U.S. OKs 72-hr Extension for Bosnia Mission

U.S. OKs 72-hr Extension for Bosnia Mission

NewsMax Wires
Monday, July 1, 20002

UNITED NATIONS -- The U.N. Security Council Sunday voted unanimously to extend the international peacekeeping mission in Bosnia shortly after the United States vetoed a six-month extension for the force because U.S. troops don't get immunity from a new international criminal court.

The peacekeeping mission was due to expire at midnight Sunday. The peacekeepers, including 46 from the United States, train a multi-ethnic, civilian force to take over the policing of the former Yugoslav republic.

The United States vetoed a six-month extension because it wants its troops to get immunity from the U.N.-backed International Criminal Court, which comes into force Monday. Washington is against the creation of the court.

The three-day extension, which runs out July 3, 2002, gives diplomats time to resolve the dispute.

U.N. Secretary-General Kofi Annan appealed for an end to the impasse.

"The world cannot afford a situation in which the Security Council is deeply divided on such an important issue, which may have implications for all U.N. peace operations," he said.

Earlier, John Negroponte, the U.S. ambassador to the United Nations, said Washington's decision to veto was made ""with great regret."

He said Washington could not accept the risk of politicized prosecutions of a court it did not recognize.

"With our global responsibilities, we are and will remain a special target, and cannot have our decisions second-guessed by a court whose jurisdiction we do not recognize," he said.

France, Britain and Norway sponsored the resolution that gave the force an additional 72 hours.

The 18,000-strong NATO-backed Stabilization Force in Bosnia in not affected by Sunday's vote. SFOR has more than 3,000 Americans.

Read more on this subject in related Hot Topics:

United Nations

A product that might interest you:
Promote NewsMax - Show the World What You Stand For!