http://www.whitehouse.gov/news/releases/2004/06/20040614-10.html]
Not stated.
On July 1, 2003,
President Bush issued
an ASPA waiver until 1
November, 2003. On
September 24, 2003,
the waiver was
extended indefinitely,
as Honduras had
entered into a BIA.
Not stated.
Exempt from ASPA as
a NATO ally
"The AP has reported that the U.S. plans to help Honduras build a military
base in the northeast part of the country near the Nicaraguan border to help
combat drug trafficking.... The U.S. State Department describes Honduras as
being a close Washington ally since the 1980's when that country's
government 'supported U.S. policy opposing a revolutionary Marxist
government in Nicaragua and an active leftist insurgency in El Salvador.' ...
The State Department also notes that Honduras was one of the first countries
to sign a bilateral agreement exempting U.S. government and miltary
peronnel (past and present) from the International Criminal Court for war
crimes and other crimes against humanity."
(http://upsidedownworld.org/main/content/view/365/1/, Upsidedown World,
"U.S. to Build Military Base in Honduras" by Cyril Mychalejko, 19 July 2006)
Has aligned with the
EU in publicly
refusing to conclude
an agreement.
Has aligned with the
EU in publicly
refusing to conclude
an agreement.
Foreign Ministry spokesperson Tamas Toth said consultations between the
U.S. and Hungary on the extradition of U.S. citizens to the ICC could soon be
concluded. He said a compromise on the issue acceptable to EU members,
candidate countries and to the U.S. could soon be reached [October 2, 2002,
"Foreign Ministry Spokesperson Holds Media Briefing" Global News Wire,
Hungarian News Agency (MTI)].
Country
Approached
RS
Date of US
Status approach
Status of
agreement
US official
India
N
Not stated.
Yes. Signed
December 26,
2002.
US Ambassador to Indian Foreign
Secretary
India Robert
Kanwal Sibal
Blackwill
(the senior
official in the
FM)
Indonesia
S
Not stated
No.
Ireland
SP
Israel
S
Italy
SP
Official
approached
Not stated.
No.
Sanctions/waivers
imposed by the U.S.
Reciprocal.
BindingTreaties
concluded by
the executive
do not have to
be sanctified
by
parliamentary
acceptance,
nor may they
be dislodged
by
parliamentary
disapproval.
Official response
Reaction as reported in the news
none given
An Indian official said New Delhi was disappointed with the ICC because it
did not see the court playing a role in the fight against international terrorism.
"This accord is emblematic of the continuing cooperation between India and
the United States," India's Foreign Ministry spokesman Navtej Sarna told
reporters. There was no public information of the impending deal, no
discussion which could have elicited public opinion. And, now that the treaty
has been signed, there is no means of retracting even if the agreement were
to meet with public opprobrium. [The Frontline, January 18, 2003]
A visiting US official said in March that "the US considers Indonesia to be an
important country. We have excellent cooperation with Indonesia in the war
against terrorism. There are 85 countries, including Brunei and East Timor,
that have already signed Article 98 agreements with the US. We expect
Indonesia will also sign such an agreement." Indonesian Minister of Foreign
Affairs Hassan Wirayuda has said, however, that Indonesia is in no hurry to
sign the BIA, especially as it has yet to ratify the Rome Statute. He also said
that Indonesia was still "examining whether the US will reciprocate in the
case of Indonesian citizens." [The Jakarta Post, Article 98 list, March 17,
2004] o "If Indonesia signs the NSA, it means it has been tricked by US.
Therefore we recommend that the US proposal be rejected," YLBHI chairman
Munarman said, referring to Indonesia’s inclination to sign the accord on the
ground that a number of its citizens faced the possibility of litigation for
human right abuses in East Timor in 1999. [4 January 2006, “YLBH ADVISES
GOVT TO REJECT US PROPOSAL ON NSA”]
Do+H76 not receive US Publicly rejected BIA -The issue of US retaliation against countries - such as Ireland - that refused
to sign a bilateral agreement with Washington did not come up in recent talks
agreement.
aid qualified under
ASPA. However, up to
between Irish Minister for Foreign Affairs Cowen and US Vice-President
$12 milion may be
Cheney. The retaliation involves a suspension of US military aid "Ireland had
threatened under the
never received military aid from the United States and therefore the fact that
Nethercutt
we might be on some list" is irrelevant, Mr Cowen said. "Ireland is a very
Amendment. Projected
strong friend of the United States. Ireland has excellent relations with the
Loss Under ESF:
United States." [The Irish Times, July 10, 2003.]
-Based on
21,824,000 (FY05).
information on the USAID website (www.usaid.gov), Ireland could be
Projected Loss Under
impacted by Nethercutt Amendment by $12 million. (Please note that these
ESF: 12,000,000
are rough estimates based on the information online, and represent the most
(FY06)
aid that could be cut). [November 23, 2004]
No.
4 Aug 2002 Yes. Signed at
Jerusalem
August 4, 2002.
Entered into
force November
27, 2003 (State
Dept).
Agreement
Provisions
Undersecretary of
State John Bolton
Exempt from ASPA as none given
Reciprocal;
Foreign
a major non-NATO ally
binding
Minister
Shimon Peres executive
agreement+G6
5
Not stated.
Not stated.
Exempt from ASPA
[Reverse-chronological]
As long as the Middle East crisis is raging, Israel will not sign the Statute of
the International Criminal Court, said Alan Baker, director of the Israeli
Foreign Ministry's Legal Department. The most important reason for this
decision is the possible political bias of the court, Baker said. Once the
normalization of the Middle East is reached, Israel may consider joining the
Statute, Baker added. [August 15, 2002 - Diplomatic Panorama, "Israel Will
Not Join International Criminal Court Before Crisis Abades"] "Almost
everybody in my country is a soldier. Someone can complain against a
soldier and say they perpetrated a crime," said the Deputy Chief of Mission at
the Israeli Embassy in Washington, DC, Rafael Barak. Israel submitted
formal renunciation of its signature of the Rome Statute on August 28, 2002.
[August 7, 2002 - The New York Times, "U.S. Seeking Pacts in a Bid to
Shield Its Peacekeepers"]
Publicly rejected BIA The U.K. and Italy have indicated they are prepared to grant the U.S.
immunity from the court, while the European Commission, the EU's executive
agreement.
branch, said that such agreements could be harmful to the court's
functioning. "Each EU nation has signed (the Rome Statute) on its own and
can decide on its own to conclude'' additional accords with other states,
Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi said outside an EU foreign ministers
meeting. [August 31, 2002, Guardian Unlimited, "Italy May Exempt US From
Tribunal"]
Country
Approached
RS
Date of US
Status approach
Status of
agreement
US official
Jamaica
S
Under
consideration.
Under US
pressure
Not stated
Japan
N
Jordan
SP
Kazakhstan
N
Kenya
SP
Not stated
26 Aug 2002 Not likely.
Yes, signed 16
Extreme
December 2004.
pressure
ongoing. Visit
by high-level
US
delegation in
July 2004.
King visited
Bush in early
December
2004.
Official
approached
Agreement
Provisions
Sanctions/waivers
imposed by the U.S.
Official response
The Minister of Justice and Attorney-General A. J. Nicholson is quoted as
saying, “The Government of Jamaica intends to ratify the Rome Statute of the
International Criminal Court (ICC)...But the Government must also grapple
with the issue of whether to sign a bilateral agreement with the United States
of America, granting US citizens exemption from the ICC...If the Jamaican
government does not sign this latter agreement, often referred to as an Article
98 agreement, it faces sanctions from the USA, in the form of the withdrawal
of military assistance to the island.”
[Jamaica Information Service, www.jis.gov, Feb 26, 2004]
Threat of loss of
military aid under
ASPA, if they ratify the
Rome Statute (Loss of
military assistancebroadly defined: police
could lose resources,
and with regards to
drug-trafficking,
Jamaica could lose
some "shiprider-type"
assistance)
U.S.
Undersecretary of
State John Bolton
Vice Foreign
Minister Yukio
Takeuchi
Exempt from ASPA
none given
Takeuchi failed to show a clear attitude on the issue. 'At this point in time, we
are not at all considering' the request, Deputy Chief Cabinet Secretary Shinzo
Abe said at a news conference. Chief Cabinet Secretary Shinzo Abe said that
Tokyo and Washington agreed that close consultations should be continued
on the matter but he indicated that it is premature for Japan to sign such an
accord when it is preparing to ratify a treaty for the establishment of the ICC.
[Japan Economic Newswire, August 22, 2002 "Japan 'not considering' U.S.
demand on criminal court waiver"]
US Undersecretary
for Arms Control
and International
Security John
Bolton, US
Assistant
Secretary of State
for Political and
Military Affairs
Lincoln Bloomfield
Ambassador
Zeid, King
Abdullah of
Jordan,
Foreign
Minister Hani
Fawzi Mulki
Exempt from ASPA.
$250 million from
USAID could be
threathened under
Nethercutt
Amendment. While
Jordan has the
potential to get a
waiver, it is clear that
this determination
needs to be made by
the President – and
given his rhetoric in the
debates and his record
of not issuing ANY
waivers in the past,
According to the
Jordanian
Ambassador to the
UN, Jordan would
absolutely not sign
an agreement.
As reported in The Economist, "Jordan, one of the United States' few friends
in the Middle East, was given a stark choice. Unless it agreed to sign a pact
with the United States, prohibiting the surrender of American citizens to the
International Criminal Court (ICC), it would forfeit the $100m in American aid
earmarked for its help in training Iraqi policemen. In addition, King Abdullah's
official visit to Washington next month would be cancelled. Jordan refused to
give in, and the Bush administration backed down." [The Economist, 22-28
November 2003] On Sunday, 18 July 2004, US Assistant Secretary of State
Bloomfield arrived in Jordan to put pressure on the country. A Jordanian
official said the visit was linked to a US House of Representatives vote
Thursday on the Nethercutt Amendment to stop financial aid to states that
have not agreed to guarantee American soldiers immunity at the ICC,
including Jordan. [Agence France Presse--English, 19 July 2004]. On
August 4, 2004, Jordanian Foreign Minister Marwan al-Mu'ashir left the door
open for signing a BIA, saying, "We are not against signing the bilateral pact wit
“The Kazakh president Nursultan Nazarbayev today signed the law ratifying
the agreement between Kazakhstan and the USA on handing people over to
the International Criminal Court.” [Transcript of broadcast by Khabar
Television, Almaty, Kazakhstan, October 5, 2004].
"'The essence of the agreement is that the U.S. provides guarantees that
Kazakh citizens will not be handed over to the International Criminal Court's
jurisdiction without the republic's [Kazakhstan's] written consent. Kazakhstan
undertakes analogous commitments,' Deputy Kazakh Prosecutor General
Merei Voisov said presenting the document to the parliamentarians," Interfax
reported. [Interfax Information Services, 1 September, 2004]. The lower
house of the parliament (the Majilis) in Kazakhstan apparently approved
ratification of its BIA with the United States on Wednesday, 25 August, but it
still has to go through the upper house Senate. [Interfax Information Services,
1 September, 2004].
Yes. Signed in
September 2003.
Approved in
Lower House,
pending approval
in Upper House
of Senate.
(Signed at New
York September
22, 2003.
Entered into
force October 7,
2004. According to US
Dept of State
Website)
Not stated.
No.
Reaction as reported in the news
Not stated.
Not stated.
Projected Loss Under Publicly rejected BIA
IMET: 650,000 (FY05), agreement.
Under FMF: 6,944,000
(FY05), Under ESF:
8,900,000 (FY05).
Projected Loss Under
IMET: 650,000 (FY06),
Under FMF: 7,000,000
(FY06), Under ESF:
8,000,000 (FY06).
At a meeting for the formation of a South Africa-Kenya bi-National
Commission (BNC), both the Kenyan and South African governments
rejected what they called US "intimidation and diplomatic arm-twisting," on
the ICC issue. [Panafrican News Agency, July 20, 2003.] Local news article
discusses the Bush Administration's opposition to the ICC and, in particular,
the BIA campaign. The article concludes that "We need to give the man
[Bush] a chance." [November 22, 2004, The East African, "Despite
Guantanamo, Let’s Give Bush a Chance] Should Kenya ratify the Rome
Statute in the next year, they could be impacted by the Nethercutt
amendment. [date?] Kenya is expected to sign a BIA by the end of March
2005. 12 human rights groups oppose the move, saying it would make Kenya
to not only violate international law but also facilitate the protection of foreign
criminals. [The Standard, March 30, 2005] The US is putting "enormous
pressure" on Kenya to sign a BIA. CICC Convener, William Pace, is quoted
at length explaining that the types of aid potentially at risk could go beyond
Country
Approached
RS
Date of US
Status approach
Status of
agreement
Kiribati
N
Yes. Signed on
March 4, 2004 in
Tarawa. Entered
into force (likely
executive
agreement)
March 4, 2004.
Kuwait
S
Not stated.
Not stated.
Yes. Has
reportedly signed
(but note
conflicting
reports).
Kyrgyzstan
S
Not stated.
Yes. Signed on
28 September
2004.
Reciprocal.
US Ambassador to Head of
Kyrgyzstan Steven Ministry of
Foreign Affairs
Yang
Askar
Aitmatov
Laos
N
US Ambassador to Deputy Prime
Laos Douglas A.
Minister
Hartwick
Somsavat
Lengsavad
Latvia
SP
Not stated.
Yes. Signed at
Vientiane
December 24,
2003. Entered
into force
December 24,
2003 (State
Dept).
No.
Lebanon
N
Not stated.
Under
consideration.
Likely no.
US official
Official
approached
Agreement
Provisions
Sanctions/waivers
imposed by the U.S.
Official response
Not stated.
Not stated.
Not stated.
Not stated.
Not stated.
Kuwait has agreed to exempt Americans from prosecution by the new
International Criminal Court for actions inside the country's borders, a State
Department official said. Kuwait and the United States are to sign the
agreement, known as an Article 98 agreement after the relevant section of the
treaty that set up the court, at a ceremony in Washington next week, the
official said [New York Times, November 2, 2002, “Kuwait to Exempt U.S. on
War Crimes”] An official Kuwaiti source has denied that Kuwait is preparing
to sign an agreement with the USA. In a statement to the Kuwaiti daily alWatan, the Kuwaiti governmental source said that negotiations are underway
between the two sides to study this agreement. The source also noted that
the beginning of this agreement goes back to a meeting in Rome attended by
delegations of 17 countries including Kuwait in order to discuss excluding the
Americans from being brought before International Criminal Court. The
Kuwaiti source indicated that his country signed this agreement but did not
ratify it so far and that this matter is under discussion. [November 4, 2002, “Kuw
According to a report from the Dow Jones Newswires, the Kyrgyz government
had indicated their willingness to sign the agreement last December, but
actually penned the BIA on September 28. The article reports that this is a
reciprocal agreement, and then notes that “The U.S. Embassy in the Kyrgyz
capital, Bishkek, said in a statement Wednesday that in the agreement, the
two countries express their intention to investigate and prosecute crimes
committed by their citizens in each other's countries that would otherwise fall
within the ICC's jurisdiction.” Kyrgyzstan hosts hundreds of U.S. troops at an
air base just outside Bishkek. The base supports combat operations in nearby
Afghanistan. [Dow Jones Newswires, 6 October 2004].
US Ambassador Steven Yang announced that, after several months of
constructive negotiations, Kyrgyzstan and the US were close to signing a
bilateral immunity agreement. On December 6, 2003, he met with Head of
Ministry of Foreign Affairs Askar Aitmatov on this issue. For Kyrgyzstan, this ag
According to the US Embassy in Laos website, Deputy Prime Minister
Somsavat Lengsavad and Ambassador Douglas A. Hartwick signed an Article
98 agreement on 24 December 2003. The press release reads that: "This is
another step in the developing closer ties between the U.S. and the Lao
PDR." (Source: http://usembassy.state.gov/laos/wwwhagre.html)
On July 1, 2003,
declared by the State
Dept. ineligible to
receive military
assistance. On 21
November 2003, Latvia
received a national
interest waiver with
respect to programs
supporting NATO or US
operations in
Afghanistan and Iraq.
If an
agreement
were signed, it
could become
binding
without
additional
ratification.
Reaction as reported in the news
Has aligned with the
EU in publicly
refusing to conclude
an agreement.
"Latvia has made no decision about whether it would sign this agreement,"
said Foreign Ministry State Secretary Maris Riekstins [Baltic News Service,
August 23, 2002, "Latvian Formin reserved over comments suggesting U.S.
may block NATO enlargement"] Latvian Foreign Ministry state secretary Maris
Riekstins announced: "At present we do not see it possible to sign this
agreement and last week notified the U.S. about it through diplomatic
channels." Latvia does not intend to sign the agreement and is keeping with
the common position of the European Union on the matter, said Foreign
Ministry spokesman Plesums. Latvia is expected to lose $2.75 million from
funds allocated for 2003. [Baltic Times, July 10, 2003.] A senior Latvian
diplomat told Human Rights
Watch that the Bush Administration has even decided to withhold $2.7 million
in promised supplemental funding to support Latvian troops in Iraq. (HRW
Press Release, 8/6/03) Latvia's Defense Ministry and the National Armed
Forces have denied reports by Human Rights Watch on plans by the US
administration to cut US co-funding of Latvian troops serving in the peace-keep
Country
Approached
RS
Date of US
Status approach
Status of
agreement
US official
Official
approached
Lesotho
SP
Yes. A
presidential
waiver was
granted on
August 2, 2006,
indicating that
Lesotho had
signed a BIA.
Not stated.
Not stated.
Liberia
SP
Not stated.
Agreement
Provisions
Sanctions/waivers
imposed by the U.S.
Official response
Waiver granted August Up until signing had
2, 2006. Previously: On publicly rejected BIA
July 1, 2003, declared agreement.
by the State Dept.
ineligible to receive
military assistance.
$125,000 has
reportedly been
suspended from FY
2004, based on ASPA.
Loss of US Aid Under
IMET: 125,000 (FY04).
Loss Under IMET:
50,000 (FY05).
Yes. Signed at
Washington on 8
October
2003.Entered
into force
November 3,
2003. US State
Department
waiver granted
on Nov 29, 2004
"The controversy that has emerged in the wake of the entry into force of the
Statute, which threatens to hinder the progress made and to obstruct the
institution even before it begins its work is indeed regrettable. For our part, we
favor an approach that would take into consideration even the concerns of
those who are still doubtful of the ICC, with a view to accomplishing the
universality of the Court. In a similar vein, we believe that the rights of States
to sovereignty cannot be allowed to justify impunity and to compromise
humanity's best hope for justice."
-- His Excellency Professor Lebohang K. Moleko, the current Permanent
Representative of Lesotho to the UN, at the first meeting of the Assembly of
States Parties (September 9-10 2002)
On 17 September 2004, the UN Security Council extended its UN Mission in
Liberia (UNMIL) until September 19, 2005. With regards to US opposition to
the ICC, a UN Press Release notes: "Speaking after the vote, the United
States representative said that it was his Government's policy to ensure that
members of the United States armed forces serving in peace operations were
protected from criminal prosecution or other assertions of jurisdiction by the
International Criminal Court (ICC). Normally, it would seek express provisions
in the resolution providing such protections for personnel not party to the
Rome Statute, but such arrangements had been made bilaterally with the
Liberian Government, absent those provisions in the mandate extension." Full
text of UN Press Release and Resolution 1561:
http://www0.un.org/News/Press/docs/2004/sc8187.doc.htm [date?] In a
memo dated November 29, 2004, it says that Liberia entered into agreement
with the U.S. [Presidential Determination No. 2005-08 Memorandum for the
Secretary of State, posted December 20, 2004]
Liechtenstein SP
Not stated.
Unknown/under
consideration.
Not stated.
Lithuania
SP
Not stated.
No.
US undersecretary Foreign
Ministry's
of defence Dov
secretary
Zakheim
Giedrius
Cekuolis
Luxembourg
SP
No.
Reaction as reported in the news
Not stated.
Do not receive US aid Has aligned with the
qualified under ASPA.. EU in publicly
refusing to conclude
an agreement.
On July 1, 2003,
declared by the State
Dept. ineligible to
receive military
assistance. On 21
November 2003,
Lithuania received a
national interest waiver
with respect to
programs supporting
NATO or US operations
in Afghanistan and Iraq.
Has aligned with the
EU in publicly
refusing to conclude
an agreement.
Exempt from ASPA
Publicly rejected BIA
agreement.
"Similarly, there have been attempts over the past year to apply Article 98 of
the Statute in a manner not provided for by the Statute. Article 98 was
negotiated with a very limited application to Status of Mission and Status of
Forces Agreements in mind, an understanding shared in Rome by all
concerned parties. The purpose of Article 98 was not to create a loophole of
impunity for nationals of non-States Parties. The proposed non-surrender
agreements would not only undermine the integrity of the Court, but also the
very principle of territorial jurisdiction of States." [Mr. Jonathon Huston,
Advisor, Permanent Mission of the Principality of Liechtenstein addressing
the 6th Committee of the UNGA on October 14, 2002]
"Our position hasn't changed -- we'll decide whether to sign the agreement
suggested by the U.S. after consulting with partners in the European Union
and NATO," said the Foreign Ministry's Information and Culture Department
Director, Petras Zapolskas. [Baltic News Service, August 23, 2002, "Lithuania
to wait for EU's position on Immunity for U.S. from ICC"] Defense Ministry
Undersecretary Jurate Raguckiene said the military assistance agreements
signed by Defense Ministry and U.S. representatives on June 30 stipulate
allocation of 12 million U.S. dollars in 2003 in the framework of Foreign
Armed Forces Funding Program. Despite signing this agreement, the U.S.
has reportedly suspended military assistance programs to Lithuania and five
NATO members-in-waiting for failing to exempt US soldiers from surrender to
the ICC. It is unclear whether Lithuania actually lost any US assistance.
