Swiss regret US action over International Criminal Court
US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo made the announcement on Friday in Washington
Keystone / Jim Lo Scalzo
This content was published on
2 minutes
AP/Reuters/Swiss Federal Department of Foreign Affairs/ilj
Switzerland says that it regrets that the United States has adopted measures against officials of the International Criminal Court and threatened to impose further sanctions.
“The Court is independent and bound only by law. It must therefore not become the target of political measures,” said a press releaseExternal link issued by the Swiss Federal Department of Foreign Affairs (FDFA) on Friday evening.
The move came after US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo stated that the US would revoke or deny visas to International Criminal Court personnel who attempt to investigate alleged abuses committed by US forces in Afghanistan.
In doing so, he made good on an earlier threat by the Trump administration to ban ICC judges and prosecutors from entering the United States and sanction funds they have there if the court launched a probe of war crimes in Afghanistan.
“These visa restrictions may also be used to deter ICC efforts to pursue allied personnel, including Israelis, without allied consent,” Pompeo said. He added that the policy was already being implemented but would not elaborate, citing visa privacy laws.
“These visa restrictions will not be the end of our efforts,” he said. “We’re prepared to take additional steps, including economic sanctions, if the ICC does not change its course.”
Swiss ICC support
In its statement, Switzerland reiterated its support to the court “that makes an important contribution the prevention and punishment of the most serious crimes and provides justice for the victims. It thus plays a crucial role in securing sustainable peace and stability”.
It said that all states were obliged to prosecute and punish the most serious crimes. Only if they were unable or unwilling to do so may the ICC intervene. “With this in mind, Switzerland calls on the United States to ensure its own comprehensive prosecution.”
The court, which sits in The Hague, has already responded that it was an independent and impartial institution and would continue to do its work “undeterred” by Washington’s actions.
The International Criminal Court is supported by 123 nations, including Switzerland. Its role is to prosecute genocide, crimes against humanity, war crimes and crimes of aggression. The United States has never been a member of the ICC.
What do you think Switzerland’s Alain Berset can bring to the Council of Europe?
The former interior minister is to become the first Swiss Secretary General of the Council of Europe – which issues should his five-year term focus on?
How is your country dealing with the return of stolen artifacts?
Western nations like Switzerland often have to deal with the process of recovering or returning looted artifacts which have been illegally imported. What’s the situation like in your country?
Majority of young Swiss well-trained, army fitness test reveals
This content was published on
More than half of young Swiss men and women are considered well-trained, with around 80% meeting the federal government's exercise recommendations, according to the Armed Forces 2023 fitness test.
Italian consulate to relocate to ‘Casa d’Italia’ in Zurich
This content was published on
The Italian state is renovating the "Casa d'Italia" in Zurich's Kreis 4 district, with plans to move the Consulate General from its current location on Tödistrasse in District 2 to this historic building.
Swiss companies maintain financial stability amid European struggles
This content was published on
Swiss companies continue to demonstrate financial robustness compared to their European counterparts, although corporate restructuring activities have increased in recent months.
This content was published on
Unknown assailants detonated an ATM in canton Vaud early Sunday morning, causing extensive damage to the building. The perpetrators fled the scene and remain at large.
Kudelski Group to sell Skidata division to Assa Abloy
This content was published on
The Kudelski Group is selling its Skidata division to the Swedish manufacturer of locking and security systems Assa Abloy.
Tragic weekend in Swiss waters: three bodies recovered
This content was published on
Swiss authorities recovered three bodies from local waters over the weekend, with one incident occurring in Zurich and two in Zug.
Lake Parade in Geneva attracts over 100,000 people
This content was published on
The 22nd Lake Parade and the Lake Sensation in Geneva attracted over 100,000 people in summery weather on Saturday. There were no major incidents at either event.
Graubünden storm causes significant economic damage, prompting support measures
This content was published on
The recent storm in Misox, in canton Graubünden, has resulted in severe economic damage, affecting SMEs, tourism, and agricultural land.
Swiss candidate for top human rights job proposes “constant dialogue”
This content was published on
The next UN High Commissioner for Human Rights needs to “restore support for universal human rights standards”, says Swiss candidate Nils Melzer.
Mechanism sends ‘strong signal to perpetrators of crimes in Syria’
This content was published on
More and more European countries, including Germany, France, Sweden and Austria, are prosecuting people for war crimes in Syria.
This content was published on
Hardly a week goes by in Geneva without a UN report sounding the alarm about war crimes or crimes against humanity taking place somewhere.
You can find an overview of ongoing debates with our journalists here . Please join us!
If you want to start a conversation about a topic raised in this article or want to report factual errors, email us at english@swissinfo.ch.