
USUN PRESS RELEASE # 84 (02)
June 27, 2002
Remarks by Ambassador John D.
Negroponte, United States Permanent Representative to the United
Nations, on the situation in Bosnia and Herzegovina at the Security
Council Stake-Out, June 27, 2002
Ambassador Negroponte:
Well, we had two hours of
consultations and no resolution was reached, but I would say there was
a thorough exploration of the points-of-view of the various
delegations and the decision has been taken to resume consultations
tomorrow morning at 9:30. The discussion will continue. There really
is nothing particularly new to report with respect to relevance on
this question, other than to say, that discussions continue and we had
a very thorough exchange of views.
Reporter:
Does this thing have to be finished
by the weekend, by Sunday? Did you tell people that in there? Also,
is the U.S. prepared to veto any resolution if it does not contain
language acceptable to the U.S. in terms of guarantees to U.S.
nationals?
Ambassador Negroponte:
We did say in the consultations that
unlike last week, we are not prepared to consider just another
technical rollover of the resolution, that is to say, that would
extend the
Bosnia mandate without any kind of resolution of this question.
So, yes, we did indeed make that point. We continue to maintain that
immunity for troop contributing countries that are not parties to the
International Criminal
Court must be dealt with in the draft resolution. Those are the
two points.
Reporter:
And if you are not satisfied?
Negroponte:
I think that all the members of the
Council recognize and understand how seriously we take this situation.
We think it is extremely important. And, in that spirit, we are going
to continue working to find some kind of satisfactory resolution to
the question.
Reporter:
Are you considering a veto?
Ambassador Negroponte:
Oh yes, absolutely. A veto is
definitely an option if the issue is not resolved in a way that
provides the kind of immunity that we believe that non-party states to
the ICC that send troops to international peacekeeping missions should
receive.
Reporter:
And what about the French version?
Negroponte:
As I said, a number of different
points-of-view were discussed, including the French proposal that was
just tabled. The people advocating various points-of-view all agree
that we had to go back to capitals for instructions and that
consultations would resume the next day, tomorrow, at 10:00.