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Ambassador John D. Negroponte
United States Permanent Representative to the United Nations
Remarks at UN Headquarters on the Situation in Bosnia and Herzegovina
June 27, 2002


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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.

 

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