[Baltic News Service, July 9, 2003.] Lithuanian Defense Minister Linas
Linkevicius has also made public statements that Lithuania has "no plans at
all" to sign the agreement. The government has already received its funds and w
Country
Approached
RS
Date of US
Status approach
Status of
agreement
US official
Official
approached
Agreement
Provisions
Sanctions/waivers
imposed by the U.S.
Macedonia,
FYR
SP
Yes. Signed at
Skopje June 30,
2003. Ratified
October 26.
Entered into
force November
12, 2003.
Deputy Secretary
of Defence Paul
Wolfowitz
Macedonian
Foreign
Minister Ilinka
Mitreva
Ratification
necessary.
On July 1, 2003,
none given
President Bush issued
a six-month waiver until
1 January 2004.
Subsequently, on 30
December 2003, the
waiver was extended
indefinitely.
Madagascar
S
Malawi
SP
Maldives
N
Mali
SP
Not stated.
Not stated.
Not stated.
Yes. Signed at
Antananarivo
April 23, 2003.
Entered into
force August 4,
2003 (State
Dept).
Yes. Signed
Not stated.
September 20,
2003. (State Dept
information
states: Signed at
Lilongwe
September 23,
2003. Entered
into force
September 23,
2003.)
Yes. Signed on
April 9, 2003
(State Dept
information
states: Signed at
Male and
Colombo April 8
and 10, 2003.
Entered into
force July 8,
2003.)
No.
Not stated.
Not stated.
Not stated.
On July 1, 2003,
declared by the State
Dept. ineligible to
receive military
assistance. On
November 1, 2003,
Malawi was exempted
indefinitely from ASPA
provisions, as they had
entered into an
agreement.
Official response
Reaction as reported in the news
Casule said Macedonia could not sign a deal with the US because it is itself
subject to international prosecution. [BBC Monitoring Europe - Political
Supplied by BBC Worldwide Monitoring, August 28, 2002, "Roundup of
former Yugoslav states' reactions to US non-extradition deal on ICC"] In an
interview with the spokesman for Macedonia it was stated that "the president
holds the view that consultations between the relevant institutions will have to
be initiated, as well as a wider public debate to present all relevant arguments
that favour or oppose this. Naturally, we believe that making such a decision,
which would provide the answer to this question and would be in accordance
with the state's national interests, would require a debate without too many
emotions and on the basis of the experience of certain countries in the region
that have already made such decisions." [BBC Monitoring Europe May 8,
2003] "Our Embassy in Skopje has approached the Macedonian
Government, also in writing, proposing formal talks on concluding an
agreement, and we do have a team currently in Skopje for discussions." US Sta
According to an Agence France Press article, an agreement has reportedly
been signed. (Source: AFP, 5/2/03)
Foreign Minister Lilian Patel claimed that the government has decided to sign
the so-called ‘Article 98’ deal in the best interest of the country. (Source:
WMRC Daily Analysis, September 22, 2003)
On July 1, 2003,
Publicly rejected BIA During a meting organized by African Bar Associations on the ICC, Mali
declared by the State
agreement.
Prime Minister Mohamed Ag Hamani publically said that Mali would not sign
Dept. ineligible to
any BIA with USA. [Newspapers Le Républicain and Nation, 24 July 2003]
receive military
assistance. $250,000
has reportedly been
suspended from FY
2004, based on ASPA.
Estimated Loss of US
Aid Under IMET:
350,000 (FY04).
Projected Loss Under
IMET: 175,000 (FY05).
Projected Loss Under
IMET: 50,000 (FY06).
Country
Approached
RS
Date of US
Status approach
Status of
agreement
US official
Official
approached
Malta
SP
Not stated.
Unknown/under
consideration.
Not stated.
Not stated.
Marshall
Islands
SP
Not stated.
Not stated.
Not stated.
Mauritania
N
Not stated.
Undersecretary of
State for Political
Affairs Marc
Grossman
Reciprocal.
Minister of
Foreign Affairs
Dah Ould Abdi
Mauritius
SP
Not stated.
Yes. Signed at
Majuro
September 10,
2002. Entered
into force June
26, 2003 (State
Dept).
Yes. Signed at
New York
September 17,
2002. Entered
into force July 6,
2003 (State
Dept).
Yes. Signed at
Washington
June 25, 2003.
Entered into
force June 30,
2003 (State
Dept).
Not stated.
Not stated.
Agreement
Provisions
Ratification
necessary.
Sanctions/waivers
imposed by the U.S.
Official response
On July 1, 2003,
declared by the State
Dept. ineligible to
receive military
assistance. $1.25
million has reportedly
been suspended from
FY 2004, based on
ASPA. Estimated Loss
of US Aid Under IMET:
250,000 (FY04), Under
FMF: 990,000 (FY04).
Projected Loss Under
IMET: 50,000 (FY06).
Has aligned with the
EU in publicly
refusing to conclude
an agreement.
Agreement signed on September 17, 2002 between US Under Secretary of
State for Political Affairs Marc Grossman and Mauritanian Minister of Foreign
Affairs Dah Ould Abdi. (Source: Mauritanian news agency AMI, 9/19/2002)
According to local press, Mauritania has ratified their bilateral immunity deal
with the US. (Source: Africa News, 7/4/03)
On 1 July 2003,
President Bush issued
an ASPA waiver until
January 1, 2004.
Subsequently, on July
29, 2003, the waiver
was extended
indefinitely as Mauritius
had entered into a BIA.
MERCOSUR N/A
Mexico
SP
Reaction as reported in the news
An agreement was reportedly signed on or before June 26, 2003. (Source:
U.S.-Mauritius Joint Statement on Article 98 Agreement, issued by US State
Dept, 6/26/03) Mauritius received a presidential waiver for reasons of ‘national
interest’ on July 1, 2003 until January 1, 2004. (Source: White House memo,
7/1/03) Mauritius had their aid restored by President George W. Bush after
they recently concluded immunity agreements with the United States.
(Source: Agence France Presse, July 30, 2003)
A US military exercise to be held with military forces from the South American
Mercosur trade bloc was postponed over US demands for troop immunity,
Argentine Foreign Minister Rafael Bielsa announced The exercise was
postponed following a debate in the Argentine Congress over a US demand
for jurisdictional exemption for US soldiers from the International Criminal
Court.[Agence France Presse, October 1, 2003] Common position on the BIA.
Not stated.
No.
Not stated.
Not stated.
Deputy Assistant
Publicly rejected BIA
Secretary of State for
agreement.
Western Hemisphere
Affairs Elizabeth
Whitaker announced
funding for Mexico's
criminal justice system
will be curtailed as a
direct result of the
Nethercutt Amendment
and that under ASPA,
the US has cut
International Military
Education and Training
Program (IMET) funds
[House Western
Hemisphere
Subcommittee on 26
April 2006,
http://usinfo.state.gov/w
h/Archive/2006/Apr/28383804.html].
-"We regret the position adopted by the United States and all the actions
discouraging the Ratification of the (Rome) Statute", stated Ambassador
Adolfo Aguilar Zinser [October 16, 2002, Novedades (USA) "Mexico censura a
EU en la ONU por rechazar la Corte Penal"]
-Mexico's representative, Ambassador Aguilar Zinser, told the UNGA's 6th
committee that the Court could not and would never be a political instrument,
and regretted that the United States adopted actions to undermine the court.
The representative said that Mexico would not sign an agreement weakening
the court or violating its principles [October 25, 2002, "UN Members say
World Court no threat to US", Inter Press Service]. Minister of Foreign Affairs
Luis Ernesto Derbez said that "Mexico will not sign an bilateral immunity
agreement to shield Americans from the
jurisdiction of the ICC" He added: "We decided not to conclude an agreement
with the US on Article 98 of the Rome Statute" [13 July 2005, "Rechaza
Derbez firmar acuerdo para otorgar inmunidad a soldados," PERIODICO
MILENIO]. Mexican government officials have made it clear to the United State
Country
Approached
RS
Date of US
Status approach
Status of
agreement
Micronesia
N
Not stated.
Not stated.
Mongolia
SP
Not stated.
Morocco
S
Not stated.
Yes. Signed at
Washington
September 24,
2002. Entered
into force June
30, 2003 (State
Dept).
Yes. Effected by Not stated.
exchange of
notes at
Washington
June 6, 2003.
Entered into
force June 27,
2003 (State
Dept).
Yes. Signed at
New York
September 24,
2003. Entered
into force
November 19,
2003 (State
Dept).
Yes. Signed at
Maputo June 24,
2003. Entered
into force March
2, 2004 (State
Dept). Approved
by Council of
Ministers in
February 2004
and published (in
Portuguese and
English) in the
official gazette in
March 2004.
Not stated.
Mozambique S
US official
Official
approached
Not stated.
Agreement
Provisions
Sanctions/waivers
imposed by the U.S.
Ratification
necessary.
On 1 July 2003,
President Bush issued
an indefinite waiver for
as long as the BIA
remains in force.
Official response
Reaction as reported in the news
According to the Washington Times, Morocco has signed a secret BIA with
the U.S. [The Washington Times, AMNESTY FOR U.S. CITIZENS BOOSTED,
October 8, 2003] On June 3, 2004, the US designated Morocco as a Major
Non-NATO Ally.
[http://www.whitehouse.gov/news/releases/2004/06/20040603-7.html]
Parliamentary
approval would
be required.
Namibia
SP
Not stated.
No.
Not stated.
Nauru
SP
Not stated.
Yes. Signed at
Washington
February 26,
2003. Entered
into force
December 4,
2003 (State
Dept).
Reportedly
President
intermediaries
Bernard
were used (denied Dowiyogo
by US)
On July 1, 2003,
Publicly rejected BIA
declared by the State
agreement.
Dept. ineligible to
receive military
assistance. $225,000
has reportedly been
suspended from FY
2004, based on ASPA.
Estimated Loss of US
Aid Under IMET:
225,000 (FY04).
Projected Loss Under
IMET: 100,000 (FY05).
Projected Loss Under
IMET: 100,000 (FY06).
Reciprocal.
Executive
agreement,
ratification
necessary.
Namibian Justice Minister Dr Albert Kawana said, "the US could still
approach Namibia on a bilateral basis to sign an agreement to give immunity
to US citizens found guilty of war crimes." [The Namibian, 3 July 2003] The
Ministry of Defence confirmed yesterday that Chief of Defence, Lieutenant
General Solomon Hawala, has received a letter in which the US urged him to
"advise" the Namibian Government to sign an agreement "in terms of Article
98" of the ICC. A local newspaper reports that the BIA request was
accompanied by a reminder that Government could lose military assistance
from the US if it does not. The Namibian Defence Force's legal advisor,
Colonel Veikko Kavungo, said the Namibian Cabinet will have to decide
whether or not to accede to the US's request for immunity. [Africa News, July
9, 2003.] The National Society of Human Rights (NSHR) has welcomed
Namibia's ratification of the Rome Statute, and is urging lawmakers not to
agree to US requests to sign a BIA. [Africa News, July 21, 2003.] Despite US
efforts to pressure Namibia to sign a BIA (including a letter from the US governm
On March 4, 2003, the New Zealand Herald reported that the bilateral
agreement had been made. "[Washington-based lawyer Philip] Gagner's
letter also included a bizarre additional request from US officials. In addition
to banking reform, it asked that Nauru carefully consider signing a so-called
Article 98 Agreement to declare that both nations would shield each other's
citizens from the new International Criminal Court. This request -- part of a
global push by the anti-ICC US to get nations to sign such agreements -- was
unrelated to the issue of Nauru's banking and passport practices. Like the
listening post, Washington had just tacked it on to its list of demands [On
February 25, 2003] Vinci Clodumar had provided written advice to the
president that the US was discreetly linking the request for an Article 98
agreement with its other demands. His advice was that Nauru would "lose its
credibility in the international community" if it signed such a deal. Therefore, it
was worth doing only "on the basis the US also signs off in writing its
commitment to [financially] assist Nauru". But Nauru never got anything in writin
Country
Approached
RS
Date of US
Status approach
Status of
agreement
US official
Nepal
N
Yes. Signed at
Kathmandu
December 31,
2002. Entered
into force July
22, 2003 (State
Dept).
US ambassador to Nepal Foreign Reciprocal
Nepal, Michael E. secretary,
Madhu Raman
Malinowski
Acharya
Netherlands
SP
Not stated.
30 Jul 2002 No.
Official
approached
Not stated.
Not stated.
Agreement
Provisions
Sanctions/waivers
imposed by the U.S.
Exempt from ASPA
Official response
Reaction as reported in the news
"Under the agreement signed Tuesday, the nationals of the respective
countries serving under peace or other missions if found involved in genocide,
war crimes or crimes against humanity will not be surrendered to the
international tribunal as per the ICC convention article 98," a spokesman from
the Nepali Foreign Ministry reportedly said. "But the respective nationals
would be surrendered to their respective countries for actions under their
country's laws," he added. [Agence France Presse, December 31, 2002] The
US embassy was reported to have issued a statement saying, "Nepal and the
United States share the highest regard for international standards of human
rights, and remain firmly committed to presenting anyone guilty of war crimes,
crimes against humanity, or genocide. The signing of this agreement in no
way diminishes that commitment. Instead this accord reflects mutual
concerns regarding the International Criminal Court treaty, including its
possible implications for national sovereignty, the role of the United Nations
Security Council, and its lack of appropriate checks and balance." [BBC Monitor
Publicly rejected BIA The Dutch government has said it would never sign a treaty with the United
agreement.
States. Dutch Foreign Minister De Hoop Scheffer was quoted as saying the
treaty, which creates an exception for US soldiers, would " spell an end" to
the court. [Xinhua General News Service, September 3, 2002, "Netherlands
refuses US demand for immunity from ICC"] The Dutch Foreign Ministry said
it was not considering such a deal. "Our position and the position of the
European Union is clear," said Dutch Foreign Ministry spokesman Hans
Jansen. "An exception as such, as they have indicated, would undermine the
court's statute."[July 30, 2002 - Associated Press Worldstream, "Dutch
remain opposed to U.S. exemption from new international court"]
New Zealand SP
Nicaragua
N
Not stated.
Not stated.
No.
Not stated.
Not stated.
Yes. Signed at
Managua June 4,
2003. Ratified
July 9, 2003.
Entered into
force September
12, 2003 (State
Dept).
Not stated.
Not stated.
Exempt from ASPA
Niger
SP
Not stated.
No.
Not stated.
Not stated.
On July 1, 2003,
Publicly rejected BIA
declared by the State
agreement.
Dept. ineligible to
receive military
assistance. $200,000
has reportedly been
suspended from FY
2004, based on ASPA.
Estimated Loss of US
Aid Under IMET:
200,000 (FY04).
Projected Loss Under
IMET: 100,000 (FY05).
Projected Loss Under
IMET: 50,000 (FY06).
Nigeria
SP
Not stated.
Yes. Signed at
Abuja on June
30, 2003.
Entered into
force October 6,
2003 (State
Dept).
Not stated.
Not stated.
On 1 July 2003,
President Bush issued
an ASPA waiver until
January 1, 2004.
Subsequently, on
November 1, 2003, the
waiver was extended
indefinitely as Nigeria
had entered into a BIA.
A high official of the Executive branch confirmed that the Agreement was
signed [the week of June 9, 2003] by the Minister of Foreign Affairs, Norman
Caldera, but denied that it is a secret agreement as reported by Washington.
[El Nuevo Diario, June 17, 2003, "Acuerdo secreto con EU."] Nicaragua's
Sandinist National Liberation Front (SNLF) opposition publicly denounced the
agreement and said it would demand explanations from the President and
Foreign Minister. [Xinhua News Service, June 18, 2003, "Nicaragua's main
opposition slams ICC immunity deal with US."] Nicaragua's liberal Partido
Liberal Constitucionalista (PLC) has decided to support ratification of the BIA.
The Sandinist National Liberation Front lean toward not ratifying the
agreement, but also do not support the ICC in general. The parliament
approved the BIA, granting reciprocal exemption from surrender to the ICC.
Alfonso Ortega, president of the Foreign Affairs Committee of the National
Assembly, stressed that the agreement does not seek to undermine the
authority of the ICC, while the opposition Sandinist National Liberation Front rej
Reciprocal.
Under the
Consitution, a
bilateral
agreement
must be
ratified within
15 working
days after its
approval by
the National
Assembly.
According to US State Dept spokesperson Richard Boucher, "There is a fourmonth waiver for countries who signed before May 1st and haven't yet ratified,
a six-month waiver for countries who signed after May 1st and haven't yet
ratified. In many cases, ratification means working things through parliament,
which takes some time in some places." As such, Nigeria received a sixmonth waiver. Nigeria has reportedly signed a secret BIA with the U.S, prior
to the visit by President Bush to Nigeria. [The Washington Times, AMNESTY
FOR U.S. CITIZENS BOOSTED, October 8, 2003], and was subsequently
waived from ASPA on November 1, 2003. US Army Colonel Victor Nelson
said during a Washington File interview that Nigeria "has been very
supportive of American foreign policy [...]NIgeria has signed Article 98
because we requested it." [United States Department of State, March 26,
2004. http:\\allafrica.com/stories/200403280016.html] The Nigerian Senate
asked President Olusegun Obasanjo to rescind a BIA between Nigeria and
the US. The Senate decision was predicated on the report of the joint
committees on Judiciary and Foreign Affairs. The Senate also noted that it woul
Country
Approached
RS
Date of US
Status approach
Status of
agreement
US official
Official
approached
Norway
SP
No response
yet/likely no.
Not stated.
Not stated.
Oman
N
Pakistan
N
Palau
N
Not stated.
Panama
SP
Not stated.
early August
Yes. Reported
agreement with
understanding
effected by
exchange of
notes on July 26
and August 1,
2004 at Muscat.
Likely executive
agreement on
August 1, 2004.
Yes. Signed at
Washington July
21, 2003.
Entered into
force November
6, 2003 (State
Dept).
Yes. Signed at
Not stated.
Koror September
13, 2002.
Entered into
force July 7,
2003 (State
Dept).
Yes. Signed at
Not stated.
Panama June
23, 2003.
Entered into
force November
6, 2003 (State
Dept).
Agreement
Provisions
Sanctions/waivers
imposed by the U.S.
Official response
Reaction as reported in the news
Has aligned with the
EU in publicly
refusing to conclude
an agreement.
Foreign Minister Jan Peterson asserts that Norway will reject the US plea. "I
think the Americans are definitely exaggerating the problems with the court,"
said Peterson. "They have absolutely a point that the court might be abused,
but in its statues there are built in so many clauses and security mechanisms
that this problem is in many ways solved," he added. [August 9, 2002 Agence France Presse "Norway to Snub US Plea to Give Immunity from War
Crimes Court"] "We consider the court to be a milestone in international
justice, and we will be very reluctant to do anything that would undermine it in
any way," said Oeystein Boe, the spokesman for the Norwegian Foreign
Ministry. [8 August 2002 - Agence France Press, "USA Asks Norway to Sign
Non-Extradition Pact on Hague Court"]
An agreement was reportedly signed by Pakistan ambassador to US and US
assistant secretary of state Christina Rocca on July 21, 2003. The agreement
binds the two countries against the unilateral transfer or surrender of persons
(current or former government officials, employees including contractors or
military personnel or nationals) of other country to any international tribunal or
third country. The agreement, however, reaffirms the importance of bringing to
justice those who commit genocide, crimes against humanity and war
crimes.”
The Joint Opposition demanded of the government to make public the
extradition treaty it has signed with the government of United States. “The
government must explain as to why it is keeping the said agreement as a
guarded secret", the leaders of the Joint Opposition in the Senate said while
addressing a joint news conference at Parliament House. Those who spoke
on the occasion included President MMA Shah Ahmed Noorani, MMA
leaders Prof. Khurshid, Prof. Ghafoor Ahmed, Parliamentary leaders of PPPP and PML (N) Raza Rabbani, Ishaq Dar, Sana Ullah Bloch of BNP, Raza Muha
Reciprocal
agreement
Not stated.
Not stated.
On July 1, 2003,
President Bush issued
an ASPA waiver until 1
January, 2004.
Subsequently, on 30
December 2003, the
waiver was extended
indefinitely.
The press reports that Panama is set to receive a donation of more than $7
million from the US to reinforce its security forces, a product of enhanced
relations between the governments as a result of signing a BIA. [XINHUA
GENERAL NEWS SERVICE, July 12, 2003.]According to this article
published
a bilateral immunity agreement between the US and the Government of
Panama regarding the
ICC was approvedon October 8, 2003. [LA PRENSA, October 9, 2003].
Country
Approached
RS
Date of US
Status approach
Status of
agreement
US official
Official
approached
Papua New
Guinea
N
Yes. Signed at
Washington
September 30,
2004. Entered
into force
September 30,
2004 (State
Dept)
Secretary of State
Colin Powell
Foreign Affairs Reciprocal
Minister Sir
Rabbie
Namaliu
Paraguay
SP
Not stated.
No.
Not stated.
Not stated.
Peru
SP
Not stated.
No.
US Assistant
Secretary of State
for Latin America
Roger Noriega
[August 2004]
Not stated.
Agreement
Provisions
Sanctions/waivers
imposed by the U.S.
Official response
Reaction as reported in the news
The PNG Post-Courier reported on the signing of a reciprocal "controversial
Article 98 Agreement" between Papua New Guinea and the United States.
