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23 September 2003

U.S. Signs Article 98 Agreement with Kazakhstan

Kazak government pledges not to turn over Americans to ICC

The United States on September 22 signed an Article 98 agreement with Kazakhstan, under which Kazakhstan pledges not to turn over American citizens to the International Criminal Court (ICC).

Article 98 Agreements are provided for in the Rome Statute that created the ICC and are intended to protect against politically motivated investigations and prosecutions.

Sixty-three countries have now entered into Article 98 Agreements with the United States, with Colombia and the Solomon Islands doing so in the past week.

Following is a State Department statement:

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U.S. DEPARTMENT OF STATE
Office of the Spokesman (New York, New York)
September 23, 2003

Statement by Richard Boucher, Spokesman

ARTICLE 98 AGREEMENTS

Yesterday, Secretary of State Colin L. Powell signed an Article 98 Agreement with Kazakhstan. This marks the third Article 98 signing in the last five days, with Colombia and the Solomon Islands also entering into such agreements. These signatures bring the total number of countries having entered into Article 98 Agreements with the United States to 63. Several more nations are expected to sign agreements over the coming weeks.

Colombia is the 29th State Party to the International Criminal Court (ICC) to conclude an Article 98 Agreement with the United States. The Government of Colombia's action demonstrates the recognition among States Parties to the Court that Article 98 Agreements are an important mechanism provided for in the ICC Treaty.

United States military forces, civilian personnel and private citizens are currently active in peacekeeping and humanitarian missions in more than 100 countries. Article 98 Agreements, which are provided for in the Rome Statute that created the International Criminal Court, allow the United States to remain engaged internationally with our friends and allies by providing American citizens with essential protection from the jurisdiction of the International Criminal Court, particularly against politically motivated investigations and prosecutions.

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(Distributed by the Bureau of International Information Programs, U.S. Department of State. Web site: http://usinfo.state.gov)