{"id":606151,"date":"2019-04-08T20:20:01","date_gmt":"2019-04-08T20:20:01","guid":{"rendered":"
\n
\"\"<\/p>\n
\n
\n
\"\"
International Criminal Court chief prosecutor Fatou Bensouda<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n

\u201cIt is our understanding that should not have an impact on the Prosecutor\u2019s travel to the US to meet her obligations to the UN, including regular briefings before the UN Security Council,\u201d her office said in a statement.<\/p>\n

\u201cThe Office of the Prosecutor has an independent and impartial mandate under the Rome Statute of the ICC. The Prosecutor and her Office will continue to undertake that statutory duty with utmost commitment and professionalism, without fear or favor,\u201d it said.<\/p>\n

A State Department spokesperson reiterated that the US would \u201ctake the necessary steps to protect its sovereignty and to protect our people from unjust investigation and prosecution by the International Criminal Court (ICC).\u201d<\/p>\n

UN Spokesperson St\u00e9phane Dujarric said Friday that they \u201cexpect the United States to live up to the agreement to allow for the travel of ICC staff members to do their work at the United Nations.\u201d<\/p>\n

\n

The State Department spokesperson said the US will implement the visa restrictions \u201cconsistent with applicable law, including the UN Headquarters Agreement.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cUnder these measures, we will not interfere with travel to the UN for official UN purposes,\u201d they said.<\/p>\n

Secretary of State Mike Pompeo announced in mid-March that the US would revoke or deny visas to ICC personnel \u2014 a move meant to deter a potential investigation by the Hague-based judicial body into alleged war crimes and crimes against humanity committed by US troops in Afghanistan.<\/p>\n

\n

Pompeo said the restrictions apply to \u201cpersons who take or have taken action to request or further such an investigation.\u201d<\/p>\n

Pompeo also warned about potential economic sanctions \u201cif the ICC does not change its course.\u201d<\/p>\n

The US is not a member of the ICC.<\/p>\n

In November 2017, Bensouda sought authorization to open an investigation into crimes connected to the conflict in Afghanistan. According to a statement from the time, Bensouda\u2019s office \u201cdetermined that there is a reasonable basis to believe\u201d that members of the US armed forces and the CIA committed \u201cwar crimes.\u201d The ICC has not yet made a decision on whether to authorize that investigation.<\/p>\n

Pompeo slammed the potential investigation an example of \u201cpolitically motivated prosecutions of Americans.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cThe first and highest obligation of our government is to protect its citizens and this administration will carry out that duty,\u201d Pompeo said at the time.<\/p>\n

The secretary of state also warned in March that \u201cthese visa restrictions may also be used to deter ICC efforts to pursed allied personnel including Israelis without allies\u2019 consent.\u201d The Palestinians have asked the ICC to investigate Israel for alleged human rights abuses.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n

Source: CNN<\/p>\n

<\/p>\n

<\/p><\/div>\n