The article notes: "Sir Rabbie said PNG was not a party to the Rome Statute
which had jurisdiction over specific crimes such as genocide, war crimes and
other crimes against humanity and aggression, but may still be required or
requested to surrender accused persons of PNG or American nationality to
the ICC. He said: So this bilateral agreement will operate to give adequate
and effective legal protection to nationals of both countries. But accused US
or PNG nationals will still be tried under the laws of their own country. The
signing of the controversial article with the US happened at a first meeting
since Independence in 1975 for a PNG Foreign Affairs Minister to have an
audience with a US Secretary of State." [PNG Post-Courier, October 4, 2004]
Foreign Affairs Minister for Papua New Guinea, Sir Rabbie Namaliu, has
recommended that Parliament ratify the BIA signed in September 2004.
PNG's BIA would shield PNG citizens from the ICC (i.e., the BIA was reciprocal
On July 1, 2003,
Publicly rejected BIA -Defense Minister Carlos Romero Pereira's commented that granting US
nationals immunity from the ICC would be "very difficult." He also states "that
agreement.
declared by the State
Congress will not approve the agreement, should the Paraguayan
Dept. ineligible to
Government decide to support the United States [...] Since Congress does not
receive military
assistance. $300,000
approve the agreement, it will not come into effect; therefore, the financial
has reportedly been
military aid that the United States is giving to our country will not
suspended from FY
continue."[World News Connection, October 11, 2003] Paraguay has said
2004, based on ASPA.
that the US petition of immunity for its citizens before the International
Up to an additional $3
Criminal Court (ICC) has already been attended in two bilateral agreements
million has been
and ruled out a new agreement on the issue. through Paraguay's Foreign
threatened by the
Ministry said he that it will not accept a "immunity agreement" requested by
Nethercutt
the United States, which in reprisal suspended on Oct. 1 the military
Amendment. Estimated
assistance for Paraguay. Paraguay's Foreign Ministry has argued that
Loss of US Aid Under
Paraguay and the US have signed an agreement, granting immunity to US
IMET: 300,000 (FY04).
personnel during joint military drills in Paraguay. The second agreement is
Projected Loss Under
the extradition treaty, in effect since 1988 to legalize their rights and obligations
IMET: 250,000 (FY05),
Under ESF: 2,796,000
(FY05). Projected Loss
Under IMET: 50,000
(FY06), Under ESF:
2,550,000 (FY06).
Publicly rejected BIA
On July 1, 2003,
declared by the State
agreement.
Dept. ineligible to
receive military
assistance. $2.7 million
has reportedly been
suspended from FY
2004, based on ASPA.
Up to an additional $8
million could be
threatened by the
Nethercutt
Amendment. Estimated
Loss of US Aid Under
IMET: 700,000 (FY04),
Under FMF: 1,730,000
(FY04). Projected Loss
Under IMET: 300,000
(FY05), Under FMF:
992,000 (FY05), Under
ESF: 7,936,000 (FY05).
Projected Loss Under
IMET: 50,000 (FY06),
Under FMF: 300,000
(FY06), Under ESF:
8,000,000 (FY06).
In response to a letter from a Peruvian MP, dated October 17, 2002, the
Minister of Foreign Affairs said the Peruvian State has assumed a formal
commitment with the signature and the ratification of the Rome Statute of the
International Criminal Court. For that reason, this Office will not take any
action of other commitment that undermines or diminishes the scope of the
Rome Statute. Foreign Minister Allan Wagner has recently made public
remarks that, as State Party to the Rome Statute, Peru will not take any
action or accept any commitment that would adversely affect or reduce the
treaty's scope, especially if the US military aid suspension will not affect the
fight against drug trafficking. Peruvian lawmaker Javier Diez Canseco echoed
these comments, affirming that "signing the agreement would represent
sacrificing Peru's principles and sovereignty." [BBC, July 14, 2003.] In August
2004, the US Assistant Secretary of State for Latin America visited Lima and
re-requested that Peru sign a BIA, but the Peruvian government kept its
original stance. In an informal translation of a government press release, Peru
Country
Approached
RS
Date of US
Status approach
Philippines
S
Poland
SP
Not stated.
Under
consideration.
Portugal
SP
Not stated.
The Portuguese Not stated.
Foreign Affairs
Ministry has
frozen the US
proposal. Initially,
the deal was
turned down by
the Consultative
Committee of the
General
Attorney's Office,
which had been
asked for a
verdict by the
Foreign Affairs
Ministry. The
Committee's
verdict is not
binding and was
submitted to the
Ministry's legal
advice services
for a decision on
whether it should
be promulgated
or rejected. [BBC
Monitoring
International
Reports, April 21,
2003]
Republic of
Korea
SP
Status of
agreement
US official
1 Aug 2002 Yes. Signed on Ambassador
Francis
May 14,
2003.(State Dept Ricciardone
information
states: Effected
by exchange of
notes at Manila
May 9 and 13,
2003. Entered
into force May
13, 2003.)
Not stated.
Official
approached
Agreement
Provisions
Sanctions/waivers
imposed by the U.S.
Official response
Exempt from ASPA as none given
Department of Reciprocal
a major non-NATO ally
Foreign Affairs agreement.
Major
distinctions
between the
Philippines
text (May
2003) and the
East Timor text
(August 2002)
are the
following:
1. The second
paragraph of
the preamble
(recognizing
the Rome
Statute of the
ICC...) has
been omitted.
2. The phrase
"Bearing in
mind Article 98
of the Rome
Statute" has
been omitted.
3. The
exemption has
been
requested for
any non- SC
sponsored
Not stated.
Has aligned with the
EU in publicly
refusing to conclude
an agreement.
Not stated.
Exempt from ASPA
EXEMPT from ASPA
as a major non-NATO
ally
Reaction as reported in the news
The Philippines is considering a deal with Washington in exchange for more
US military aid, according to foreign department sources. [August 21, 2002 Agence France Presse, "Pressed for military aid, Philippines thinking of ICC
immunity deal with US"] The Philippine Foreign Secretary Blas Ople
concluded an executive agreement in an exchange of notes with US
Secretary of State Colin Powell on May 13, on the non-surrender of US and
Philippine nations to a third party. According to a press release issued by
Representative Satur Ocampo, there is speculation that "the agreement was
signed it time for [President] Arroyo's US state visit to finally secure an initial
$30 million in military aid being dangled by the Bush government since last
year." [Agence France Presse, June 2, 2003 Monday] Communist rebels and
other activists on Tuesday condemned a Philippine accord with Washington
exempting Americans from prosecution by a new international criminal court,
saying it removed a safeguard against possible U.S. military abuses there.
[Associated Press Worldstream, June 3, 2003 Tuesday, Communist rebels, mili
"Many countries eager to please the United States are closely watching the
positions of the EU dissenters. Polish officials, for one, have been in close
contact with their British counterparts over the issue." [October 2, 2002, "EU
forges deal on world court; Some U.S. immunity in view", International Herald
Tribune].
Publicly rejected BIA MFA Antonio Martins da Cruz said that the Portuguese government requested
a legal opinion from their Prosecutor's Office on a bilateral immunity
agreement.
agreement with the United States [October 17, 2002, "PORTUGAL-EEUU
Gobierno consulta con Fiscalia sobre acuerdo inmunidad EEUU TPI"].
Country
Approached
RS
Date of US
Status approach
Status of
agreement
US official
Official
approached
Rio Group
N/A
N/A
N/A
N/A
N/A
Romania
SP
Approached
July 27, 2002.
Signed on
August 1,
2002.
Yes. Signed on John McCain, Fred Prime Minister
Adrian
August 1, 2002. Thompson
Nastase
However, Foreign
Minister Mincea
Geona said
Romania will not
ratify accord
unless a
common stand is
accepted by the
US and the EU.
[BBC Monitoring
Europe,
September 20,
2002, "EU
Commissioner
Reasures
Romania Country
Will "not be left
outside"]
Russia
S
Rwanda
N
Not stated.
Samoa
SP
Not stated.
Sao Tome
and Principe
N
Unknown/under
consideration.
Yes. Signed at
Washington
March 4, 2003.
Entered into
force July 11,
2003 (State
Dept).
No.
Yes. Exchange
of notes on
November 6 and
November 12,
2003, in Libreville
and Sao Tome.
Likely executive
agreement on
November 12,
2003.
Secretary of State
Colin Powell
Foreign
Minister
Charles
Murigande
Not stated.
Not stated.
Agreement
Provisions
Sanctions/waivers
imposed by the U.S.
Official response
Reaction as reported in the news
"We, the member states of the Rio Group, believe that the integrity and
effectiveness of the Rome Statute is not negotiable. We are convinced that its
full application and interpretation, in keeping with the principles of public
international law and the law of treaties, are absolutely necessary to ensure
the noble objectives which motivated the creation of the Court. We therefore,
urgently plead to all States to respect both the letter and the spirit of the
Rome Statute, and actively guarantee its effectiveness and legitimacy. The
Rio Group will make the strongest efforts to this effect."
Costa Rica, on behalf of the Rio Group -- H.E. Mr. Bruno Stagno,
Ambassador and Permanent Representative of Costa Rica to the United
Nations, at the first meeting of the Assembly of States Parties (9-10
September 2002)
Apparently not
reciprocal.
Parliament will
not ratify until
EU forms a
position. The
agreement
may be
amended to
conform with
the EU's
Guiding
Principles prior
to
parliamentary
ratification.
On July 1, 2003,
President Bush issued
a waiver until
November 1, 2003,
which was extended for
another 6 months until
May 1, 2004 on the
basis of "national
interest".
Reciprocal
On July 1, 2003,
declared by the State
Dept. ineligible to
receive military
assistance. $150,000
has reportedly been
suspended from FY
2004, based on ASPA.
Estimated Loss of US
Aid Under IMET:
150,000 (FY04).
Projected Loss Under
IMET: 50,000 (FY05).
Projected Loss Under
IMET: 50,000 (FY06).
Has aligned with the
EU in publicly
refusing to conclude
an agreement.
It was reported that Romanian Senate Speaker Nicolae Vacaroiu said that the
accord between Romania and the US will not be ratified by parliament before
the United States and the European Union reach an agreement on this
matter. [BBC Monitoring Europe - Political, September 25, 2002, "ICC accord
between Romania and US will not be ratified."] President lliescu met in
Johannesburg with Danish Premier Anders Fogh Rasmussen, who currently
chairs the rotating EU Presidency, and told him that the parliament will not
ratify the treaty Romania recently signed with the United States on the
proposed International Criminal Court (ICC) until the EU officially formulates
its own position on the treaty. ["RFE/RL Newsline" (Romanian Radio), 5
September 2002, "ROMANIAN PRESIDENT SAYS ICC TREATY WILL
AWAIT PARLIAMENTARY RATIFICATION"] McCain was quoted as saying
Romania will be a significant and influential member of NATO, which could
offer support in Afghanistan. [August 19 2002 - BBC Monitoring EuropePolitical, "Romania News Agency Review of Romanian Press for 19 Aug
2002"] President Ion Iliescu is reported as saying Romania will adapt the agreem
Romanian Parliament will be discussing the issue of ratifying the bilateral immu
In response to a question asking why the president signed the agreement,
President Kagame replied: "Well, we thought first of all, we have to deal with
some of these cases that require such a treatment where if the United States,
for example, had a case that it's interested in, of their citizen to be tried in the
United States, we respect that. And I'm sure if we had our own citizen who
has committed an offense of a criminal nature, that we would have interest in,
it would be interesting to us for the United States, where that is possible, for
the United States to hand over such a person." [Federal News Service: March
4, 2003].
Publicly rejected BIA The Foreign Minister reportedly announced that Samoa would not sign a BIA.
agreement.
Country
Approached
RS
Date of US
Status approach
Status of
agreement
Senegal
SP
Yes. Reportedly Not stated.
signed June 21,
2003.(US State
Dept information
states: Signed at
Dakar June 19,
2003. Entered
into force June
27, 2003).
Serbia and
Montenegro
SP
Seychelles
S
Sierra Leone SP
Singapore
N
Not stated.
8 Aug 2002 No.
US official
US Embassy in
Belgrade
Not stated.
Not stated.
Yes. Signed at
Victoria June 4,
2003. Entered
into force July
17, 2003 (State
Dept).
(Reportedly
signed in secret)
Not stated.
Yes. Signed on
March 31, 2003
in Freetown.
Ratified by
Parliament on
May 6, 2003.
Entered into
force May 20,
2003 (State
Dept).
Yes. Effected by
exchange of
notes at
Singapore
October 17,
2003. Entered
into force
October 17, 2003
(State Dept).
US Assistant
Secretary of State
for African Affairs
Walter Kansteiner
Official
approached
Agreement
Provisions
Sanctions/waivers
imposed by the U.S.
Official response
Reaction as reported in the news
Not stated.
On July 1, 2003,
President Bush issued
an ASPA waiver for as
long as the BIA
remains in force.
The government reportedly signed a BIA shortly before President Bush's visit
in the beginning of July 2003. Hours before President Bush's arrival, a group
of some 40 intellectuals and political activists mounted a street protest
denouncing the US leader for his government's policies on the newly-created
International Criminal Court. The protest was organized on behalf of the
Senegalese Intellectuals' Action Committee (SIIC). [AFP, 8 July 2003.]
Reciprocal
Foreign
agreement.
Ministry
(Presumably
Foreign
Minister Goran
Svilanovic)
Publicly rejected BIA
On July 1, 2003,
agreement.
declared by the State
Dept. ineligible to
receive military
assistance. $500,000
has reportedly been
suspended from FY
2004, based on ASPA.
Estimated Loss of US
Aid Under IMET:
250,000 (FY04).
Projected Loss Under
IMET: 50,000 (FY05).
Projected Loss Under
IMET: 50,000 (FY06).
It was reported that Serbian presidential candidate Miroljub Labus said that
adopting double standards is not tenable, adding that all relevant bodies
would be consulted before the decision was made. He emphasized that the
issue was particularly sensitive for Yugoslavia, because on the one hand the
USA is pushing Yugoslavia to cooperate with an international court, and on
the other hand they are refusing to cooperate with one. [BBC, August 28,
2002, "Roundup of former Yugoslav states' reactions to US non-extradition
deal on ICC".] Yugoslav Deputy Justice Minister Nebojsa Sarkic believes the
US offer is bad from the standpoint of legal order, while Yugoslav Prime
Minister Dragisa Pesic advises against a hurried decision, because a
negative response could worsen Yugoslavia's relations with the USA. Foreign
Minister Goran Svilanovic says government must wait and not be the ones to
"cut this knot." He has also said that his moderate government has always
tried to keep "balanced relations with key (foreign) partners" that include the
United States and the European Union. He added, "This issue puts the governm
Bojovic goes on to say that, given the difficult position, Belgrade will likely delay
On 1 July 2003,
President Bush issued
a presidential ASPA
waiver for as long as
the BIA remains in
force.
H.E. Mr. Allieu I. Kanu, Ambassador and Deputy Permanent Representative
of Sierra Leone, addressing the 6th Committee of the UNGA had stated:
"Sierra Leone will seek together with our regional partners an advisory legal
opinion from the ICJ on the so called Article 98 Agreements." The Sierra
Leone+I112 website reported that "Sierra Leone's parliament voted by an
overwhelming margin Tuesday to ratify an "Article 98" agreement with the
United States, under which the two countries agree not to turn over each
other's nationals accused of war crimes to the newly-formed International
Criminal Court (ICC) in the Hague. Reportedly, only one parliamentarian,
Ibrahim Sorie (APC-Kambia District) voted against ratification. The agreement
was approved despite heavy lobbying from local and international human
rights groups."
Not stated.
Justice
Minister Eke
Ahmed
Halloway
Ratified.
Reciprocal.
As indicated
by NPWJ, the
agreement
was earlier
presented for
ratification only
days after its
signature as
part of a
"package"
which included
a 25 million
USD
investment in
Rutile mining
operations in
cash-strapped
Sierra Leone.
none given
Country
Approached
RS
Date of US
Status approach
Status of
agreement
Slovakia
SP
Not stated.
Not stated.
Under
consideration.
Slovak Foreign
Minister Eduard
Kukan to answer
the US request.
Slovenia
SP
July 14, 2002,
new
proposals in
Feb 2003.
No. Prime
Minister Anton
Rop: "We will not
sign the deal on
non-extradition of
US citizens to the
ICC." [AFP, June
13, 2003]
Solomon
Islands
S
South Africa
SP
Not stated.
US official
Congressional
Delegation. Rep.
Henry Hyde;
additional
approach in Feb
2003 by US
Embassy in
Slovenia.
Yes. Signed on
20 September
2003. (State Dept
information
states: Signed at
Washington
September 19,
2003. Entered
into force March
17, 2004).
No.
Not stated.
Official
approached
Sanctions/waivers
imposed by the U.S.
Official response
Reaction as reported in the news
Foreign
Minister
Eduard Kukan
On July 1, 2003,
declared by the State
Dept. ineligible to
receive military
assistance. On 21
November 2003,
Slovakia received a
national interest waiver
with respect to
programs supporting
NATO or US operations
in Afghanistan and Iraq.
Has aligned with the
EU in publicly
refusing to conclude
an agreement.
The EU's compromise on the ICC was welcomed by Slovak Foreign Minister
Eduard Kukan. "We are interested in keeping good relations with both the
United States and the EU," he said. "We are watching this positive
development with delight," he added. According to Kukan, Slovakia will
consider making a bilateral agreement with the USA. [October 1, 2002, "EU
compromise on ICC will enable Czech-US agreement - Svoboda", CTK
National News Wire]. Slovak Minister Eduard Kukan remarked that Slovakia's
position on the ICC will fall in line with the EU. "Our position is based on that
of the EU, and in talks with the USA we will express the view that as an
acceding country we respect the union's standpoint," he told the TASR news
agency. [BBC Monitoring International Reports, July 23, 2003.] The White
House said Slobakia would not lose US military aid for refusing to sign a deal
exempting US nationals from prosecution at the international court. [Agence
France Presse November 22, 2003]
Prime Minister
Janez
Drnovsek,
Foreign
Minister
Dimitrij Rupel,
President
Milan Kucan
On July 1, 2003,
declared by the State
Dept. ineligible to
receive military
assistance. A local
news report indicates
that the US aid loss in
2004 involves $400,000
for international military
training program and
$4 million dollars for
the military funds
program. On 21
November 2003,
Slovenia received a
national interest waiver
with respect to
programs supporting
NATO or US operations
in Afghanistan and Iraq.
Has aligned with the In an interview, Presidential candidate Janez Drnovsek, with regard to his
EU in publicly
position on a so-called Article 98 agreement between Slovenia and the US,
refusing to conclude said the following: "We are doing what the other European countries are
an agreement.
doing . On the one hand, we obviously signed the agreement on the ICC, and
Not stated.
Agreement
Provisions
Publicly rejected BIA
On July 1, 2003,
agreement.
declared by the State
Dept. ineligible to
receive military
assistance. $7.6 million
has reportedly been
suspended from FY
2004, based on ASPA.
Up to an additional $1
million could be
threatened by the
Nethercutt
Amendment. Estimated
Loss of US Aid Under
IMET: 1,600,000
(FY04), Under FMF:
6,000,000 (FY04).
Projected Loss Under
IMET: 50,000 (FY05),
Under ESF: 992,000
(FY05). Projected Loss
Under IMET: 50,000
(FY06), Under ESF:
1,300,000 (FY06).
on the other hand, the USA has offered a bilateral agreement which we are
considering together with the EU. Similarly to the EU, we have already said
that it should be amended. We are seeking some possibility that this
agreement - if we signed it - would not go against the ICC, so that we would
not be contravening it. This possibility is being sought. The EU has already
found some legal possibilities and now consultations between the USA and
Europe are under way on whether these possibilities could be acceptable to
both sides. And we agree with this. I believe that it would be unnecessary for
Slovenia to take any kind of stance when the entire international community
is now seeking an optimal solution to this issue..." [October 25, 2002,
"Premier and presidential candidate answers questions on Slovene radio", BBC
A local news commentary reports that the loss of military aid to South Africa
is approximately $5 million. [6 July 2003.] US President Bush had intended to
go to a South African military base during his African tour, but that was
dropped in favor of a visit to a Ford motor plant. The Star, a South African
newspaper, quoted South African government sources as saying the
Americans were "too embarrassed" to proceed with the visit to the base,
because in recent days the administration cut military aid to South Africa and
other countries that did not agree to exempt U.S. citizens from prosecution
before the ICC. An administration official said Bush "simply decided he
wanted to go to the Ford plant." Senegal and Botswana agreed to the
exemptions, provoking some grumbling here that Bush bought their support
with military aid and a presidential visit. [The Washington Post, July 10,
2003.] At a meeting for the formation of a South Africa-Kenya bi-National
Commission (BNC), both governments rejected what they called US
"intimidation and diplomatic arm-twisting," on the ICC issue. [Panafrican News A
Country
Approached
RS
Date of US
Status approach
Spain
SP
Sri Lanka
N
St. Lucia
S
Suriname
N
Not stated.
St. Vincent
and the
Grenadines
SP
Not stated.
St. Kitts and
Nevis
SP
Status of
agreement
14 Aug 2002 No.
Not stated.
US official
Official
approached
Secretary of State
Colin Powell
Foreign
Secretary Ana
Palacio
U.S. Ambassador
Yes. Signed at
Ashley Wills
Colombo
November 22,
2002. Entered
into force July 4,
2003 (State
Dept).
No.
No.
Effected by
exchange of
notes in
Washington
January 31,
2005. Evidently
entered into force
January 31, 2005
(State Dept) but
officials deny
having signed.
Sri Lankan
foreign
minister
Tyronne
Fernando
Agreement
Provisions
Reciprocal
Sanctions/waivers
imposed by the U.S.
