U.S. WITHDRAWS DEMANDS FOR RENEWAL OF RES. 1487
July 1, 2004

On May 19, 2004, the U.S. again requested a Security Council resolution exempting its peacekeepers from the ICC's jurisdiction.  This year, however, the U.S. had to delay the vote when it became uncertain whether the U.S. had enough votes to secure its passage, in part because many Security Council members have linked U.S. rejection of the ICC and international law with alleged prisoner abuse in Iraq.  Finally, on June 23, the U.S. signaled that it had withdrawn its request due to lack of support among Security Council members.

Upon the expiration of Resolution 1487 on July 1, the U.S. withdrew nine personnel from two UN peacekeeping missions, claiming they were at risk of frivolous ICC prosecutions.  However, the move had little real impact, as the ICC did not have jurisdiction over these personnel for several reasons. (Read more.)

• Article: U.S. Renews Demand for ICC Exemption for UN Peacekeepers

• Article: U.S. Withdraws Its Demands for Peacekeeping Exemption Renewal

• Article: U.S. Withdraws Peacekeepers

• U.S. statement following withdrawal of resolution (June 23, 2004)

• State Department press briefing following withdrawal of resolution (June 23, 2004)

• Defense Department press briefing announcing withdrawal of peacekeeping personnel (July 1, 2004)

• Fact vs. Fiction: Security Council Members Never Intended for Automatic Renewal (compares U.S. claims to direct quotes from past Security Council debates)

• Statement against renewing resolution 1487, by Hans Corell (former UN legal counsel) (PDF)

• Citizens for Global Solutions' press statement, June 23, 2004

• Citizens for Global Solutions' press release, June 22, 2004

• Citizens for Global Solutions' press release, May 20, 2004

• More about Resolution 1487 (2003)

• More about Resolution 1422 (2002)

More about Resolution 1422 (2002)

More on UN Security Council resolutions involving the ICC

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