During an interview aired on Monday’s edition of CNN International’s” Amanpour”, International Criminal Court ( ICC ) Prosecutor Karim Khan reacted to threats from some Senate Republicans to end American support for the ICC, sanction the court’s employees and associates, and bar them and their families from the U. S. if they go after Israel by stating that” there]are ] hotheads everywhere”, but” The good news is, I think, for the last two- and- a- half years, we’ve had very positive engagement with the Biden administration in the United States”.
Guest Christiane Amanpour asked,” Late, when expression came out that this may be happening at some point, U. S. lawmakers and U. S. congresspeople, generally Republicans, wrote you a letter signed by Sen]s]. Tom Cotton ( R- AR ), Mitch McConnell ( R- KY), Ted Cruz ( R- TX ), Marco Rubio ( R- FL ), and others. This is the quotation,’ Target Israel and we will targeted you. We did end all British support for the ICC, censure your employees and partners, and ban you and your people from entering the country if you proceed with the recommendations in the report. You have been warned.’ Is that a menace”?
Khan answered,” I think that’s the basic meaning of it in English. But there]are ] hotheads everywhere, and there]are ] people that are mature statesmen and stateswomen and leaders. There are those that have loyalty to anything greater than themselves, whether it’s their provisions, but unfortunately, it’s the rule of law. The good news is, I think, for the last two- and- a- third years, we’ve had really good relationship with the Biden presidency in the United States”.
He continued,” We’re working across a range of situations, whether it’s in Ukraine or Darfur. And I’ve also stated to honorable members of the administration and on the Hill that the principles of the Rome Statute are fundamental American beliefs. It’s against abuse. It’s against the unhindered energy against the most susceptible. It’s the privileges, the integrity of the individual, it’s the security of babies. These essential American values should inspire support from both parties. Then, of course, this situation, however, lies on the San Andreas Fault of global politics and tactical passions. And, of sure, I’ve had some elected officials speak to me and really — be quite harsh. One senior head told me that this court is built for Africa and for criminals like Putin. We do n’t view it like that. This judge is the reputation of Nuremberg. This judge is a terrible accusation of society. This courtroom should be the triumph of law over brute force and power. Go get what you can, consider what you want, and do what you did. And we’re going to just get — we’re not going to be dissuaded by threats or any other activities, that, in the end, we have to meet our responsibilities as prosecutors, as the men and women of the company, as judges, as the register, to anything bigger than ourselves, which is the loyalty to justice. And we’re not going to be swayed by the different types of threats, some of which are public, and some maybe are not”.
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