THE HAGUE, Sept. 17 (Xinhua) -- Following recent threats by the U.S. administration to sanction the International Criminal Court (ICC), the Dutch government has considered promoting the court's legitimacy.
According to Dutch Foreign Minister Stef Blok's recent remarks, if the United States indeed proceeds with the measures undermining the ICC or sanctioning its personnel the Dutch government will take a stand.
During a debate in Dutch parliament last week, Blok said, "At the moment that a follow-up would be given, the Netherlands will of course seek the other countries that support the criminal court" on what appropriate reactions can be taken.
"The Netherlands indeed sees it as its role to promote the interests of the International Criminal Court and thus also to actively approach countries that are not yet members of it," Blok added.
On Sept. 10, the U.S. national security adviser John Bolton held a speech in Washington announcing the closure of the Palestine Liberation Organization (PLO)'s office in Washington. In the speech he attacked the ICC and even threatened the Hague-based international body with sanctions.
Bolton blamed the ICC of practically being "ineffective, unaccountable, and indeed, outright dangerous."
The ICC was founded on July 1, 2002, the date its founding treaty the Rome Statute came into force. Until now 123 countries have become party of the statue and thus members of the ICC while others, including the United States, Russia and China, have not ratified the Rome Statute.
The U.S. anger is centered around a ICC request for an investigation into alleged war crimes and crimes against humanity, committed in the ongoing conflict in Afghanistan. The investigation could implicate U.S. citizens.
According to the ICC prosecutor there is a reasonable basis to believe that not only the Taliban and the Afghan national security forces but also members of the U.S. armed forces and its Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) committed war crimes principally in the period of 2003-2004 in Afghanistan.
Bolton said the United States "will use any means necessary to protect" its citizens and those of allies from "unjust prosecution by this illegitimate court."
"We will ban its judges and prosecutors from entering the United States. We will sanction their funds in the U.S. financial system, and we will prosecute them in the U.S. criminal system. We will do the same for any company or state that assists an ICC investigation of Americans," the senior U.S. official said.