Official response
Reaction as reported in the news
Exempt from ASPA
Publicly rejected BIA "Spain's position is the same as that of major European governments, which
agreement.
is that we support the ICC operating by the rules under which it was
designed," said a Spanish foreign ministry spokesman [Agence France
Presse, August 27, 2002 "No let-outs from rules of international court, says
Spain"] Spanish Minister of Foreign Affairs, Ana Palacion, denied today that
the EU had granted the US with any kind of immunity before the International
Criminal Court (ICC) and reaffirmed that the common position adopted by the
fifteen member states is a "good example of what can be achieved in the
means of foreign policy". [October 9, 2002, Spanish Newswire Services, "TPIEEUU Palacio: acuerdo UE sobre TPI es "buen ejemplo" para futura PESC"]
Reportedly, Spain has received the formal request from the United States to
sign a bilateral agreement on immunity before the ICC. American
Ambassador Marisa Nilo stated that Spain has not given an answer yet
[October 19, 2002, Spanish Newswire Services, "Una enviada de
Washington realiza una gira por varias capitales europeas"]. Spanish
Foreign Minister Ana Palacio defended the EU position on bilateral agreements
"The agreement obliges not to surrender or extradite nationals of either party
in the territory of the other to the International Criminal Court unless the
express consent is obtained," the statement said. [AP Worldstream;
November 22, 2002; "Sri Lanka and United States agree not to surrender
each other's citizens for International Criminal Court trial"]
Publicly rejected BIA Prime Minister Dr Kenny Anthony says St Lucia has every intention of ratifying
agreement.
the Rome Statute, despite withdrawal of US military aid for not signing a BIA.
"We would not flinch in the face of a decision by the US to withhold
assistance," he told a press conference on Wednesday (9 July). While
acknowledging US support to the St Lucia Marine Unit of the Police Force in
the form of fuel, boats and other necessities, Anthony said: "We have a
commitment we have to honour, the eyes of the world will be on us. If we
decide to back out we would be displaying the kind of cowardice which is not
in the character of the administration that I lead." He noted that St Lucia, like
the rest of Caricom has agreed to sign and ratify the ICC treaty, particularly in
light of Trinidad and Tobago's involvement in the establishment of the Court.
[BBC Monitoring International Reports, July 10, 2003.]
Not stated
Not stated.
Not stated.
Not stated.
December 2005 - Under current pressure to sign a BIA. Press Reports prior to
December 2005 inaccurately stated Suriname had signed a BIA. In reality,
they have only signed a provision on a pre-existing SOFA - so, not a BIA.
Suriname will sign on to ICC despite potential loss of aid, but is considering
signing a BIA with US. [AFP, February 13, 2004. Article 98]. President
Venetiaan signed the BIA but Congress still has to ratify the agreement
before it becomes effective. There are indications that there will be some
resistance from legislators to ratify. [World Markets Analysis, February 3,
2005]
Publicly rejected BIA
On July 1, 2003,
agreement.
declared by the State
Dept. ineligible to
receive military
assistance. $300,000
has reportedly been
suspended from FY
2004, based on ASPA.
Country
Approached
RS
Date of US
Status approach
Status of
agreement
Swaziland
N
Not stated.
Sweden
SP
Switzerland
US official
Official
approached
Agreement
Provisions
Sanctions/waivers
imposed by the U.S.
Official response
Yes. Announced Not stated.
8 July 2006 by
Principal
Secretary (PS) in
the Ministry of
Foreign Affairs
and Trade,
Clifford Mamba
Not stated.
Not stated.
Do not receive US aid
qualified under ASPA.
Not stated.
No.
Not stated.
Not stated.
Do not receive US aid
qualified under ASPA.
"Government has signed a controversial agreement with the United States of
America. The agreement that political commentators feel is dangerous for the
country accords total immunity to American soldiers. In a nutshell it states
that if an America soldier commits a crime whilst here, Swaziland will shut up
and let the Americans deal with that particular soldier. The agreement means
Americans, no matter where they commit crimes, are not accountable to
anyone but their own government. ... Not even the International Criminal Court
(ICC) dares to touch them following the withdrawal by their government from
it. The agreement exempts soldiers who have committed war crimes. It can’t
be said exactly what the country has benefited, besides nursing hopes that
the relationship between Swaziland and the USA becomes even firmer than
before. Principal Secretary (PS) in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade,
Clifford Mamba, confirmed the signing of the agreement with the USA. The
USA Government has been in negotiations with the Swazi Government for
lengthy periods until recently, when the Swazi Government agreed to sign. The
Publicly rejected BIA Sweden's deputy prime minister Lena Hjelm-Wallen said "My government is
agreement.
highly critical of all efforts to undermine this treaty through agreements not in
conformity with its object and purpose" [Associated Press Worldstream,
September 10, 2002 "Annan hails new tribunal as 'missing link'"].
SP
August
No. Formal
rejection 14
August 2003.
Not stated.
Not stated.
Do not receive US aid
qualified under ASPA.
Has aligned with the
EU in publicly
refusing to conclude
an agreement.
Tajikistan
SP
Not stated.
Not stated.
On 1 July 2003,
President Bush issued
an ASPA waiver for as
long as the BIA
remains in force.
none given
Tanzania
SP
Not stated.
Not stated.
Yes. Signed
August 27, 2002.
Ratified on
October 9, 2003.
(State Dept
information
states: Signed at
Dushanbe
August 26, 2002.
Entered into
force June 23,
2003.)
No.
Not stated.
Not stated.
Reciprocal.
Immunity only
guaranteed for
one year.
Tajikistan has
ratified the BIA
they signed
with the U.S.
last year.
Publicly rejected BIA
On July 1, 2003,
agreement.
declared by the State
Dept. ineligible to
receive military
assistance. $230,000
has reportedly been
suspended from FY
2004, based on ASPA.
Estimated Loss of US
Aid Under IMET:
230,000 (FY04).
Projected Loss Under
IMET: 50,000 (FY06).
Reaction as reported in the news
"I do not believe Switzerland should sign this kind of agreement,'' Foreign
Minister Joseph Deiss said. ``We hope the United States will not impede the
work of the court,'' he added. [August 13, 2002 - The New York Times Online,
"Swiss Nix U.S. Deal on Immunity"] On October 1, Daniela Stoffel of the
Swiss Foreign Ministry said: "We certainly don't wish to see a weakening of
the court. We will see how the court will proceed. It's not that it is weakened
by this decision of the EU, but it will have to prove that it can do the work it
was created to do. We don't regret not granting these exemptions. In fact
they would be superfluous anyway, because Switzerland does not have
American troops on its soil. We see the EU's decision not as a compromise
but as a solution to give member states some fairly narrow room for
maneuver should they want to make special agreements with the US. We
can't of course interfere in any decision the EU has taken, but we wish for a
strong ICC, as strong as possible. We don't see all 15 members of the EU
making these arrangements with the US. We'll just have to wait and see which c
This reciprocal agreement provides immunity from prosecution by the ICC for
5 years. (Source: Russian Vlast Journal, 7/16/2002) Tajikistan received a
presidential waiver on July 1, 2002. (Source: White House memo, 7/1/03)
The Tajik parliament's lower house ratified the agreement on October 9,
2003. (Source: Agence France Presse, 10/9/03)
UN Ambassador Mahiga expresses Tanzania's concern that the Security
Council resolution referring Darfur to the ICC might be considered "as seeking
to circumvent the jurisdiction of the Court" [31 March 2005, Security Council
Meeting on Sudan]
Country
Approached
RS
Date of US
Status approach
Status of
agreement
Thailand
S
Not stated.
Yes. Effected by Not stated.
exchange of
notes at Bangkok
June 3, 2003.
Entered into
force June 3,
2003 (State
Dept).
Not stated.
Togo
N
Not stated.
Yes.Signed at
Not stated.
Lome June 13,
2003. Entered
into force
January 15, 2004
(State Dept).
Not stated.
Tonga
N
Not stated.
Not stated.
Not stated.
Trinidad and
Tobago
SP
Not stated.
Yes. Signed at
Washington
March 21, 2003.
Entered into
force March 24,
2004 (State
Dept).
No.
Not stated.
Prime Minister
Patrick
Manning
Tunisia
N
Not stated.
Turkmenistan N
US official
Yes. Effected by Not stated.
exchange of
notes at Tunis
June 5, 2003.
Entered into
force December
22, 2003 (State
Dept).
Yes. Signed at
Ashgabat on
December 25,
2003. Likely
executive
January 30,
2004.
Official
approached
Not stated.
Agreement
Provisions
Sanctions/waivers
imposed by the U.S.
Official response
Reaction as reported in the news
The Bangkok Post reports that the Thai government is preparing to enter a
BIA with the US, "in return for Washington's recognition of Thailand as a
major non-Nato allies. The Foreign Affairs Ministry has reportedly instructed
its Treaties and Legal Affairs Department to clear the way for signing the
agreement during Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra's visit to the United
States from June 9-11. [Bangkok Post, June 4, 2003, PM Tipped to Ink Deal
to Bypass ICC] The Senate Committee for Foreign Affairs is scheduled to
issue a statement today expressing concern at Prime Minister Thaksin
Shinawatra's plan to sign an agreement during his working visit to the US
next week. The Senate argues that such an agreement would offend Thai
sovereignty and democratic principles. Defence Minister Gen Chavalit
Yongchaiyudh said both the US and Thailand would benefit from signing the
agreement. He said approval was given to the prime minister to ratify the
agreement by the Cabinet at its weekly meeting on Tuesday. Foreign Ministry
spokesman Sihasak Puangketkaew dismissed a news report that Thailand wou
Agence France Presse reported on June 17, 2003, that the State Department
had announced that Togo had become the 39th country to sign a bilateral
immunity agreement.
Ratification
necessary.
Agence France Presse reported a bilateral agreement had been signed on
April 2, 2003.
On July 1, 2003,
Publicly rejected BIA
declared by the State
agreement.
Dept. ineligible to
receive military
assistance. $450,000
has reportedly been
suspended from FY
2004, based on ASPA.
Estimated Loss of US
Aid Under IMET:
150,000 (FY04), Under
FMF: 300,000 (FY04).
Projected Loss Under
IMET: 50,000 (FY06).
"It is astonishing that the United States of America with such a history of
promoting human rights, international peace and international order should
now be in a determined campaign against an International Criminal Court,
which has been adopted by most of the nations of the world, which adhere to
principles of democracy and human rights", said His Excellency Arthur N.R.
Robinson President of the Republic of Trinidad and Tobago on August 27,
2002 in an official statement by President Robinson on US efforts to secure
so-called "Art. 98" agreements. Prime Minister of Trinidad and Tobago
Patrick Manning expressed: "the Trinidad and Tobago Government did not
have the flexibility to give way to the United States in matters involving the
International Criminal Court. Asked if he was saying that Trinidad and
Tobago could not give US citizens the requested exemptions, Manning said,
"We don't see how we can. [The Express of Port of Spain, May 23, 2003] US
Ambassador Roy Austin defended the US decision to suspend military aid to
six Caribbean countries for their refusal to sign a BIA. He also defended its dec
Country
Approached
RS
Date of US
Status approach
Status of
agreement
Tuvalu
N
Not stated.
Uganda
SP
Ukraine
S
United Arab
Emirates
N
United
Kingdom
SP
Official
approached
Agreement
Provisions
Yes. Signed
Not stated.
January 30,
2003. (State Dept
information
states: Effected
by exchange of
notes at Suva
and Funafuti
September 19,
2002 and
January 9, 2003.
Entered into
force February 3,
2003.)
Not stated.
Not clear if
reciprocal.
Not stated.
Yes. Signed at
Not stated.
Washington
June 12, 2003.
Entered into
force October 23,
2003 (State
Dept).
Not stated.
Reciprocal.
The
agreement will
remain in force
for one year
after either
party notifies
the other of its
intent to
terminate the
pact.
Ratification
necessary.
Not stated.
Under
consideration.
Not stated.
Not stated.
US official
Not stated.
Yes. Effected by
exchange of
notes at Abu
Dhabi January 27
and February 15,
2004. Entered
into force
February 15,
2004 (State
Dept).
Not stated.
Under
consideration.
Signed
extradition treaty,
including "Side
letter" affirming
the UK
commitment not
to extradite US
citizens to the
ICC was signed
on March 31,
2003 but must be
passed through
the US Senate.
[Statewatch
News]
Not stated.
Sanctions/waivers
imposed by the U.S.
Official response
Reaction as reported in the news
“An administration official said deals had been signed with 20 nations, which
he declined to identify beyond saying that Tuvalu, the world's fourth-smallest
country, had been the latest to sign.” [New York Times, February 6, 2003] A
Tuvalu government representative says there was no pressure from the
United States to sign a reciprocal bilateral deal, since Tuvalu also had
concerns about the Court. [BBC Monitoring International Reports, June 3,
2003, Tuvalu Says No Pressure From US to Sign International Court Deal]
On 1 July 2003,
President Bush issued
an ASPA waiver until
January 1, 2004.
Subsequently, on
November 1, 2003, the
waiver was extended
indefinitely as Uganda
had entered into a BIA.
Exempt from ASPA
It was reportedly signed the agreement was signed "just hours after the UN
Security Council renewed a one-year exemption for US peacekeeping troops
from ICC prosecution." Sigurd Illing, the head of delegation of the EU in
Kampala, said on June 27, 2003, that Uganda would suffer no sanctions from
the EU on account of its agreement with the US. However, he said any action
weakening the court was "regrettable". [Africa News, 28 June 2003, "EU
Won't Punish Country Over Agreement With US."]
none given
Ukraine is considering the US proposal. However, The deputy state secretary
at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Volodymyr Yelchenko ruled out the
possibility of a trade-off with the USA where it could sign such an agreement
in exchange for getting fast-track entry into NATO. [August 20, 2002 - BBC
Monitoring Kiev Unit, "US action against Iraq only permissible with UN
backing - Ukrainian official"]
none given
Britain, backed by Spain and Italy, is proposing the US should not use article
98(2) of the ICC's Rome treaty to "preclude the surrender of all US citizens" to
the court. It said that the article only covered personnel "sent" by the US
government, such as military personnel and officials. It also suggested that if
the US signed a bilateral accord with any other ICC signatory, it should not be
reciprocal. "As a party [to the ICC], we [Britain] would not want this reciprocal
exemption." [Financial Times, September 3, 2002, "Britain reveals plans for
compromise on ICC"] British Minister for European Affairs Peter Hain hailed
the EU compromise, saying at a press conference: "This has been a longrunning stand-off between the US and the ICC which has now been
successfully resolved with bilateral agreements between each country."
[October 2, 2002 "EU caves in to US pressure on ICC" Xinhua News Agency].
In question time in the House of Lords, Baroness Amos (of the Foreign Office)
said “… we do understand US objections although we do not share them. We
value the US role in international peacekeeping and we want to enable the US t
Country
Approached
RS
Date of US
Status approach
Status of
agreement
US official
Official
approached
Uruguay
SP
Not stated.
No.
Not stated.
Not stated.
Uzbekistan
S
Not stated.
Not stated.
Not stated.
Venezuela
SP
Not stated.
Yes. Signed at
Washington
September 18,
2002. Entered
into force
January 7, 2003
(State Dept).
No.
Not stated.
Not stated.
Publicly rejected BIA The US will continue to support the fight against drugs and terrorism in
On July 1, 2003,
agreement.
Venezuela despite a recent decision to withhold military aid, the U.S.
declared by the State
ambassador Charles Shapiro. [AP, July 21, 2003.]
Dept. ineligible to
receive military
assistance. $700,000
has reportedly been
suspended from FY
2004, based on ASPA.
An additional $500,000
could be threatened
under the Nethercutt
Amendment. Estimated
Loss of US Aid Under
IMET: 700,000 (FY04).
Projected Loss Under
ESF: 496,000 (FY05).
Projected Loss Under
IMET: 50,000 (FY06),
Under ESF: 500,000
(FY06).
Yemen
N
Zambia
SP
Not stated.
Yes. Signed at
Lusaka July 1,
2003. Entered
into force July 2,
2003 (Dept of
State).
Not stated.
On July 1, 2003,
declared by the State
Dept. ineligible to
receive military
assistance.
Subsequently, on July
29, 2003, the waiver
was extended
indefinitely as Zambia
had entered into a BIA.
Agreement
Provisions
Sanctions/waivers
imposed by the U.S.
Official response
On July 1, 2003,
declared by the State
Dept. ineligible to
receive military
assistance. $1.45
million has reportedly
been suspended from
FY 2004, based on
ASPA. Projected Loss
Under IMET: 150,000
(FY05), Under FMF:
397,000 (FY05).
Projected Loss Under
IMET: 50,000 (FY06),
Under FMF: 150,000
(FY06).
Publicly rejected BIA Uruguayian Senator Eluterio Fernandez Huidobro accused the US of
pressuring the soon-to-be government to sign a BIA. He said the US
agreement.
government is "putting the elected government under pressure to sign a
bilateral agreement for immunity for American citizens before an eventual
case at the ICC and also for a vote in favour of sending of troops to different
missions". [UPI LatAm, Dec 21, 2004] American budgetary records show that
Uruguay, whose new left-leaning government has vocally declined to sign an
immunity agreement, has lost $1.5 million since 2003 [NY Times August 19,
2005 Bush's Aid Cuts on Court Issue Roil Neighbors By JUAN FORERO]
Yes. Effected by
exchange of
notes at
Washington and
Sanaa December
10 and 17, 2003.
Entered into
force December
17, 2003 (State
Dept).
Not stated.
Reaction as reported in the news
INDICE
Acuerdos Bilaterales de Inmunidad celebrados entre Estados Unidos y
países miembros de la Organización de los Estados Americanos
INTRODUCCIÓN
…………………………………….
1
Capítulo I: Los Acuerdos Bilaterales de Inmunidad
…………………………………….
3
I. Antecedentes
…………………………………….
3
II. Los Acuerdos Bilaterales de Inmunidad
…………………………………….
5
II.1. El artículo 98 del Estatuto de Roma
…………………………………….
6
II.2 Celebración de Acuerdos Bilaterales de
Inmunidad y Status of Force Agreements
…………………………………….
7
III. Medios de persuasión de Estados Unidos para
la firma de Acuerdos Bilaterales de Inmunidad
…………………………………….
9
III:1 Enmienda Nethercutt
…………………………………….
9
III.2 American Servicemembers’ Protection Act
…………………………………….
10
…………………………………….
13
I. La Organización de los Estados Americanos
…………………………………….
13
II: Estados miembros de la Organización de los
Estados Americanos que han celebrado Acuerdos
Bilaterales de Inmunidad
…………………………………….
16
III. Promoción de la Corte Penal Internacional en la
Organización de los Estados Americanos
…………………………………….
19
III.1 Apoyo en la Asamblea General de la
Organización de los Estados Americanos
…………………………………….
20
Capítulo II: La Promoción de la Corte Penal
Internacional en los países miembros de la
Organización de los Estados Americanos
1
III:2 Apoyo de la Organización de los Estados
Americanos en la implementación del Estatuto
de Roma
…………………………………….
21
Capítulo III: Implicancias derivadas de la celebración
de los Acuerdos Bilaterales de Inmunidad
…………………………………….
24
I. Interpretación del segundo párrafo del artículo
98 del Estatuto de Roma
…………………………………….
24
II: Incumplimiento de obligaciones asumidas por
los Estados Parte del Estatuto de Roma
…………………………………….
26
III: Asamblea de los Estados Parte del Estatuto de
Roma
…………………………………….
28
IV. Situación respecto a estados que no son parte
del Estatuto de Roma
…………………………………….
29
V. Disyuntiva: ¿cooperar con Estados Unidos o con
la Corte Penal Internacional
…………………………………….
30
Conclusiones
…………………………………….
32
Bibliografía
…………………………………….
33
…………………………………….
36
ANEXOS
Modelo de Acuerdo Bilateral de Inmunidad
38
American Servicemembers’ Protection Act
Relación de Acuerdos Bilaterales de Inmunidad
celebrados alrededor del mundo.
2
…………………………………….
49
INTRODUCCIÓN
La investigación del presente trabajo pretende dar un enfoque a los Acuerdos
Bilaterales de Inmunidad a partir de la celebración de estos acuerdos con los estados
miembros de la Organización de los Estados Americanos. La celebración de estos
acuerdos es preocupante toda vez que estos conllevarían a la impunidad de los
responsables de delitos internacionales que son regulados en el Estatuto de Roma y por
consiguiente, le otorga jurisdicción a la Corte Penal Internacional.
Dicha situación es compleja, al considerar que como organización internacional, la
Organización de los Estados Americanos establece en la Carta de la Organización de los
Estados Americanos que los estados miembros tienen como fin lograr intereses comunes.
No obstante ello, dicha situación se vuelve contradictoria toda vez que la celebración de
Acuerdos Bilaterales de Inmunidad implican retrocesos en el establecimiento de respeto
de los derechos humanos y a la justicia. La impunidad y la falta de castigo a los
responsables de delitos tan graves como el genocidio o los delitos de lesa humanidad
solo conllevan a afectar los fines comunes de la comunidad internacional, de la
Organización de los Estados Americanos y los fines propios que tiene cada estado.
Se plantea como primera hipótesis la inobservancia del fin y objeto del Estatuto
de Roma, lo que conlleva a una interpretación errónea del Estatuto de Roma,
específicamente del segundo párrafo del artículo 98. Dicha interpretación no puede
conllevar a que se celebren Acuerdos Bilaterales de Inmunidad.
Asimismo, se plantea como hipótesis la incurrencia de responsabilidad
internacional, la misma que se deriva por el incumplimiento de obligaciones
internacionales derivadas del Estatuto de Roma. Dichos incumplimientos se basan en la
falta de cooperación de los estados parte a la Corte Penal Internacional.
