§ Mr. WigginTo ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement on the implications of the International Criminal Court for British soldiers and citizens. [68542]
§ Mr. MacShaneThe purpose of the International Criminal Court (ICC) is to ensure that the most serious crimes of international concern—genocide, war crimes and crimes against humanity—do not go unpunished. The Rome Statute establishing the Court is based on the principle of complementarity: the ICC only steps in where states are unwilling or unable genuinely to investigate or prosecute. The crimes covered by the ICC have been incorporated into UK law. Since the United Kingdom would investigate any serious allegations, it is inconceivable that the ICC would assume jurisdiction.
§ Mr. Jim CunninghamTo ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what steps he is taking to encourage the United States to accept the jurisdiction of the International Criminal Court. [67794]
§ Mr. MacShaneWe are in regular contact with the US Administration in respect of this issue. Officials have made several approaches, both bilaterally and in conjunction with EU partners, encouraging the US to ratify the Rome statute. And we have repeatedly made clear that, while we understand US concerns that the court might bring malicious or politically-motivated charges against US personnel, we do not share them, since the statute contains safeguards against this.