Romania-US Bilateral Immunity Agreement Not In Effect - Official

The spokesman of the Romanian Foreign Affairs Ministry, Ilie Banica, told MEDIAFAX Friday that Romania did not ratify Bilateral Immunity Agreement with the United States, therefore it is not effective and cannot be rescinded.

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Banica said the agreement between the Romanian and US governments on the turning in of people to the International Criminal Court was signed on Aug 1, 2002 and was not ratified by the Romanian party yet, as its provisions are incompatible with the European Union policy on the ICC.

"Therefore, the Agreement has not taken effect,” Banica said.

He added the Romanian party will not ratify the document until the EU and US find a mutually acceptable solution regarding bilateral agreements concluded based on article 98 of the Rome State of the International Criminal Court.

Banica said that in the Council Common Position 2003/444/CFSP of 16 June 2003 on the International Criminal Court, detailed in the Action Plan in view of supporting the Common Position, the European Union supports the effective and independent functioning of the International Criminal Court.

Romania, which ratified the Statute of the International Criminal Court in Law no. 111/2002, aligned at the time both to the Common Position and the Action Plan, which it currently observes as EU member, Banica emphasized.

The European Parliament on Thursday, in its review on human rights in the world in 2007, urged Romania to rescind its Bilateral Immunity Agreement with the United States.

“Romania is called to rescind its Bilateral Immunity Agreement with the USA regarding the ICC”, the European Parliament said in a press release.

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