Finalmente, el presente trabajo concluye con la hipótesis basada en
responsabilidad internacional respecto a los estados que no son parte del Estatuto de
Roma, los cuales incurrirían en la afectación de sus deberes como estado soberano de
administrar justicia cuando sus nacionales sean afectados de sus derechos humanos.
El presente trabajo ha sido realizado en tres capítulos. Siendo el primero, el que se
enfoca especialmente en los Acuerdos Bilaterales de Inmunidad y la “campaña” de
Estados Unidos alrededor del mundo para lograr celebrar estos acuerdos. Asimismo, se
señalan los medios que Estados Unidos utilizó para dichos fines, desarrollando así temas
interesantes como los Status of Force Agreements, American Servicemembers’ Protection
Act,y la enmienda Nethercutt.
El segundo capítulo se enfoca en la Organización de los Estados Americanos.
Desarrollando sus fines, los instrumentos internacionales creados bajo su iniciativa y de
sus estados miembros. Asimismo, este capítulo desarrolla un enfoque general respecto a
los estados miembros que han son parte del Estatuto de Roma, así como también de los
estados que han firmado Acuerdos Bilaterales de Inmunidad. Finalmente, concluye con la
3
gestión actual dentro de esta organización con el fin de promocionar la Corte Penal
Internacional.
El tercer capítulo se basa en las implicancias de la celebración de Acuerdos
Bilaterales de Inmunidad, conteniendo las hipótesis mencionadas al inicio de la presente
introducción. Asimismo, contiene la disyuntiva creada a partir de la celebración de
Acuerdos Bilaterales de Inmunidad: el apoyo a la Corte Penal Internacional o a Estados
Unidos.
4
Capítulo I
Acuerdos Bilaterales de Inmunidad
Durante la Conferencia Diplomática de Plenipotenciarios de las Naciones Unidas
sobre el Establecimiento de la Corte Penal Internacional celebrada en Roma el 17 de julio
de 1998, se adoptó el Estatuto de Roma. El Estatuto de Roma, entró en vigencia el 1 de
julio del 2002, vinculando a más de 106 estados parte en la actualidad.
El Estatuto de Roma es un instrumento jurídico internacional de gran importancia
debido a que dio origen a la creación de la Corte Penal Internacional, la cual fue
establecida en el año 2002. El fin de la Corte Penal Internacional, como jurisdicción
complementaria de la jurisdicción nacional de cada estado parte, es administrar justicia y
prevenir la impunidad para los responsables de actos de genocidio, crímenes de guerra y
crímenes de lesa humanidad.
I. Antecedentes
Estados Unidos, uno de los siete estados1 que votó en contra del Estatuto de
Roma, ha mantenido una firme oposición a la existencia de la Corte Penal Internacional,
la cual no ha sido distinta en la administración de William Jefferson Clinton o en el actual
gobierno de George W. Bush.
Una de las primeras manifestaciones de dicha posición se apreció durante la
Conferencia de Plenipotenciarios que daría lugar a adopción del Estatuto de Roma. En
ella, la delegación estadounidense propuso el control político sobre las actividades de la
Corte Penal Internacional, especialmente en el caso que vincule investigaciones o
enjuiciamientos de ciudadanos estadounidenses.
Asimismo, la delegación estadounidense propuso que toda actuación de la Corte
Penal Internacional requiriese la aprobación del Consejo de Seguridad respecto a las
situaciones planteadas en el Capítulo VI de la Carta de las Naciones Unidas,
correspondientes al Arreglo Pacífico de Controversias. Otro punto propuesto por Estados
Unidos se refirió al reconocimiento por parte del Consejo de Seguridad de la competencia
de la Corte Penal Internacional antes que el Consejo de Seguridad inicie alguna acción
internacional.
Todas estas propuestas no trascendieron por lo que éstas serían las principales
deficiencias que Estados Unidos atribuyó y atribuye2 a la Corte Penal Internacional, las
mismas que además fundamentan su oposición actual contra la Corte3.
1
GAMARRA CHOPO, Yolanda. La Política Hostil de Estados Unidos contra la Corte Penal Internacional.
En: Revista Española de Derecho Internacional, volumen LVII, n° 01, 2005, p.147.
2
Fact Sheet de la Oficina de Asuntos Político Militares, Washington D.C. 30 de julio del 2003, Oficina de
Asuntos Político-Militares. En: www.state.gov/t/pm/rls/fs/23428.htm (22 de noviembre, 2008)
3
Departamento de Estado de Estados Unidos. En: www.state.gov/r/pa/prs/ps/2003/24331.htm (27 de
noviembre, 2008)
5
Al finalizar el segundo mandato presidencial de William Jefferson Clinton, Estados
Unidos firmó el Estatuto de Roma, no obstante, aun se mantuvo discrepancias contra la
Corte Penal Internacional por lo que recomendó a quien le suceda en el cargo en la
presidencia estadounidense no ratificar el Estatuto hasta que las preocupaciones
estadounidenses sean satisfechas4.
Con el nuevo gobierno, a cargo de George W. Bush, Estados Unidos tomó una
posición respecto al Estatuto de Roma, por lo que se declaró mediante una carta dirigida
al entonces secretario general de las Naciones Unidas Koffi Annan, la intención de los
Estados Unidos de no formar parte del Estatuto de Roma por lo que no tendría
obligaciones legales en razón a su firma del 31 de diciembre del 20005.
Los motivos de dicha decisión no eran distintos a las discrepancias anotadas en la
Conferencia de Plenipotenciarios. Entre éstas figuran:
1. La Corte Penal Internacional afecta el rol del Consejo de Seguridad de las
Naciones Unidas en mantener la paz y seguridad.
2. La Corte Penal Internacional cuenta con jueces y fiscales con poderes
desequilibrados y bajo ninguna supervisión.6
3. La Corte Penal Internacional cuenta con jurisdicción sobre países que no han
ratificado el Estatuto de Roma7.
A partir de entonces, Estados Unidos empezó a establecer medios que
obstaculicen las funciones de la Corte Penal Internacional. Muestra de ello, fue la
aprobación de la resolución 1422 y 1487 emitidas por el Consejo de Seguridad de las
Naciones Unidas. Dichas resoluciones eximían, por un año, al personal estadounidense
que participaba en misiones militares internacionales de ser entregados a la Corte Penal
Internacional. Fue durante dicho periodo que Estados Unidos celebró Acuerdos
Bilaterales de Inmunidad con los estados parte, o no, del Estatuto de Roma8. Dicha
política estuvo también motivada por los atentados del 11 de septiembre del 2001, en
4
MURPHY, Sean. U.S. Notification of intent not to become a party to the Rome Statute. En: The American
Journal of International Law, volumen 96, n° 03, julio 2002, p. 724: El ex presidente William Jefferson
Clinton, el 31 de diciembre del 2000 manifestó “I will not, and do not recommend that my successor, submit
the treaty to the Senate for advice and consent until our fundamental concerns are satisfied”.
5
MURPHY, Sean. Efforts to obtain inmunity from ICC for U.S. peacekeepers. En: American Journal of
International Law, volumen 96, n° 03, julio 2002, p. 727.: Koffi Annan ejercía el papel de depositario del
Estatuto de Roma.
6
Fact Sheet de la Oficina de Asuntos Político Militares, Washington D.C. 30 de julio del 2003, Oficina de
Asuntos Político-Militares. En: www.state.gov/t/pm/rls/fs/23428.htm Según la Oficina de asuntos PoliticoMilitares, el Fiscal no responde ante ninguna institución salvo a la misma Corte Penal Internacional por lo que
sin un poder externo de supervisión, existe protección insuficiente contra procesos politizados y otros abusos.
En: www.state.gov/t/pm/rls/fs/23428.htm (20 de octubre, 2008).
7
MURPHY, Sean. Op. cit. p.724: Marc Grossman, U.S. Under Secretary of State for Political Affarirs,
manifestó las razones de la oposición de los Estados Unidos la cual estuvo publicada en “American Foreign
Policy and the International Criminal Court, Remarks to the Center for Strategic and International Studies.
8
GAMARRA CHOPO, Yolanda. La Política Hostil de Estados Unidos contra la Corte Penal Internacional.
En: Revista Española de Derecho Internacional, volumen LVII, n° 01, 2005, p. 148.
6
donde Estados Unidos básicamente se atribuyó el deber de combatir el terrorismo en el
planeta, actuando unilateralmente y sin ningún límite9.
Los medios utilizados por Estados Unidos resultan adecuados en razón a que
éstos establecen obligaciones con los Estados de no colaborar con la Corte Penal
Internacional. De esta manera, los Acuerdos Bilaterales de Inmunidad resultan eficientes
al considerar que la cooperación de los estados es importante para el funcionamiento de
la Corte Penal Internacional.
II. Los Acuerdos Bilaterales de Inmunidad
Los Acuerdos Bilaterales de Inmunidad son instrumentos internacionales
celebrados entre Estados Unidos y otro estado parte, o no, del Estatuto de Roma. Dichos
acuerdos tienen el propósito de evitar que los estados que forman parte de la Corte Penal
Internacional detengan y entreguen a personal militar o político de Estados Unidos a la
Corte. No obstante, dicha protección no versa sólo sobre personal militar o político, sino
es más general, por lo que éste protege a todo ciudadano estadounidense10. La mayoría
de estos acuerdos han sido firmados por países debido a la amenaza proveniente de
Estados Unidos de suspender el apoyo económico o militar que recibe, por ejemplo el
acuerdo celebrado entre Estados Unidos y Colombia11.
Estos acuerdos han sido celebrados con países de Sudamérica, siendo utilizados
inclusive sólo “acuerdos tipo o modelo” por lo que se ha cambiando el nombre del país
con el que se celebraba el acuerdo. Es el caso de Colombia y Bolivia. En la celebración
con estos países se aprecia sobre qué personal recae dicha protección12:
“Para los fines del presente Acuerdo, la expresión “personas de
los Estados Unidos de América” significa cualquier funcionario,
empleado (incluido cualquier contratista) o miembro del servicio militar
(actual o antiguo) del gobierno de los Estados Unidos, o cualquier
persona de los Estados Unidos que goce de inmunidad frente a la
jurisdicción penal en virtud del Derecho Internacional o que esté sujeta,
de cualquier manera a la jurisdicción del Estado que los envía (Los
Estados Unidos de América”
9
Estrategia de Seguridad Nacional, Washington, D.C., septiembre del 2002, Consejo de Seguridad Nacional.
En: www.whitehouse.gov/nsc/nss/2002/index.html (20 de noviembre, 2008)
10
Fact Sheet de la Oficina de Asuntos Político Militares, Washington D.C. 30 de julio del 2003, Oficina de
Asuntos Político-Militares. En: www.state.gov/t/pm/rls/fs/23428.htm (20 de octubre, 2008).
11
COMISIÓN ANDINA DE JURISTAS. La Corte Penal Internacional y los países andinos. 3ra Ed. Lima:
CAJ, 2007, p. 267. El gobierno de Colombia celebró un Acuerdo Bilateral de Inmunidad con los Estados
Unidos en septiembre del 2003, el cual es un anexo al “Convenio General para la ayuda económica, técnica y
afín entre el Gobierno de Colombia y el Gobierno de los Estados Unidos de América” de 1962.
12
Ambos, Kai: Derechos Humanos y Derecho Penal Internacional. 1ra Ed. Lima: Idemsa, 2007, p. 43.
7
Este tipo de disposición no son diferentes de los Acuerdos Bilaterales de
Inmunidad celebrados con Timor Oriental o Romania13, Uzbekistán, Nepal y otrós14
II.1. El Artículo 98 del Estatuto de Roma
Los Acuerdos Bilaterales de Inmunidad fueron creados a partir de lo establecido en
el segundo párrafo del artículo 98 del Estatuto de Roma, el cual establece lo siguiente:
Artículo 98 del Estatuto de Roma:
2. La Corte no dará curso a una solicitud de entrega en virtud de la
cual el Estado requerido deba actuar en forma incompatible con las
obligaciones que le imponga un acuerdo internacional conforme al cual
se requiera el consentimiento del Estado que envíe para entregar a la
Corte a una persona sujeta a la jurisdicción de ese Estado, a menos
que ésta obtenga primero la cooperación del Estado que envíe para
que dé su consentimiento o la entrega.
En razón a ello, la Corte Penal Internacional no daría curso a una solicitud de
entrega en caso existiese una obligación establecida por un acuerdo internacional15. Tal
es el caso que Estados Unidos, mediante la celebración de Acuerdos Bilaterales de
Inmunidad, asegura la protección no solo del personal militar y autoridades políticas que
se encontrarían “vulnerables” en terreno extranjero, sino que engloba en dicha protección
a todo ciudadano estadounidense16 pese a que éstos puedan ser principales autores de
delitos de lesa humanidad.
Respecto al mismo segundo párrafo del artículo 98 se cuestiona además el
momento de celebración de acuerdos que tengan fecha posterior a la ratificación del
Estatuto de Roma. Ello debido a que existe opinión, como por ejemplo la de la Unión
Europea, que considera que los acuerdos mencionados en dicho artículo se referirían a
acuerdos ya existentes antes de la entrada en vigencia del Estatuto de Roma; por
consiguiente, la celebración de este tipo de acuerdos con fecha posterior a la vigencia del
estatuto obliga a los estados parte del Estatuto de Roma a cumplir con lo establecido en
los artículo 86 y 89 y subsiguientes que versan sobre la entrega a la Corte Penal
Internacional17.
Los Acuerdos Bilaterales de Inmunidad son cuestionados debido a su clara
contravención de los fines que el propio Estatuto de Roma como es el de impedir la
impunidad de los autores de los crímenes más graves de trascendencia internacional18.
13
HUMAN RIGHTS WATCH. Acuerdos Bilaterales de Inmunidad. Ed: Human Rights Watch, Nueva York,
03 de marzo 2003, p. 18. En: www.hrw.org (22 de noviembre, 2008)
14
GAMARRA CHOPO, Yolanda. Op.cit. p.160.
15
COMISIÓN ANDINA DE JURISTAS. Op.cit. p.267.
16
Oficina de asuntos Político-Militares. En: www.state.gov/t/pm/rls/fs/23428.htm (20 de octubre, 2008).
17
AMBOS, Kai. Estudios del Derecho Penal Internacional. 1ra. Ed. Lima: Idemsa, 2007, p. 41.
18
Estatuto de Roma: Preámbulo.
8
Asimismo, como consecuencia de la celebración de este tipo de acuerdos, se establecen
diferentes contravenciones a diferentes instrumentos internacionales como por ejemplo, la
Convención de Viena sobre el derecho de los tratados y el Estatuto de Roma19.
No obstante, la posición estadounidense considera que su interpretación respecto
al artículo 98 del Estatuto de Roma es válida, al considerar que dicho artículo
expresamente contempla este tipo de acuerdos y porque asimismo, el Consejo de
Seguridad lo permitió20. De la misma manera, considera que es no debe ser un órgano
externo al nacional el que juzgue a ciudadanos estadounidense21..
II.2 Celebración de Acuerdos Bilaterales de Inmunidad y Status of Force
Agreements
Desde la aprobación del Estatuto de Roma, diversos países han optado por
ratificar el Estatuto y asimismo, han realizado las modificaciones pertinentes dentro de su
respectivo ordenamiento jurídico con el fin de no entrar en contradicción con el Estatuto
de Roma22. No obstante, en paralelo a este desarrollo, Estados Unidos ha utilizado
diferentes medios para evitar que los países formen parte del Estatuto de Roma. En ese
contexto Estados Unidos inició una campaña internacional, por llamarlo así, con el fin de
obstaculizar la firma y adopción del Estatuto de Roma, producto de ello, en la actualidad,
más de 90 países han firmado Acuerdos Bilaterales de Inmunidad con los Estados
Unidos23.
No obstante, según el Departamento de Estado de los Estados Unidos, a
mediados del 3 de mayo del 2005, existían ya 100 estados habían celebrado Acuerdos
Bilaterales de Inmunidad. Aunque, dicha cantidad puede variar puesto que dicho
departamento afirma que otros estados han firmado dichos acuerdos pero han asimismo,
han acordado no ser identificado como firmantes24.
19
Las contravenciones de la celebración de los Acuerdos Bilaterales de Inmunidad al Estatuto de Roma, a la
Convención de Viena sobre el derecho de los tratados, al Proyecto de la Comisión de Derecho Internacional
sobre la responsabilidad de los Estados y así como a diferentes instrumentos internacionales sobre derechos
humanos y normas de Ius Cogens son materia de análisis en el Capítulo III del presente trabajo de
investigación.
20
La posición estadounidense hace una directa referencia a las resoluciones 1422 y 14787, emitidas por el
Consejo de Seguridad, por las cuales estaban exentos de ser investigados por la Corte Penal Internacional, por
un periodo de un año desde el funcionamiento efectivo de la Corte Penal Internacional. No obstante, dichas
investigaciones han sido renovadas anualmente.
21
Opinión manifestada por la Oficina de asuntos Político-Militares. En: www.state.gov/t/pm/rls/fs/23428.htm
(20 de octubre, 2008).
22
Legal Tools de la Corte Penal Internacional. En: www.icc-cpi.int/legaltools/ (18 de octubre del 2008).
23
Según la Coalición por la Corte Penal Internacional, hasta diciembre del 2006, 100 países han firmado
Acuerdos Bilaterales de Inmunidad. En: www.iccnow.org/documents/CICCFS_BIAstatus_current.pdf (18 de
octubre del 2008). La cifra se ha incrementado al considerar la cifra obtenida por Citizens for Global
Solutions, la cual concluye que hasta octubre del 2005, 97 países habían firmado Acuerdos Bilaterales de
Inmunidad con Estados Unidos. En: www.globalsolutions.org/issues/bia_resource_center (18 de octubre,
2008).
24
Departamento de Estado de los Estados Unidos. En: www.state.gov/r/pa/prs/ps/2003/21539.htm (27
noviembre, 2008)
9
Como se mencionó anteriormente, los Acuerdos Bilaterales de Inmunidad son
celebrados en un supuesto cumplimiento del segundo párrafo del artículo 98 del Estatuto
de Roma. No obstante, es importante considerar que dentro de lo dispuesto por el
segundo párrafo del artículo 98 del Estatuto de Roma, los acuerdos llamados Status of
Force Agreements cobran importancia debido a que, según la mayoría de organizaciones
especializadas en derechos humanos, podrían ser los únicos tipos de acuerdos que
pueden ser permitidos dentro de lo establecido por el artículo 98.
Los Status of Force Agreements, mencionados en el párrafo anterior, son
acuerdos en los cuales los estados25 negocian derechos y deberes de los militares que
asisten a un país anfitrión (state host) en operaciones militares (como por ejemplo las
operaciones de mantenimiento de paz de las Naciones Unidas), regulándose en este tipo
de acuerdos, temas de competencia penal, civil y otros, absteniéndose de seguir procesos
contra el personal del país emisor (sender state), pero acordándose que el país emisor
juzgue a sus nacionales26. Es decir, incluso en este caso, no se estaría contraviniendo el
fin del Estatuto de Roma al apreciarse que existe un compromiso de juzgar a los
nacionales, lo que conlleva a evitar la impunidad.
Los Status of Force Agreemets son acuerdos celebrados por Estados Unidos
inclusive después de la Segunda Guerra Mundial, el fin de éstos era evitar que soldados
estadounidenses fueran juzgados por tribunales extranjeros27.
A diferencia de los Acuerdos Bilaterales de Inmunidad, los Status of Force
Agreements establece la protección de personal militar y empleados civiles del
departamento de defensa estadounidense28.
Un sector de opinión considera que este tipo de acuerdos son los únicos
permitidos por el artículo 98, inciso 2 en razón a la terminología utilizada en este artículo
puesto que el término “sender state” es usado en forma “exclusiva o casi exclusiva” por
los Status of Force Agreements29, ello es apreciado por los términos en ingles que
aparecen en el segundo párrafo del artículo 98 del Estatuto de Roma30.
25
Los Status of Force Agreements también pueden ser realizados por organizaciones internacionales como
por ejemplo, los que celebra la OTAN.
26
AMNISTÍA INTERNACIONAL. International Criminal Court: US efforts to obtain impunity for genocide,
crimes
against
humanity
and
war
crime.
Agosto
2002,
p.10
En:
www.amnesty.org/en/library/asset/IOR40/025/2002/en/dom-IOR400252002en.pdf (22 de noviembre, 2008)
27
AMNISTÍA INTERNACIONAL. International Criminal Court: US efforts to obtain impunity for genocide,
crimes
against
humanity
and
war
crime.
Agosto
2002,
p.14.
En:
www.amnesty.org/en/library/asset/IOR40/025/2002/en/dom-IOR400252002en.pdf (22 de noviembre, 2008)
28
Opinión manifestada por la Oficina de asuntos Político-Militares. En: www.state.gov/t/pm/rls/fs/23428.htm
(20 de octubre, 2008).
29
Amnistía Internacional. International Criminal Court: U.S. efforts to obtain impunity for genocide, crimes
against humanity and war crime. Amnistía Internacional, agosto 2002, p.07. En:
www.amicc.org/docs/aiusimpunity.pdf (14 de agosto, 2008).
30
Articulo 98(2): The Court may not proceed with a request for surrender wich would require the requested
State to act inconsistently with its obligations under international agreements pursuant to which the consent of
10
III. Medios de persuasión de Estados Unidos para la firma de los Acuerdos
Bilaterales de Inmunidad
Estados Unidos en clara oposición a la existencia de la Corte Penal Internacional,
ha utilizado otros medios para persuadir o sancionar a los estados parte del Estatuto de
Roma a que firme Acuerdos Bilaterales de Inmunidad. De esa manera, al ser Estados
Unidos partícipe principal en la mayor cantidad de proyectos de cooperación internacional,
ha utilizado dicha posición para suspender apoyos internacionales, tanto de materia
económica o militar, a diferentes estados en necesidad de dicho apoyo. Las
cooperaciones en mención versan sobre materia económica (como la enmienda
Nethercutt) o cooperación militar (como la American Servicemembers’ Protection Act).
