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Us threatens cutting off military aid { July 2 2003 } Original Source Link: (May no longer be active)
http://www.smh.com.au/articles/2003/07/01/1056825397892.htmlhttp://www.smh.com.au/articles/2003/07/01/1056825397892.html
Washington gets heavy over International Criminal Court
By Peter Slevin in Washington
July 2 2003
The Bush Administration, intent on exempting United States citizens from prosecution by the International Criminal Court, has threatened to cut off military aid to dozens of allies that refuse to sign immunity deals.
A deadline for co-operation expired on June 30, freezing money not yet spent this year by about 35 countries and putting them on notice that they could be denied millions for military equipment and training programs in the next budget year if they do not comply with US wishes.
The State Department played down the heavy-handed pressure, saying the immediate impact would be minimal. However, "there should be no misunderstanding that the protection of US citizens from potential prosecution by the International Criminal Court will be a significant and pressing matter in our relations with every state", the State Department said.
Forty-four countries have publicly signed agreements protecting US personnel from the court, and at least another seven have signed agreements but do not want them publicised, the State Department said.
President George Bush and his aides are reviewing projects in a number of countries for waivers that could be announced soon. Other nations, including the NATO allies, receive automatic exemptions. But a fierce struggle is under way that has led to bad feelings and leaves some small countries feeling squeezed.
It hardly seems fair, a Lithuanian official said, to face an aid cut-off over the international court issue despite "standing along with the United States in your fight against terrorism and sending troops to Afghanistan and Iraq". Lithuania is one of seven countries expected to join NATO next year and needs US funding to upgrade its military.
Croatia has a more complex problem. US authorities have for years been pressing Zagreb to surrender Croatians for war crimes prosecutions at the International Criminal Tribunal for the former Yugoslavia in The Hague. The issue is politically divisive in a country where some political groups believe the matter should be settled at home.
At the same time, the Bush Administration is demanding a written promise - known as an Article 98 agreement - from Croatia that no Americans charged in the future with war crimes or other grave offences would be extradited to the new International Criminal Court.
The immediate effect of this week's deadline is limited. The budget year is only three months from completion and most money has been spent.
Countries exempted from the punishment ordered by Congress include the 18 other NATO members, Israel, Egypt, Australia, New Zealand, South Korea and Japan. Administration officials have said privately that other waivers will not come easily.
The Washington Post, Reuters
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