UN Radio: Peacekeepers Immune From International Criminal Court for 1 Year
Annan Voices Concern over Extending UN Peacekeepers' Immunity from War Crimes Court
The UN Security Council has just voted to adopt a resolution to exempt some member states from the proceedings of the
International Criminal Court. The court was established last July to try cases of war crimes, crimes against humanity
and genocide, after more than 60 nations ratified the ICC's charter. But the United States, for example, argues that
hostile countries could abuse the international court to bring politically motivated cases against American
peacekeepers. The Council agreed to a 12-month deferral last year and just a short while ago this was renewed by 12
votes in favor and three abstentions. Before today's vote Secretary-General Kofi Annan cautioned against the renewal
becoming an annual event.
"If it did so, I fear the world would interpret it as meaning that this Council wished to claim absolute and permanent
immunity for people serving in the operations it establishes or authorizes, which would undermine not only the authority
of the ICC but also the authority of this Council, and the legitimacy of United Nations peacekeeping."
The three countries that abstained are France, Germany and Syria.
WHO says SARS Outbreak May be Ending But Calls for Vigilance
The Head of the World Health Organisation, Dr Gro Harlem Brundtland has said that the outbreak of the flu-like Severe
Acute Respiratory Syndrome, SARS, may be coming to an end. Dr Brundtland, who was speaking at a conference in Oslo
cautioned, however, against complacency and said all countries must be on their guard. WHO spokesperson Maria Cheng
explains the reasons behind the organisation's new sense of optimism.
"We've seen a dramatic reduction in the number of cases that have been reported, the number of cases in China has
dropped sharply from more than a hundred a day in May to single digits in the last week or so. Singapore has effectively
contained SARS but I think if you look at the situation in Canada that's a very good indication that now is not the good
time to lose our guard and we must remain vigilant. "
UN Security Council Mission Concludes Visit to Troubled DR Congo town
The UN Security Council Mission to Central Africa has concluded a brief visit to the northeastern town of Bunia in the
Democratic Republic of the Congo, where more UN troops are being deployed, following the recent killing of about 500
people during ethnic clashes. The Security Council Delegation led by the French Ambassador, Jean-Marc de la Sabliere,
held meetings with the French military general in charge of the new international military force, officials of the UN
Observer Mission in the DRC, MONUC, local community representatives, and humanitarian workers. MONUC spokesman Madnoudje
Mounoubai says the three-hour visit was highly significant.
"The coming here of the UN Security Council was full of symbolism. First it coincided with the deployment of the
multi-national force, so the people of Bunia were able to see that the international community did not forget them in
their suffering and that the international community was serious about helping them to bring peace."
The Security Council delegation has left Bunia for Bujumbura, the capital of neighbouring Burundi.
UN Mediators Seek Final Agreement at Liberian Peace Talks
Some calm has returned to the Liberian capital Monrovia, following days of fierce fighting between government troops and
rebels. Thousands of people have been displaced, with many in dire need of humanitarian assistance. Meanwhile at the
Liberian Peace Talks in Ghana, mediators remain confident that a ceasefire and a peace agreement could be signed by the
end of this week. The UN Secretary-General's Special Representative for Liberia Abou Moussa who is at the talks says
there's still work to be done to reach final agreement.
"I wouldn't say that there is any agreement yet. I think we are still in the stages of nitty-gritty's of bilateral
discussions and getting everybody to agree on the basic principles. We have not reached the stage of final agreement yet
but we'll soon be there.