Rome, 10 Oct. (LaPresse) – The EU’s High Representative, Kaja Kallas, in a statement issued on behalf of the European Union, criticised the sanctions imposed by the United States against the International Criminal Court (ICC) following the awarding of the Nobel Peace Prize to the South African jurist Navi Pillay, calling on Washington to withdraw them and warning that “the EU is ready to take all necessary measures to ensure that the Court continues to operate effectively and fulfil its indispensable mandate”. “Attacks or threats against the Court, its elected officials, staff and those who cooperate with it, including representatives of civil society and service providers, are unacceptable,” said Kallas, before welcoming the US’s willingness to “discuss its concerns with the States Parties to the Rome Statute”. “We take note of the US decision to postpone the entry into force of these measures. This provides scope for diplomacy, with a view to securing their swift revocation and preventing further measures aimed at undermining the independence and integrity of the ICC,” Kallas continued, emphasising that the Court “must be able to operate independently, free from external pressure or interference”. The EU “will continue to provide full support and to help ensure the protection of the Court, its staff and those who cooperate with it”, added Kallas.
Nobel, Kallas: “US must lift sanctions on the ICC; EU ready to act in defence of the Court”
Rome, 10 Oct. (LaPresse) – The EU’s High Representative, Kaja Kallas, in a statement issued on behalf of the European Union, criticised the sanctions imposed by the United States against the International Criminal Court (ICC) following the awarding of the Nobel Peace Prize to the South African jurist Navi Pillay, calling on Washington to withdraw them and warning that “the EU is ready to take all necessary measures to ensure that the Court continues to operate effectively and fulfil its indispensable mandate”. “Attacks or threats against the Court, its elected officials, staff and those who cooperate with it, including representatives of civil society and service providers, are unacceptable,” said Kallas, before welcoming the US’s willingness to “discuss its concerns with the States Parties to the Rome Statute”. “We take note of the US decision to postpone the entry into force of these measures. This provides scope for diplomacy, with a view to securing their swift revocation and preventing further measures aimed at undermining the independence and integrity of the ICC,” Kallas continued, emphasising that the Court “must be able to operate independently, free from external pressure or interference”. The EU “will continue to provide full support and to help ensure the protection of the Court, its staff and those who cooperate with it”, added Kallas.