III.1. Enmienda Nethercutt
La enmienda Nethercutt es una medida de tipo económico que Estados Unidos
utilizó para sancionar a aquellos países que ratificaron el Estatuto de Roma. La enmienda
fue adoptada en diciembre del 2004 por el Congreso estadounidense y bajo la ley U.S.
Foreign Appropiations Bill31. La enmienda tuvo como fin autorizar la suspensión del Fondo
de Apoyo Económico (Economic Support Fund) a todos los países que han ratificado el
Estatuto de Roma. No obstante, existen exenciones como las que el presidente otorgó a
aquellos países que firmen Acuerdos Bilaterales de Inmunidad, o que considere necesario
continuar el apoyo económico por razones de seguridad nacional.
La suspensión de dichos fondos afectan directamente a programas del gobierno
que incluyen programas de lucha contra el terrorismo, programas de lucha contra la
corrupción, programas de proceso de paz, iniciativas lucha contra el tráfico de drogas
comisiones de verdad y reconciliación y educación sobre HIV32,.
No obstante lo anterior, la práctica de esta suspensión de apoyo económico no
prosperó por lo que el gobierno estadounidense decidió modificar esta política a finales de
noviembre del 2006, por lo que se suspendió dicha prohibición. Asimismo, en noviembre
del 2005, se retiró las sanciones impuestas a diversos países que habían sido
a sending state is required to surrender a person of that State to the Court, unless the Court can first obtain
the cooperation of the sending state for the giving of consent for the surrender.
31
Según la Coalición por la Corte Penal Internacional, dicha ley fue presentada por George Nethercutt,
representante del estado de Washington. Dicha ley, no obstante, exceptuaba de dichas sanciones a estados que
apoyados económicamente por otros proyectos económicos de asistencia, como por ejemplo los derivados de
la Declaración del Milenio de Naciones Unidas, miembros de la OTAN y otros países importantes que no son
miembros de la OTAN. En: www.iccnow.org/documents/HRW_Nethercutt_08Dec04.pdf
(22 de
noviembre,2008)
32
Según la Coalición por la Corte Penal Internacional, Perú esperaba perder 8 millones de dólares que estaban
dirigidos a proyectos de reforma democrática y programas para reducir la cosecha de coca, tráfico de drogas y
terrorismo. De la misma manera, dichos apoyos serían recortados a Ecuador, Colombia, Venezuela y
diferentes países del Caribe como Trinidad y Tobago, Barbados y San Vicentes y las Granadinas, los cuales
fueron amenazados de perder 9 millones de dólares dirigidos para proyectos contra desastres naturales. En:
www.iccnow.org/documents/HRW_Nethercutt_08Dec04.pdf
y
www.iccnow.org/documents/CGS_Nethercutt_08Dec04.pdf (22 de noviembre, 2008)
11
suspendidos de recibir apoyo económico proveniente del Fondo de Apoyo Económico,
entre estos países se encontraban Perú, Bolivia, Ecuador, México, Paraguay y otros33.
III.2 American Servicemembers Protection Act
El American Servicemembers Protection Act fue adoptado en el contexto de la
legislación presupuestal de respuesta a los ataques terroristas del 11 de septiembre del
2001. Dicha ley fue firmada por el presidente George W. Bush el 02 de agosto del 2002.
El American Servicemembers’ Protection Act menciona explícitamente su
oposición a la Corte Penal Internacional al mencionar “un tratado internacional no puede
crear obligaciones en un estado no parte… por lo que los Estados Unidos se opone a
cualquier juridisdicción de la Corte respecto a sus nacionales”. En el punto 9 de la
Sección 2002, considera lo siguiente:
In addition to exposing members of the Armed Forces of the United States
to the risk of international criminal prosecution, the Rome Statute creates
a risk that the President and other senior elected and appointed officials of
the United States Government may be prosecuted by the International
Criminal Court. Particularly if the Preparatory Commission agrees on a
definition of the Crime of Aggression over United States objections, senior
United States officials may be at risk of criminal prosecution for national
security decisions involving such matters as responding to acts of
terrorism, preventing the proliferation of weapons of mass destruction,
and deterring aggression. No less than members of the Armed Forces of
the United States, senior officials of the United States Government should
be free from the risk of prosecution by the International Criminal Court,
especially with respect to official actions taken by them to protect the
national interests of the United States.
De todo lo anterior, se aprecia claramente la oposición y el sustento de las razones
del por qué los Estados Unidos no puede ser restringido a lo dispuesto por la Corte Penal
Internacional. En razón a ello, esta ley, al igual que la enmienda Nethercutt, suspende
todo tipo de apoyo económico que tenga como fin la cooperación con la Corte Penal
Internacional, ya sea por investigación, arresto, detención, extradición o la persecución de
algún ciudadano estadounidense o uno no estadounidense que viva permanentemente en
los Estados Unidos34.
De la misma forma, la ley prescribe la facultad del presidente de votar ante el
Consejo de Seguridad para que todo miembro de las fuerzas armadas esté exento de
33
COMISIÓN ANDINA DE JURISTAS. La Corte Penal Internacional y los países andinos. 3ra Ed. Lima:
CAJ, 2007, p.266.
34
Sección 2004 de la American Servicembers’ Act. Prohibition on cooperation with the Internacional
Criminal Court. En: www.state.gov/t/pm/rls/othr/misc/23425.htm (21 de octubre, 2008).
12
persecución de la Corte Penal Internacional. Ello en consideración, la única forma para
que las tropas norteamericanas participen en operaciones de paz se requería el
cumplimiento de una de las siguientes tres condiciones:
1. La garantía del Consejo de Seguridad de otorgar inmunidad a tropas
estadounidenses.
2. Que la Corte Penal Internacional no ejerza su jurisdicción en los territorios
donde las misiones toman lugar.
3. Que exista algún tipo de acuerdo relacionado al artículo 98 del Estatuto de
Roma con el país donde toma lugar la operación o si es de interés nacional de
los Estados Unidos35.
Otra disposición de la ley, es impedir la transferencia a la Corte Penal Internacional
de documentos que concierne a interés nacional de los Estados Unidos36. Además de
ello, con la aplicación del American Servicemembers’ Protection Act no habría apoyo
militar estadounidense a algún estado parte de la Corte Penal Internacional salvo
excepciones específicas37, incluyendo que los estados firmen un Acuerdo Bilateral de
Inmunidad. De la misma manera, el Congreso estadounidense recibiría un reporte del
presidente en donde éste informa sobre las alianzas militares en donde los Estados
Unidos participa y la existencia de algún riesgo de que la Corte Penal Internacional tenga
jurisdicción sobre sus soldados38.
Finalmente, la American Servicemembers’ Protection Act establece en la sección
2008, una clausula en la cual autoriza al Presidente estadounidense de usar todo medio
necesario y apropiado para liberar a algún ciudadano estadounidense detenido por la
Corte Penal Internacional. Dicha clausula logra que la ley aquí desarrollada se llame
“Hague Invasion Act”39. Es decir, bajo dicha clausula, existiría el peligro en todo estado
parte de la Corte Penal Internacional, que en cumplimiento de sus obligaciones con la
Corte Penal Internacional pueda ser atacado por Estados Unidos.
Por todo lo anterior, la celebración de los Acuerdos Bilaterales de Inmunidad debe
ser considerada como un peligro a los fines y objeto del Estatuto de Roma, toda vez que
obstaculiza toda forma de cooperación que se pueda otorgar a la Corte Penal
Internacional. Dicha cooperación no es ajena a los estados miembros de la Organización
de los Estados Americanos, toda vez que muchos de éstos han firmado el Estatuto de
35
Sección 2005: Restrictions on United States participating in certain United Nations peacekeeping
http://thomas.loc.gov/cgioperations
de
la
American
Servicemembers’
Act.
En:
bin/query/F?c107:1:./temp/~c107bpXvbp:e14937. (22 de noviembre, 2008)
36
American Servicemembers’ Act. Sección 2006: Prohibition on direct or indirect transfer of classified
national security information and law enforcement information and law enforcement information to the
International Criminal Court. (21 de octubre, 2008).
37
Entre ellas, se encuentran: riesgo de algún interés nacional de los Estados Unidos, lo que implica que esta
disposición no se aplica a los países miembros de la OTAN.
38
American Servicemembers’ Act. Sección 2005: Restriction on United States participation in certain United
States peacekeeping operations. En: www.state.gov/t/pm/rls/othr/misc/23425.htm (21 de octubre, 2008).
39
Sección 2008 de la American Servicemembers’ Act. La sección 2008 ó 08, ya no se encuentra publicada en
la biblioteca del Congreso estadounidense y tampoco en la base de datos de la Corte Penal Internacional.
13
Roma y han ratificado el mismo. No obstante, de la misma manera, estos estados
tampoco han sido ajenos a este tipo de “campaña” estadounidense para lograr la
celebración de Acuerdos Bilaterales de Inmunidad.
14
Capítulo II
La promoción de la Corte Penal Internacional en los países miembros de la
Organización de los Estados Americanos
La Organización de los Estados Americanos, no fue ajena a lo acontecido en la
Conferencia de Plenipotenciarios de las Naciones Unidas sobre el Establecimiento de la
Corte Penal Internacional, celebrada en Roma el 17 de julio de 1998. Desde la resolución
N° 1565 (XXVIII-O98)40 emitida por la Asamblea General el 02 de junio de 1998, la
Organización de Estados Americanos consideraba de importancia la existencia de una
Corte Penal Internacional con jurisdicción universal, la cual resultaba de importancia para
evitar la impunidad de autores de delitos de mayor reproche a nivel internacional. De esta
manera, su preocupación por la instalación de la Corte Penal Internacional y las diferentes
gestiones que esta organización internacional ha realizado continúa con el fin de
encontrar no solo formas de cooperación y de instrumentación del Estatuto de Roma por
los estados parte de la Organización de los Estados Americanos, sino que también es
miembro activo a nivel del continente americano y el Caribe para que para la promoción
de la Corte Penal Internacional.
I. La Organización de Estados Americanos
La Organización de Estados Americanos se creó bajo un fenómeno conocido
como “Panamericanismo”41, institucionalizándose en un inicio como “La Unión de las
Repúblicas Americanas” (o “Unión Internacional de las Repúblicas Americanas”42)
producto de la Primera Conferencia Internacional Americana, celebrada en Washington,
D.C., en los Estados Unidos de América en 1890. Dicha organización tuvo como principal
fin recopilar datos sobre comercio43. El 30 de abril de 1948 se adoptó en la ciudad de
Bogotá, Colombia, la Carta de la Organización de los Estados Americanos44.
La Organización de los Estados Americanos es considerada importante en razón a
los fines dirigidos al fortalecimiento de la democracia, promoción de los derechos
humanos y la lucha de problemas comunes de los países miembros: pobreza, terrorismo,
drogas, corrupción45 y apoyo a la juventud.
40
Resolución AG/RES. 1565 (XXVIII-O/98), Promoción y respeto del Derecho Internacional Humanitario.
Resolución aprobada en la tercera sesión plenaria de la Asamblea General de la OEA, 02 de junio de 1998).
En: www.oas.org/juridico/spanish/ag-res98/Res1565.htm (03 de noviembre, 2008).
41
DIEZ DE VELASCO, Manuel. Las Organizaciones Internacionales en América en Las Organizaciones
Internacionales. 11va Ed. Madrid: Editorial Tecnos, 1999, p. 672.
42
Breve Historia de la OEA. Organización de los Estados Americanos: La Organización de los Estados
Americanos considera como fechas claves, 1826, cuando “El Libertados Simón Bolívar convocó el Congreso
de Panamá con la idea de crear una asociación de Estados americanos”. En:
www.oas.org/key_issues/spa/KeyIssue_Detail.asp?kis_sec=17 (1 de noviembre,2008).
43
DIEZ de Velasco, Manuel. Op. Cit. p.672.
44
Carta de la Organización de los Estados Americanos, Organización de los Estados Americanos. En:
www.oas.org/juridico/spanish/carta.html (1 de noviembre, 2008).
45
La
OEA
en
breve,
Organización
de
los
Estados
Americanos.
En:
www.oas.org/key_issues/spa/KeyIssue_Detail.asp?kis_sec=20 (1 de noviembre, 2008).
15
Entre los fines que la Carta de la Organización de los Estados Americanos
establece, figuran los siguientes:
Artículo 2
La Organización de los Estados Americanos, para realizar los
principios en que se funda y cumplir sus obligaciones regionales de
acuerdo con la Carta de las Naciones Unidas, establece los
siguientes propósitos esenciales:
a) Afianzar la paz y la seguridad del Continente;
b) Promover y consolidar la democracia representativa dentro del
respeto al principio de no intervención;
c) Prevenir las posibles causas de dificultades y asegurar la
solución pacífica de controversias que surjan entre los Estados
miembros;
d) Organizar la acción solidaria de éstos en caso de agresión;
e) Procurar la solución de los problemas políticos, jurídicos y
económicos que se susciten entre ellos;
f) Promover, por medio de la acción cooperativa, su desarrollo
económico, social y cultural;
g) Erradicar la pobreza crítica, que constituye un obstáculo al
pleno desarrollo democrático de los pueblos del hemisferio, y
h) Alcanzar una efectiva limitación de armamentos
convencionales que permita dedicar el mayor número de
recursos al desarrollo económico y social de los Estados
miembros.46
La Organización de los Estados Americanos cuenta actualmente con 35 estados
de América latina y el Caribe que han ratificado la Carta de la Organización de los
Estados Americanos47. Los estados miembros de la Organización de los Estados
Americanos son los siguientes:
46
Carta de la Organización de los Estados Americanos, Organización de los Estados Americanos. En:
www.oas.org/juridico/spanish/carta.html (1 de noviembre, 2008).
47
Países miembros y misiones permanentes, Organización de los Estados Americanos. Cuba, pese a haber
ratificado la Carta de la Organización de los Estados Americanos, está excluido de participación en la
Organización de los Estados Americanos según la resolución de la Octava Reunión de Consulta de Ministros
16
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
Antigua
Barbuda
Argentina
Bahamas
Barbados
Belice
Bolivia
Brasil
y
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
Canadá
Chile
Colombia
Costa Rica
Cuba
Dominica
Ecuador
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
El Salvador
Estados
Unidos
Grenada
Guatemala
Guyana
Haití
Honduras
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
Jamaica
México
Nicaragua
Panamá
Paraguay
Perú
República
Dominicana
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
San Kitts y
Nevis
Santa Lucía
San Vicente
y
las
Granadinas
Suriname
Trinidad
y
Tobago
Uruguay
Venezuela
La Organización de los Estados Americanos, como se mencionó anteriormente, ha
colaborado en la creación de diferentes instrumentos internacionales de importancia,
entre ellos destacan los siguientes:
-
Declaración Americana de los Derechos y Deberes del Hombre (1948)
Convención Americana sobre Derechos Humanos (1969)
Protocolo de San Salvador sobre derechos económicos, sociales y culturales
(1988)
Protocolo relativo a la abolición de la pena de muerte (1991)
Convención Interamericana para prevenir y sancionar la tortura (1985)
Convención Interamericana sobre la desaparición forzada de personas (1994)
Convención Interamericana para prevenir, sancionar y erradicar la violencia contra
la mujer (1994)
Carta Democrática Interamericana (2001)
De igual importancia se debe considerar la creación de la Comisión Interamericana
de Derechos Humanos y la Corte Interamericana, las cuales fueron producto de lo
dispuesto tanto por la Carta de la Organización de los Estados Americanos y la
Convención Americana de Derechos Humanos. Ambas entidades conforman el sistema
interamericano de protección y promoción de los derechos humanos en América y el
Caribe48.
Finalmente, se debe tener en cuenta los logros obtenidos por las diferentes
secretarías, departamentos y comisiones49 que forman parte de la Organización de los
Estados Americanos, los cuales han logrado importantes instrumentos internacionales y
además, mediante reuniones que éstas celebran con los estados miembros de la
de Relaciones Exteriores celebrada en 1962. En: www.oas.org/documents/spa/memberstates.asp (1 de
noviembre, 2008).
48
¿Qué es la CIDH?, Comisión Interamericana de Derechos Humanos. En: www.cidh.oas.org/que.htm (01 de
noviembre, 2008).
49
Estructura
de
la
OEA,
Organización
de
los
Estados
Americanos.
En:
www.oas.org/documents/spa/structure.asp (01 de noviembre, 2008).
17
Organización de los Estados Americanos, han concluido en acuerdos o resoluciones que
han comprometido a los estados en colaborar con los fines que cada oficina establece,
como por ejemplo, las reuniones de los estados parte de la Convención Interamericana de
Lucha contra la Corrupción, los cuales celebran anualmente reuniones respecto al
denominado Mecanismo de seguimiento de la Implementación de la Convención
Interamericana contra la Corrupción, en donde cada país asumen compromisos de
implementar o mejorar su legislación correspondiente a la lucha contra la corrupción50. Lo
anterior resulta importante, puesto que la participación y el interés de los países miembros
es dinámica en reuniones de este tipo51.
Al considerar todo lo anterior, se debe apreciar la importancia de este organismo
internacional, toda vez que sus esfuerzos logran objetivos claves para el establecimiento
de gobiernos democráticos y se constituyen como un medio necesario para la celebración
de acuerdos internacionales de distinto tipo y tema, incluyendo los relacionados a los
derechos humanos. Así, la Organización de los Estados Americanos es un organismo
creado con objetivos claros a lograr y que deberían mantenerse durante la existencia de
la organización puesto que “un orden de paz y de justicia52” se logra sólo con la existencia
de apoyo y compromiso entre los estados.
En ese orden de ideas, durante la Conferencia Diplomática de Plenipotenciarios de
las Naciones Unidas, estados miembros de la Organización de los Estados Americanos
participaron y estuvieron de acuerdo en la creación de la Corte Penal Internacional. Los
estados miembros de esta organización que han ratificado el Estatuto de Roma son los
siguientes: Antigua y Barbuda, Argentina, Barbados, Belice, Bolivia, Brasil, Canadá53,
Colombia, Costa Rica, Dominica, Ecuador, Guyana, Honduras, México, Panamá,
Paraguay, Perú, República Dominicana, San Kitts y Nevis, San Vicente y las Granadinas,
Surinam, Trinidad y Tobago, Uruguay y Venezuela54.
II. Estados miembros de la Organización de los Estados Americanos que han
celebrado Acuerdos Bilaterales de Inmunidad
Como se mencionó en el capítulo anterior, durante la existencia del Estatuto de
Roma, los Estados Unidos, estado parte de la Organización de los Estados Americanos,
50
Mesicic. Antecedentes, Departamento de Cooperación Jurídica, Organización de los Estados Americanos.
En: www.oas.org/juridico/spanish/mesicic_intro_sp.htm (01 de noviembre, 2008)
51
Informes adoptados, Departamento de Cooperación Jurídica, Organización de los Estados Americanos. Se
debe considerar que países del Caribe como El Salvador, Guyana o República Dominicana participan y
cuentan con informes producto de las reuniones de Mecanismos de seguimiento de la Implementación de la
Convención Interamericana contra la Corrupción. En: www.oas.org/juridico/spanish/mesicic_II_inf.htm (01
de noviembre, 2008).
52
Artículo 1 de la Carta de la Organización de los Estados Americanos, Organización de los Estados
Americanos. En: www.oas.org/juridico/spanish/carta.html (01 de noviembre, 2008).
53
Assembly of States Parties, International Criminal Court. En: www.icc-cpi.int/region&id=1.html (2 de
noviembre del 2008).
54
Assembly of States Parties, International Criminal Court. En: www.icc-cpi.int/region&id=5.html (1 de
noviembre del 2008).
18
negoció Acuerdos Bilaterales de Inmunidad con los estados parte del Estatuto de Roma e
incluso con aquellos que no son parte del estatuto55. La región integrada por países
miembros de la Organización de los Estados Americanos no fue ajena a dicha
negociación y menos aún, a los medios utilizados para celebrar estos acuerdos.
Actualmente, los estados que han celebrado Acuerdos Bilaterales de Inmunidad con los
Estados Unidos son los siguientes:
•
•
•
•
•
Antigua y Barbuda
Belice
Bolivia
Colombia
Dominica
•
•
•
•
El Salvador
Grenada
Guyana
Haití
•
•
•
•
•
Honduras
Nicaragua
Panamá
República
Dominicana
San Kitts y Nevis
Estados Unidos ha celebrado Acuerdos Bilaterales de Inmunidad utilizando medios
como los definidos en el capitulo anterior. De esa manera, la celebración con Belice56 se
basó en la aplicación del American Servicemembers’ Protection Act, por el cual se
suspendió la asistencia militar el 01 de julio del 2003, y se amenazó suspender para el
año fiscal 2004 el apoyo económico que Belice recibía, el cual ascendía
aproximadamente a $/. 400.000.00. El Acuerdo Bilateral de Inmunidad se celebró el 08 de
diciembre del 2003. El mismo medio de persuasión fue utilizado en el caso de Dominica57,
el cual celebró el Acuerdo Bilateral con Estados Unidos el 25 de mayo del 2004. El caso
de Honduras58 fue similar, el acuerdo fue firmado el 19 de septiembre del 2002 y se
encuentra vigente el 30 de junio del 2003. Panamá59 firmó igualmente bajo los mismos
términos (o amenaza) el 23 de junio del 2003 y se encuentra vigente desde el 06 de
noviembre del mismo año. Antígua y Barbuda firmó igualmente un Acuerdo Bilateral de
Inmunidad bajo las mismas condiciones mencionadas anteriormente, el 30 de septiembre
del 2003 y está vigente desde el 29 de septiembre del 2003. Según la información
obtenida de Coalition for the International Criminal Court, Surinam y Jamaica también
habrían negociado un Acuerdo Bilateral de Inmunidad con Estados Unidos en razón a las
restricciones de apoyo económico que se derivan de la American Servicemembers’ Act
pero a la fecha éstos no han sido concretados aún60.
