Time: Sun Dec 14 20:31:11 1997 To: From: Paul Andrew Mitchell [address in tool bar] Subject: SLS: New World Court---London Sunday Times 12/12/97 Cc: Bcc: sls References: <snip> > >>>Source: The London Times >>>World News - The Times >>>December 12 1997 >>>No. 66 071 >>> >>> >>>Britain seeks stronger world court >>> >>>FROM JAMES BONE >>>IN NEW YORK >>>> >>>>BRITAIN is breaking ranks with the other big powers to support proposals >>>>giving greater authority and independence to the planned International >>>>Criminal Court. >>>> >>>>During two weeks of negotiations at the United Nations, British diplomats >>>>have signalled the Government's willingness to limit the Security Council's >>>>ability to block investigations into genocide and other war crimes. Britain >>>>has also lobbied for "fast-track" extradition of suspects and argued for a >>>>broad interpretation of what type of crimes should be covered by the new >>>>world court, which is to be established at a conference in Rome in June and >>>>July. >>>> >>>>Unlike the existing International Court of Justice in The Hague, the new >>>>court will hear cases against individuals as well as states, operating like >>>>the current war crimes tribunals on Rwanda and the former Yugoslavia. In >>>>future, leaders who commit genocide might be hauled before the court. >>>> >>>>"The British Government wants there to be an effective and independent >>>>international criminal court with proper powers of investigation," said Sir >>>>John Weston, Britain's UN representative. "This latest session of >>>>preparatory work has made some good progress. The British Government is >>>>taking a forward attitude in the drafting of the convention." >>>> >>>>Human rights groups praised Britain's new stance, attributing the policy >>>>switch to the arrival of the Labour Government and its "ethical foreign >>>>policy". One rights activist gave Elizabeth Wilmshurst, the Foreign Office >>>>lawyer who is acting as Britain's chief negotiator, a human rights badge to >>>>congratulate her on changing her position. >>>> >>>>"The British position is an important step forward in breaking ranks over >>>>the key issue of Security Council control of the court," said Jelena Pesic, >>>>of the Lawyers Committee for Human Rights. >>>> >>>>Copyright 1997 The Times Newspapers Limited. >>>> >>>># # # > <snip>
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