Colombia61 celebró el Acuerdo Bilateral de Inmunidad con Estados Unidos el 16 de
septiembre del 2003 y está vigente desde el 17 de septiembre del 2003. Los motivos son
55
Los países miembros de la Organización de los Estados Americanos que no son parte del Estatuto de Roma
son: El Salvador, Grenada, Haití y Nicaragua.
56
Country Positions on Bilaeral Inmunity AGreements,Coalition for the International Criminal Court. p.04.
En: www.iccnow.org/documents/BIAdb_Current.pdf (02 de noviembre, 2008).
57
Coalition for the International Criminal Court. En: www.iccnow.org/documents/BIAdb_Current.pdf (02 de
noviembre, 2008).p.24.
58
Coalition for the International Criminal Court. Op.cit. p.16.
59
Ibid..p.25.
60
Ibid. p.18 y p. 31.
61
Ibid. p.8.
19
similares al caso anterior ya que el apoyo militar fue suspendido el 1 de julio del 2003,
dicha situación cambió con la celebración del Acuerdo Bilateral de Inmunidad. El acuerdo
fue suscrito como un anexo al Convenio General para Ayuda Económica, Técnica y Afín
entre el Gobierno de Colombia y el gobierno de los Estados Unidos de América”, de
196262. En este caso, tanto la condición de pérdida de apoyo militar como económico fue
un medio suficiente para que Colombia celebre el acuerdo.
Guyana63 celebró el Acuerdo Bilateral de Inmunidad el 13 de diciembre del 2003,
en razón a que no deseaba perder el apoyo militar que Estados Unidos otorga, esta
situación fue declarada por el presidente Bharrat Jagdeo.
En otros casos, las firmas de Acuerdos Bilaterales de Inmunidad fueron
concretadas sin indicio de existencia de alguna amenaza de suspensión de apoyo militar
o económico. Entre estos casos, se encuentra el de República Dominicana64 que firmó el
Acuerdo Bilateral de Inmunidad con Estados Unidos el 13 de septiembre del 2002 y se
encuentra vigente desde el 12 de agosto del 2004. Grenada65 firmó el acuerdo el 11 de
marzo del 2004 y rige desde el 11 de marzo del 2004.
En el caso de Honduras66, se celebró un Acuerdo Bilateral de Inmunidad el 04 de
junio del 2003 y se encuentra vigente desde el 12 de septiembre del 2003. La celebración
de este acuerdo es distinto a los anteriores en razón a que el Acuerdo Bilateral de
Inmunidad celebrado con Honduras es de naturaleza recíproca.
Haití67 firmó el acuerdo el 14 de junio del 2004, un año después las Fuerzas
Armadas de los Estados Unidos intervenga en la Misión ordenada por las Naciones
Unidas para estabilizar la crisis iniciada con la remoción del presidente Jean-Bertrand
Aristide en febrero del 2003.
Bolivia68 firmó el Acuerdo Bilateral de Inmunidad con Estados Unidos el 19 de
mayo del 2003, no obstante, éste no ha sido ratificado por la Cámara de Diputados y
durante el gobierno del presidente Evo Morales, se ha manifestado que el gobierno
boliviano no será parte de un acuerdo de esta naturaleza69.
El Salvador70, firmó el Acuerdo Bilateral de Inmunidad el 25 de octubre del 2002 y
fue ratificado por el parlamento salvadoreño el 29 de abril del 2004. San Kitts y Nevis71,
62
COMISIÓN ANDINA DE JURISTAS. La Corte Penal Internacional y los países andinos. 3ra ed. Lima:
CAJ. p.267.
63
Ibid. p.16.
64
Coalition for the International Criminal Court. En: www.iccnow.org/documents/BIAdb_Current.pdf (02 de
noviembre, 2008) p.10.
65
Coalition for the International Criminal Court. Op.cit. p.15
66
Ibid. p.16.
67
Ibid.loc.cit.
68
Ibid. p.4.
69
COMISIÓN ANDINA DE JURISTAS. Op.cit. p.268.
70
Ibid. p.12.
71
Ibid. p.31.
20
cambió instrumentos el 31 de enero del 2005, no obstante, no existe pronunciamiento
oficial respecto a la existencia del acuerdo.
Respecto a los estados que forman parte del Estatuto de Roma, sus posiciones
respecto a los Acuerdos Bilaterales de Inmunidad ha sido común en cuanto todos se han
opuesto a la celebración de este tipo de acuerdos. El caso, por ejemplo, de Argentina ha
sido de oponerse a este tipo de acuerdos al considerar que ha promocionado a la Corte
Penal Internacional desde un principio y considera la pertinencia del juzgamiento de los
delitos contra la humanidad72. Brasil, de la misma manera, se ha opuesto a la celebración
de este tipo de acuerdos al considerar, también que el apoyo económico para asistencia
militar estadounidense que perdería era muy pequeño73. Otros países como Costa Rica,
Canadá, México, Perú o Santa Lucía, han manifestado su oposición a los Acuerdos
Bilaterales de Inmunidad y de la misma manera han considerado el respeto por lo
establecido por el Estatuto de Roma.
Por todo lo anterior, se aprecia que la situación descrita en el primer capítulo no es
ajena a los países miembros de la Organización de los Estados Americanos. Las
negociaciones realizadas con el fin de celebrar Acuerdos Bilaterales de Inmunidad no sólo
afectan y obstaculizan la competencia de la Corte Penal Internacional, sino que afectan
claramente los fines de protección de los derechos humanos que la Organización de los
Estados Americanos promueve y además de lo anterior, se afectaría la soberanía de los
estados al condicionar la pérdida de apoyo económico y militar si éstos ratifican el
Estatuto de Roma, lo cual es acorde a lo establecido con el Principio relativo a la
obligación de no intervenir en los asuntos que son de la jurisdicción interna de los
Estados, por el cual se prohíbe a los estados aplicar el uso de medidas económicas74.
III. Promoción de la Corte Penal Internacional en la Organización de los Estados
Americanos
La Organización de los Estados Americanos ha manifestado mediante la
Asamblea General, su voluntad de apoyar la creación y promocionar la Corte Penal
Internacional mediante diferentes resoluciones emitidas por este órgano. Dicha
disposición es importante en razón a la intención, como organismo internacional, de lograr
los fines establecidos en la Carta de la Organización de los Estados Americanos, la
misma, que como se menciono al inicio de este capítulo, intenta promocionar (y respetar)
los derechos humanos y justicia en los países miembros.
La promoción de la Corte Penal Internacional debe entenderse como una
manifestación de voluntad de la Organización de los Estados Americanos, la cual es
distinta e independiente a la de los estados miembros75. Ello es importante de resaltar
puesto que dentro de esta organización internacional, la ratificación o adhesión al Estatuto
72
Ibid. p.02.
Ibid. p.05.
74
Resolución 2625 (XXV) de la Asamblea General de Naciones Unidas, 24 de octubre de 1970, Naciones
Unidas.En: www.un.org/documents/ga/res/25/ares25.htm (27 de noviembre, 2008)
75
DIEZ DE VELASCO, Manuel. Las Organizaciones Internacionales. 11va ed. Ed. Tecnos, 1999, p.47 y 113.
73
21
de Roma no ha sido acogida por igual por todos los estados miembros de la Organización
de los Estados Americanos76. Teniendo lo anterior en consideración, el hecho que la
Organización de los Estados Americanos manifieste su apoyo a la Corte Penal
Internacional, no implica una imposición a sus estados miembros a adoptar el Estatuto de
Roma. Ello implicaría una clara afectación a lo dispuesto en el segundo párrafo del
artículo 1 de la Carta de la Organización de los Estados Americanos77 y asimismo,
conllevaría a la afectación a la soberanía de los estados miembros si consideramos la
limitación a la libertad de cada estado en formular su política exterior78.
III.1. Apoyo de la Asamblea General de la Organización de los Estados Americanos
La promoción a la Corte Penal Internacional se inició, como se mencionó al inicio
de este subcapítulo, mediante resoluciones emitidas por la Asamblea General, órgano
supremo de la Organización de los Estados Americanos79. La resolución N° 1565 (XXVIIIO98)80, en el punto N° 07 establece lo siguiente:
“Instar a los Estados miembros a su activa participación en la
Conferencia a celebrarse próximamente en Roma, con el fin de lograr
el establecimiento de un Tribunal Penal Internacional para sancionar
los crímenes de guerra y los crímenes contra la humanidad”.
Dicha resolución resulta de importancia puesto que es la primera resolución
emitida por la Organización de los Estados Americanos que promociona a la Corte Penal
Internacional y además debido a que invoca la atención de los estados miembros de
participar en la creación de la Corte Penal Internacional. No obstante ello, la Organización
de los Estados Americanos, ya promovía con anterioridad a ello, el respeto del Derecho
Internacional Humanitario81.
Las resoluciones emitidas por la Asamblea General, como se aprecia, manifiestan
la importancia la existencia de la Corte Penal Interancional, muestra de ello, es la
76
Como es el caso de Estados Unidos, que ha presentado sus reservas respecto a cualquier resolución dentro
del marco de la Organización de los Estados Americanos que implique un apoyo a la Corte Penal
Internacional.
77
“Artículo 1 de la Carta de la Organización de los Estados Americanos: “ La Organización de los Estados
Americanos no tiene más facultades que aquellas que expresamente le confiere la presente Carta, ninguna de
cuyas disposiciones la autoriza a intervenir en asuntos de la jurisdicción interna de los Estados miembros.”
78
PASTOR RIDRUEJO, José Antonio. Curso de Derecho Internacional Público. 8ed. Ed. Madrid: Tecnos,
2001. p.288-289.
79
Artículo 54 de la Carta de la Organización de los Estados Americanos.
80
Resolución AG/RES. 1565 (XXVIII-O/98), Promoción y respeto del Derecho Internacional Humanitario.
Resolución aprobada en la tercera sesión plenaria de la Asamblea General de la OEA, 02 de junio de 1998).
En: www.oas.org/juridico/spanish/ag-res98/Res1565.htm (03 de noviembre, 2008).
81
La Organización de los Estados Americanos ha promovido mediante diferentes resoluciones la adopción o
adhesión del Protocolo I y II de 1977 adicionales de los Convenios de Ginebra, la Convención de las
Naciones Unidas de 1980 sobre Prohibiciones o restricciones del empleo de ciertas armas convencionales que
puedan considerarse excesivamente nocivas o de efectos indiscriminados, la Convención sobre Prohibición
del empleo o almacenamiento, producción y transferencia de minas antipersonal y sobre su destrucción de
1997, y otros instrumentos internacionales de importancia para el derecho internacional humanitario.
22
Resolución N° 1619 (XXX-O/99) del 17 de junio de 199982, la cual manifiesta la necesidad
de la adopción del Estatuto de Roma. La mencionada resolución declara lo siguiente:
“Consciente de la necesidad de sancionar a los responsables de los
crímenes de guerra y otras violaciones graves del derecho internacional
humanitario, especialmente aquellas de carácter consuetudinario…”
De esa forma, las resoluciones emitidas por la Asamblea General acogen la
importancia compartida a nivel internacional respecto a la importancia de la existencia del
Estatuto de Roma, por lo que muchas resoluciones, a partir de aproximadamente el año
2001, recomendaba a los estados miembros la ratificación o adhesión al estatuto. Así,
anualmente, durante la celebración de las Asambleas Generales, las resoluciones de la
Asamblea General N° 1770 (XXXI-O/01) del 05 de junio del 2001, N° 1900 (XXXII-O/02)
del 04 de junio de 2002, N° 2039 (XXXIV-O/04) del 08 de junio de 2004, N° 2072 (XXXVO/05) del 07 de junio de 2005, N° 2176 (XXXVI-O/06) del 06 de junio del 2006, N° 2279
(XXXVII-O/07) del 05 de junio de 2007 y también en la N° 2364 (XXXVIII-O/08) del 03 de
junio del 2008 han concordado un punto en común:
“Exhortar a los Estados miembros de la Organización que aún no lo
hayan hecho, a que consideren la posibilidad de ratificar o adheririse,
según sea el caso, el Estatuto de Roma de la Corte Penal
Internacional.”
Este pronunciamiento es compartido igualmente por la Comisión Interamericana
de Derechos Humanos la cual emitió la Resolución N° 1/03, en donde se pronuncia en
“contra de los delitos de genocidio, crímenes de lesa humanidad y crímenes de guerra,
como una grave ofensa a la dignidad humana y negación flagrante a los principios
fundamentales de la Carta de la Organización de los Estados Americanos y de las
Naciones Unidas”83, exhortando a los estados miembros de la Organización de los
Estados Americanos a ratificar el Estatuto de Roma.
III.2 Apoyo de la Organización de los Estados Americanos en la implementación del
Estatuto de Roma
Un punto de importancia en la promoción de la Corte Penal internacional, son las
acciones que la Organización de los Estados Americanos ha tomado para la
implementación del Estatuto de Roma en la legislación interna de los estados miembros.
En relación a ello, se emitió el “Marco de referencia para la acción de la Organización de
Estados Americanos con respecto a la Corte Penal Internacional”, el cual fue presentado
82
Resolución AG/RES 1706 (XXX-O/00), Promoción y respeto del Derecho Internacional Humanitario,
Resolución aprobada en la primera sesión plenaria de la Asamblea general de la OEA, 05 de junio de 2000).
En: www.oas.org/juridico/spanish/ag00/agres_1706_xxxo00.htm (03 de noviembre, 2008).
83
Resolución N° 1/03 Sobre Juzgamientos de Crímenes Internacionales. Comisión Interamericana de
Derechos Humanos. Washington D.C., 24 de octubre del 2003.En: www.oas.org/dil/esp/Re_103_Comisi%C3%B3n_Interamericana_de_Derechos_Humanos.pdf (04 de noviembre, 2008).
23
por la delegación de Canadá el 05 de junio del 2000, el cual tiene como fin el implementar
el Estatuto de Roma en la legislación de los estados miembros por medio de cooperación
entre los estados que compartirían su experiencia en el tema84.
La participación de los órganos internos de la Organización de los Estados
Americanos resulta importante, como por ejemplo la participación de la Comisión de
Asuntos Jurídicos y Políticos que ha celebrado desde el año 200585, las denominadas
“Sesiones de Trabajo sobre la Corte Penal Internacional”, las cuales realizan labores de
información realizadas miembros de la Corte Penal Internacional, de organismos no
gubernamentales que apoyan a la Corte Penal Internacional, así de representantes de la
Organización de los Estados Americanos y el avance de los estados miembros respecto a
la implementación del Estatuto de Roma en su legislación interna. De lo último, en la
última sesión realizada a inicios del año 2008, se contó con la experiencia de la
implementación del Estatuto de Roma en los países de Argentina, Costa Rica, Ecuador y
Venezuela86.
Durante la tercera Sesión de Trabajo sobre la Corte Penal Internacional, celebrada
en el año 200787, existe un punto que resulta importante para el objeto del presente
trabajo. Paulina Vega, miembro de la Coalición por la Corte Penal Internacional, expuso
respecto a la cooperación de organismos intergubernamentales con la Corte Penal
Internacional. En dicha presentación, se resaltó el papel que las organizaciones
internacionales pueden realizar para cooperar y asistir, las cuales, según el mismo
artículo 87, inciso 6, del Estatuto de Roma, se basa en el intercambio de información,
entrega de documentos o uso de personal gratuito. El apoyo incluso puede ser inclusive
mayor, de un pacto entre la Corte Penal Internacional y la organización internacional, pero
siempre dentro de los límites que establezca la carta de creación de la organización
internacional.
Lo anterior resulta de importancia debido a que como se mencionó en el capítulo
anterior, la cooperación entre países, y por lo tanto, la cooperación proveniente de un
organismo internacional, es necesaria para que la Corte Penal Internacional pueda
cumplir sus funciones de una manera eficaz.
Como se puede apreciar de todo lo desarrollado en el segundo capítulo, la
Organización de Estados Americanos es clara respecto al apoyo al Estatuto de Roma y
84
El Informe presentado a la Asamblea General N° 248/00 declara lo siguiente: “OAS states should share
expertise on implementing the ICC Statue, including through organizing an OAS seminar on
implementation..”
85
Sesiones de Trabajo realizados por el Departamento de Derecho Internacional. Organización de los Estados
Americanos. En: www.oas.org/dil/esp/corte_penal_internacional_sesiones_de_trabajo.htm (03 de noviembre,
2008).
86
Informe de las Sesiones de trabajo sobre la Corte Penal Internacional. Comisión de Asuntos Jurídicos y
Políticos, Organización de los Estados Americanos, Washington D.C., 28 de enero del 2008. En:
www.oas.org/dil/esp/CP-CAJP_2569-08_esp.pdf (04 de noviembre,2008).
87
Informe de Sesión de Trabajo de la Corte Penal Internacional, Washington D.C., 02 de febrero del 2007,
Organización de los Estados Americanos. En: www.oas.org/dil/esp/CP-CAJP_2457-07_rev1_esp.pdf (04 de
noviembre, 2008).
24
por lo tanto, a la existencia de la Corte Penal Internacional. Considerando que la misma
Organización de los Estados Americanos tiene como fin el respeto a los derechos
humanos y la justicia, las mismas que solo pueden obtenerse mediante la participación de
todos los estados miembros. Dentro de esta política, las diferentes resoluciones emitidas
por la Asamblea General resultan de importancia puesto que inician además las diferentes
acciones para el apoyo a la Corte Penal Internacional, la cual, como se apreció en este
capítulo se concreta a través de la celebración de las Sesiones de Trabajo.
No obstante, no se dejar de tomar atención a las reservas de los Estados Unidos,
las cuales son constantes en todas las resoluciones emitidas a favor de la Promoción de
la Corte Penal Internacional88. Estas reservas, declaran no sólo su oposición al Estatuto
de Roma, sino que además no apoya “el uso de del presupuesto ordinario de la OEA para
financiar actividades de cooperación o cualquier otro tipo de apoyo que se brinde a la
Corte Penal Internacional, incluso si ello se realiza de conformidad con un acuerdo de
cooperación entre la OEA y la Corte. Estados Unidos entiende que cualquier apoyo
procederá solamente de las contribuciones a los fondos específicos”. De ello, solo se
podría asumir, que el apoyo económico estadounidense a la Organización de los Estados
Americanos es para tomarlo en atención.
A partir de esta situación, se plantearán en el siguiente capítulo las diferentes
consecuencias internacionales, no sólo a nivel de los estados respecto a sus obligaciones
internacionales, sino también las implicancias que podrían tener dentro de su participación
en una organización internacional.
88
Por ejemplo, la resolución de la Asamblea General N° 2279 (XXXVII-O/07) del 05 de junio del 2007.
25
Capítulo III
Implicancias derivadas de la celebración de los Acuerdos Bilaterales de Inmunidad
Los Acuerdos Bilaterales de Inmunidad celebrados con Estados Unidos conllevan
a consecuencias que no solo proceden de la interpretación obtenida del Estatuto de
Roma, sino que además están directamente relacionadas a la Convención de Viena del
derecho de los tratados.
Estas implicancias, resultan importantes al considerar los cimientos comunes que
los estados miembros de la Organización de los Estados Americanos tienen, toda vez que
se basan en el respeto a los derechos humanos, respeto que se refleja no solo en
tratados internacionales89 sino también en disposiciones de instrumentos jurídicos del
ordenamiento jurídico de cada estado. Por ello, los Acuerdos Bilaterales de Inmunidad
resultan contraproducentes para el cumplimiento de los fines de cada estado, de la
Organización de los Estados Americanos y la comunidad internacional
I. Interpretación del segundo párrafo del artículo 98 del Estatuto de Roma
Como se mencionó en el primer capítulo, los Acuerdos Bilaterales de Inmunidad
han sido celebrados a partir de una interpretación derivada del segundo párrafo del
artículo 98 del Estatuto de Roma, el cual establece lo siguiente:
Artículo 98 del Estatuto de Roma:
2. La Corte no dará curso a una solicitud de entrega en virtud de la cual
el Estado requerido deba actuar en forma incompatible con las
obligaciones que le imponga un acuerdo internacional conforme al cual
se requiera el consentimiento del Estado que envíe para entregar a la
Corte a una persona sujeta a la jurisdicción de ese Estado, a menos que
ésta obtenga primero la cooperación del Estado que envíe para que dé
su consentimiento o la entrega.
Si bien la celebración de los Acuerdos Bilaterales de Inmunidad están derivados
de dicho artículo, la interpretación realizada para la existencia de éstos acuerdos son
equivocados.
La Convención de Viena del derecho de los tratados90, en los artículos 31 a 33,
regula la interpretación que debe ser otorgada a los tratados internacionales. En razón a
ello, menciona, en el artículo 31:
89
Los cuales fueron mencionados en el Capítulo II, no obstante, estos son solo dentro del ámbito de la
Organización de los Estados Americanos.
90
Suscrita en la ciudad de Viena el 23 de mayo de 1969 y vigente desde el 27 de enero de 1980. Estados
Unidos firmó dicho instrumento internacional el 24 de abril de 1970, no obstante no ha sido ratificado por el
Senado al considerar que la Convención contiene costumbre internacional respecto al derecho de los tratados.
26
Artículo 31: Un tratado deberá interpretarse de buena fe conforme al
sentido corriente que haya de atribuirse a los términos del tratado en el
contexto de estos y teniendo en cuenta su objeto y fin.
Para los efectos de la interpretación de un tratado, el contexto
comprenderá además del texto, incluidos su preámbulo y anexos:
a) todo acuerdo que se refiera al tratado y haya sido concertado
entre todas las partes con motivo de la celebración del tratado;
b) todo instrumento formulado por una o más partes con motivo de
la celebración del tratado y aceptado por las demás como
instrumento referente al tratado;
Juntamente con el contexto, habrá de tenerse en cuenta:
a) todo acuerdo ulterior entre las partes acerca de la interpretación
del tratado o de la aplicación de sus disposiciones;
b) toda practica ulteriormente seguida en la aplicación del tratado
por la cual conste el acuerdo de las partes acerca de la
interpretación del tratado;
c) toda forma pertinente de derecho internacional aplicable en las
relaciones entre las partes.
Se dará a un término un sentido especial si consta que tal fue la
intención de las partes.
En razón a lo anterior, y teniendo en cuenta el primer y segundo párrafo del
artículo 31, al considerar el contexto mencionado en dicho artículo, el Estatuto de Roma
tiene como fin y objeto administrar justicia y prevenir la impunidad de los responsables de
actos de genocidio, crímenes de guerra y crímenes de lesa humanidad91. Ello se confirma,
además, a partir de lo prescrito en el preámbulo del Estatuto de Roma:
Afirmando que los crímenes más graves de trascendencia para la
comunidad internacional en su conjunto no deben quedar sin castigo
y que, a tal fin, hay que adoptar medidas en el plano nacional e
intensificar la cooperación internacional para asegurar que sean
efectivamente sometidos a la acción de la justicia,
Decididos a poner fin a la impunidad de los autores de esos crímenes
y a contribuir así a la prevención de nuevos crímenes,
91
GAMARRA CHOPO, Yolanda. La Política Hostil de Estados Unidos contra la Corte Penal Internacional.
En: Revista Española de Derecho Internacional. Volumen LVII, n° 01, 2005, p.158.
27
Teniendo ello, en cuenta, este fin es contrario a las obligaciones y fines derivados
de los Acuerdos Bilaterales de Inmunidad, toda vez que éstos tienen como fin evitar la
punición de posibles autores de los delitos mencionados anteriormente, lo que conlleva
por lo tanto, a la impunidad de éstos. Por ello, no cabría lugar una interpretación como la
pretendida por Estados Unidos puesto que está claramente en contra del fin y objeto del
Estatuto de Roma, que permita la celebración de Acuerdos Bilaterales de Inmunidad.
II. Incumplimiento de obligaciones asumidas por los Estados Parte del Estatuto de
Roma
La ratificación del Estatuto de Roma implica que los estados parte tienen el
compromiso de cumplir lo dispuesto en dicho instrumento internacional toda vez que
están obligados jurídicamente al cumplimiento de lo dispuesto en él92. Por ello, al
establecerse una manifestación de voluntad válida para vincularse a un tratado
internacional, éste no debe ser incumplido de alguna forma por los estados. De ello se
deriva el cumplimiento del Principio de Pacta Sunt Servanda y el Principio de Buena Fe
que gobierna la celebración de tratados los cuales provienen del artículo 26 de la
Convención de Viena sobre el derecho de los tratados, el cual prescribe lo siguiente:
Artículo 26: Todo tratado en vigor obliga a las partes y debe ser
cumplido por ellas de buena fe”.
Actualmente los siguientes estados miembros de la Organización de los Estados
Americanos han ratificado el Estatuto de Roma y asimismo, han celebrado Acuerdos
Bilaterales y actualmente se encuentran en vigor93:
•
•
•
•
Antigua y Barbuda
Belice
Colombia
Dominica
•
•
Guyana
República
Dominicana
•
•
•
Honduras
Panamá
San Kitts y Nevis
Se debe precisar que los Acuerdos Bilaterales de Inmunidad celebrados con estos
estados se encuentran en vigor en razón a haber sido celebrados por medio de convenios
ejecutivos internacionales (en el caso Antigua y Barbuda94 y Colombia95); por haber sido
92
NOVAK TALAVERA, Fabián y GARCÍA-CORROCHANO MOYANO Luis. Derecho Internacional
Público. Tomo I. 1era Ed. Fondo Editorial de la Pontificia Universidad Católica del Perú. Lima: 2003, p. 194.
93
Salvo el caso de Bolivia, el cual pese a firmar un Acuerdo Bilateral de Inmunidad con Estados Unidos, el
procedimiento de ratificación conforme a su constitución, no concluyó. Actualmente, no existe intención de
ratificar con Estados unidos, dicho acuerdo.
94
Información regional y por país, Coalición por la Corte Penal Internacional. En:
www.iccnow.org/?mod=country&iduct=6 (26 de noviembre, 2008)
95
Información regional y por país, Coalición por la Corte Penal Internacional. En:
www.iccnow.org/?mod=country&iduct=37 (26 de noviembre, 2008)
28
ratificados (en el caso de Guyana96 y Honduras97), por haber intercambiado notas (en el
caso de Belice98 y Dominica99) y por la sola firma de los Acuerdos Bilaterales de
Inmunidad (en el caso de Panamá100, República Dominicana101 y San Kitts y Nevis102)
Por otro lado, cabe nuevamente mencionar, que la Corte Penal Internacional
requiere para su funcionamiento la cooperación de los estados parte. Por ello, todo acto
que implique la afectación a dicha cooperación solicitada por la Corte Penal Internacional,
afecta directamente el funcionamiento de la corte. Lo anterior es destacado y mencionado
por el presidente de la Corte Penal Internacional, Phillipe Kirsch, quien en un artículo
publicado en el International Law Review de la American University, concluye que la Corte
Penal Internacional “no puede acabar la impunidad por sí sola, sino que depende del
apoyo y el compromiso de los estados, organizaciones internacionales y la sociedad
civil103”. Por ello, dicha cooperación es “absolutamente crucial”104.
La cooperación que la Corte Penal Internacional requiere está establecida por los
artículos 86, 87, 89 y 90 del Estatuto de Roma. El artículo 86, de modo general menciona
la cooperación que se requiere a los estados parte durante el proceso seguido ante la
Corte Penal Internacional. Dicho artículo prescribe lo siguiente:
Artículo 86: Los Estados Partes, de conformidad con lo dispuesto en el
presente Estatuto, cooperarán plenamente con la Corte en relación con la
investigación y el enjuiciamiento de crímenes de su competencia.
En razón a todo lo anterior, se puede apreciar que se configuraría un hecho
internacionalmente ilícito105 al establecerse, según el plano del derecho objetivo106, un
96
Información regional y por país, Coalición por la Corte Penal Internacional. En:
www.iccnow.org/?mod=country&iduct=71 (26 de noviembre, 2008)
97
Información regional y por país, Coalición por la Corte Penal Internacional. En:
www.iccnow.org/?mod=country&iduct=74 (26 de noviembre, 2008)
98
Summary of Information on Bilateral Inmunity Agreements, Coalition for the International Criminal Court.
En: www.iccnow.org/documents/BIAdb_Current.pdf (26 de noviembre, 2008), p.4.
99
Summary of Information on Bilateral Inmunity Agreements, Coalition for the International Criminal Court.
En: www.iccnow.org/documents/BIAdb_Current.pdf (26 de noviembre, 2008), p 10.
100
Summary of Information on Bilateral Inmunity Agreements, Coalition for the International Criminal
Court. En: www.iccnow.org/documents/BIAdb_Current.pdf (26 de noviembre, 2008), p.25.
101
Summary of Information on Bilateral Inmunity Agreements, Coalition for the International Criminal
Court. En: www.iccnow.org/documents/BIAdb_Current.pdf (26 de noviembre, 2008), p 10.
102
Summary of Information on Bilateral Inmunity Agreements, Coalition for the International Criminal
Court. En: www.iccnow.org/documents/BIAdb_Current.pdf (26 de noviembre, 2008), p 31.
103
KIRSCH, Phillipe. “The Role of the International Criminal Court in enforcing International Criminal
Law”. En: International Law Review, volumen 22, n° 04, - Año 2007, p. 545-547
104
KIRSCH, Phillipe. Loc.cit. p.547.
105
DIEZ DE VELASCO, Manuel. Instituciones de Derecho Internacional Público. 13ª edición, Madrid:
Tecnos, 2001, p.692.
29
incumplimiento de las obligaciones asumidas por los estados parte del Estatuto de Roma
respecto a la cooperación que la Corte Penal Internacional solicitase en razón a los
artículo pertinentes del Estatuto de Roma. Ello es acorde con lo dispuesto en el artículo
12 del Proyecto de la Comisión de Derecho Internacional sobre responsabilidad de los
estados107:
Artículo 12: Hay violación de una obligación internacional por un estado
cuando un hecho de ese estado no está de conformidad con lo que de él
se exige esa obligación, sea cual fuere el origen o la naturaleza de esa
obligación
En consecuencia, el hecho internacionalmente ilícito conllevaría a que los estados
parte del Estatuto de Roma incurran en responsabilidad internacional por el
incumplimiento de cooperación con la Corte Penal Internacional108.
III. Asamblea de los Estados Parte del Estatuto de Roma
La participación de la Asamblea de los Estados Parte del Estatuto de Roma en la
solución de controversias que podrían suscitarse en base a las funciones judiciales de la
Corte Penal Internacional resultan importantes al considerar que es una posible solución
alternativa y pacífica respecto a las situaciones creadas por el incumplimiento de
obligaciones referidas a la cooperación internacional derivadas del Estatuto de Roma109.
Ello sería acorde con el segundo párrafo del artículo 119 del Estatuto de Roma, el
cual establece lo siguiente:
Artículo 119: Las controversias relativas a las funciones judiciales de la
Corte serán dirimidas por ella.
Cualquier otra controversia que surja entre dos o más Estados Partes
respecto de la interpretación o aplicación del presente Estatuto que no se
resuelva mediante negociaciones en un plazo de tres meses contado desde
el comienzo de la controversia será sometida a la Asamblea de los Estados
Partes. La Asamblea podrá tratar de resolver por sí misma la controversia o
recomendar otros medios de solución, incluida su remisión a la Corte
Internacional de Justicia de conformidad con el Estatuto de ésta.
106
DIEZ DE VELASCO, Manuel. Loc. cit. p. 692.
A/Res/56/83, Responsabilidad del Estado por hechos internacionalmente ilícitos.28 de enero del 2002,
Naciones
Unidas.
En:
http://daccessdds.un.org/doc/UNDOC/GEN/N01/478/00/PDF/N0147800.pdf?OpenElement (18 noviembre,
2008)
108
DIEZ DE VELASCO, Manuel. Instituciones de Derecho Internacional Público. 13ª edición, Madrid:
Tecnos, 2001, p.693.
109
GAMARRA CHOPO, Yolanda. La Política Hostil de Estados Unidos contra la Corte Penal Internacional.
En: Revista Española de Derecho Internacional. Volumen LVII, n° 01, 2005, p.164.
107
30
IV. Situación respecto a estados que no son parte del Estatuto de Roma
Si bien en los subcapítulos desarrollados anteriormente se refieren a los estados
parte del Estatuto de Roma que han firmado y ratificado Acuerdos Bilaterales de
Inmunidad, una situación distinta se deriva de aquellos estados que no forman son parte
del Estatuto de Roma.
En el caso de El Salvador, Grenada, Nicaragua y Haití110 se debe tener presente
que pese a que la celebración de Acuerdos Bilaterales de Inmunidad implica evitar la
jurisdicción de la Corte Penal Internacional, ello no conlleva a que estos estados estén
obligados a cooperar con la Corte Penal Internacional, toda vez que no están vinculados
jurídicamente por medio del Estatuto de Roma.
Se debe precisar que los Acuerdos Bilaterales de Inmunidad respecto a estos
estados, están vigentes por medio de ratificación (como el caso del Salvador y
Nicaragua), firma (como el caso de Haití) y por intercambio de notas (en el caso de
Grenada).
No obstante, la celebración de Acuerdos Bilaterales de Inmunidad no evitan ser
celebrados en forma controversial, como es el caso de El Salvador, el cual si bien ratificó
el Acuerdo Bilateral de Inmunidad, el proceso de ratificación fue inconstitucional puesto
que no se basó en una mayoría de votos y además la competencia para la ratificación le
pertenecía a la Asamblea Legislativa de El Salvador y no al Comité de Relaciones
Internacionales111.
No obstante, se debe tener presente que la Corte Penal Internacional funciona de
manera complementaria a la jurisdicción nacional de cada estado, tal y como lo prescribe
el artículo 1 del Estatuto de Roma112. Por ello, la competencia de ejercer jurisdicción le
pertenece a cada estado y este poder no puede ser reducido por Acuerdos Bilaterales de
Inmunidad que conllevan a la impunidad de autores de delitos internacionales. En razón a
ello, estos estados si bien no han firmando, excepto Haití, y ratificado el Estatuto de Roma
no implica que éstos deban dejar de ejercer sus funciones correspondientes al
juzgamiento de posibles autores de estos delitos.
110
Se debe tomar en cuenta, que El Salvador, Grenada y Nicaragua no han firmado el Estatuto de Roma pero
en la actualidad, los Acuerdos Bilaterales de Inmunidad se encuentran en vigor. El gobierno de Haití, ha
realizado la firma del Estatuto de Roma pero a la fecha, no lo ha ratificado y en actualidad, el Acuerdos
Bilaterales de Inmunidad celebrado con Estados Unidos se encuentra en vigor.
111
Summary of Information on Bilateral Inmunity Agreements, Coalition for the International Criminal
Court. En: www.iccnow.org/documents/BIAdb_Current.pdf (26 de noviembre, 2008), p.12.
112
Artículo 1: Se instituye por el presente una Corte Penal Internacional ("la Corte"). La Corte será una
institución permanente, estará facultada para ejercer su jurisdicción sobre personas respecto de los crímenes
más graves de trascendencia internacional de conformidad con el presente Estatuto y tendrá carácter
complementario de las jurisdicciones penales nacionales. La competencia y el funcionamiento de la Corte se
regirán por las disposiciones del presente Estatuto.
31
Finalmente, se debe considerar que la celebración de dichos acuerdos, conllevaría
a la contradicción de principios referidos a justicia, libertad y respeto a los derechos
humanos que todo estado contiene en su ordenamiento jurídico y que es compartido en la
comunidad internacional y que están contenidos en tratados internacionales tales como la
Convención Interamericana de Derechos Humanos y asimismo, la Declaración Universal
de los Derechos Humanos. Por todo lo anterior, existiría un mandato interno y a la vez
internacional de protección a los derechos humanos113. En razón a ello, tambien cabría en
estos casos, de la configuración de hechos ilícitos internacionales y por consiguiente, en
responsabilidad internacional114.
V. Disyuntiva: ¿Cooperar con Estados Unidos o con la Corte Penal Internacional?
La trascendencia de la creación de Corte Penal Internacional como un medio
necesario para administrar justicia y prevenir la impunidad de los responsables de los
delitos genocidio, crímenes de guerra y crímenes de lesa humanidad, implica un proceso
histórico iniciado a mediados del siglo XIX115. La existencia, y por ende el funcionamiento
de este tipo de jurisdicción, logra este fin, condenando a los responsables de
transgresiones a los derechos humanos por conflictos armados externos e internos o
también, por ejemplo, porque en la actualidad, existen procesos seguidos por crímenes de
guerra, lesa humanidad a altos mandos militares de la República democrática del Congo,
la República Africana Central, Darfur, Sudan o Uganda.
Dicho ejemplo es digno de repetirse en el continente americano y los países del
Caribe, toda vez que ningún estado es libre de poder cumplir con los requisitos de
objetividad que los órganos judiciales requieren. Muchas veces son los estados mismos
los que protegen a los mismos culpables. Dicha situación solo podría ser solucionada con
la intervención de la Corte Penal Internacional, considerando que éste podría actuar de
forma imparcial y administrar justicia bajo ninguna forma de influencia, pese a lo atribuido
por Estados Unidos.
Por ello, dentro los fines de la Organización de los Estados Americanos, que
pretenden fines democráticos y respeto a los derechos humanos, la administración de
justicia es reconocida por esta organización internacional como un fin necesario en sus
estados miembros. Por ello, la ratificación y adhesión al Estatuto de Roma es necesaria,
toda vez que es un medio jurisdiccional más que coopera en la consecución de dichos
fines.
Dentro de un marco de comunidad internacional, inclusive, dichos fines son
acogidos, toda vez que el acceso a la justicia y su administración y el respeto a los
113
CARRILLO SALCEDO, Juan Antonio. Soberanía de los estados y derechos humanos en el Derecho
Internacional contemporáneo. 2da Ed. Madrid: Tecnos: 1995, p.19.
114
CARRILLO SALCEDO, Juan Antonio. Loc cit. p.20.
115
Considerando como una manifestación de ello, el Proyecto de convenio relativo a la institución de un
órgano judicial internacional para la prevención y represión de las violaciones del Convenio de Ginebra de
Gustave Moynier, presentado en Ginebra en 1872.
32
derechos humanos son considerados como fines comunes en todos los estados116. En
razón a ello, la celebración de los Acuerdos Bilaterales de Inmunidad conlleva a un
retraso y un gran obstáculo para una comunidad internacional que intenta lograr mejores
estándares de respeto a los derechos humanos.
De esta manera, la amenaza económica, la amenaza de suspensión de apoyo
militar o las derivadas de la American Servicemembers’ Protection Act con los que
Estados Unidos condiciona a los demás estados, solo muestra un proyecto unilateral que
conlleva al retraso de estos estados, un retraso innecesario en un sistema internacional
que debería solo intentar lograr fines de respeto de derechos y cooperación internacional.
Por ello, la disyuntiva entre cooperar con la Corte Penal Internacional o con
Estados Unidos, no es tan compleja toda vez que debe considerar el bien mayor que todo
estado requiere observar. Un bien mayor que va de la mano con el respeto a los derechos
de sus ciudadanos y la protección en sí, del estado de derecho y por consiguiente, de su
ordenamiento jurídico. De esta forma, la protección de protección a los ciudadanos, la
correcta administración de justicia, la celebración de acuerdos que conlleven a la mejora
de todo lo anterior, solo implica muestras de un sistema internacional que puede cambiar
para bien.
Por ello, la cooperación internacional es necesaria e importante para el
funcionamiento de la Corte Penal Internacional. Y dicha cooperación no puede ser
detenida por acuerdos que Estados Unidos propone, toda vez que se afectan fines que no
solo pertenecen al Estatuto de Roma, sino que pertenece a la comunidad internacional
actual. Por ello, la opción a elegir en todos los casos no debería versar en beneficios
económicos, sino en pos de un sistema internacional más igualitario.
116
CARRILLO SALCEDO, Juan Antonio. Soberanía de los estados y derechos humanos en el Derecho
Internacional contemporáneo. 2da Ed. Madrid: Tecnos: 1995, p.20.
33
Conclusiones
1. Los Acuerdos Bilaterales de Inmunidad son instrumentos internacionales
celebrados entre Estados Unidos y otro estado parte, o no, del Estatuto de Roma.
Dichos acuerdos tienen el propósito de evitar que los estados que forman parte de
la Corte Penal Internacional detengan y entreguen a personal militar o político de
Estados Unidos a la Corte. No obstante, dicha protección no versa sólo sobre
personal militar o político, sino sobre todo ciudadano estadounidense.
2. Los Acuerdos Bilaterales de Inmunidad no pueden derivarse de una interpretación
del segundo párrafo del artículo 98 del Estatuto de Roma, toda vez que no es
acorde a su fin y objeto: administrar justicia y evitar la impunidad de los
responsables de delitos internacionales.
3. La celebración de Acuerdos Bilaterales de Inmunidad podrían conllevar a los
estados parte del Estatuto de Roma a configurar un hecho internacionalmente
ilícito al establecerse el incumplimiento del Estatuto de Roma con respecto a la
cooperación que la Corte Penal Internacional requiriese a los estados parte.
Dicha situación implicaría que los estados parte del Estatuto de Roma incurran en
responsabilidad internacional.
4. Los Acuerdos Bilaterales de Inmunidad, al establecer la obstaculización de las
funciones de la Corte Penal Internacional, conllevan a una directa afectación de su
sistema de funcionamiento debido a que la Corte Penal Internacional requiere la
cooperación de los estados parte para cumplir con sus funciones. En razón a ello,
la celebración de Acuerdos Bilaterales de Inmunidad deben ser rechazados en
beneficio de un sistema internacional que conlleve a evitar la impunidad de
responsables de delitos internacionales.
5. Dentro del marco de la Organización de los Estados Americanos, catorce estados
miembros han celebrado Acuerdos Bilaterales de Inmunidad con Estados Unidos,
la mayoría de éstos se encuentran en vigor en la actualidad. Ello contraviene a
gran escala, los fines de la Organización de los Estados Americanos referidos,
principalmente, a la promoción de los derechos humanos toda vez que los
Acuerdos Bilaterales de Inmunidad conllevan no solo a la afectación de los
derechos humanos de las víctimas de delitos internacionales sino también a la
impunidad de los responsables.
6. Las actividades realizadas dentro de la Organización de los Estados Americanos
dirigidas a promocionar la Corte Penal Internacional, son un proyecto importante
debido a la importancia de la participación de los estados miembros de la
Organización de los Estados Americanos en los procesos de implementación del
Estatuto de Roma y del incentivo hacia los estados miembros para adherir o
ratificar el Estatuto de Roma.
34
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