Thank you, Mr. President.
The United States has reiterated its support for international justice while expressing concerns about the International Criminal Court (ICC). The U.S. described the ICC as a "politicized, anti-American, and anti-Israeli institution," accusing it of taking illegitimate actions against both countries.
The statement emphasized that neither the United States nor Israel has ratified or acceded to the Rome Statute of the ICC and have not granted it jurisdiction. It further accused the ICC of violating state sovereignty through its actions targeting these nations.
President Trump previously signed an Executive Order imposing sanctions on the ICC, specifically targeting its Prosecutor as part of a broader response to what was described as a "grave miscarriage of justice" by the court. The order outlined various alleged abuses by the ICC and highlighted their potential threat to national security and foreign policy.
"We will vigorously use our sanctions tools against those who have pursued and facilitated ICC actions against America and our allies, including Israel," stated the United States representative.
Turning attention to Libya, the statement addressed political instability in the country, urging Libyan authorities to hold former senior officials accountable for human rights abuses under Qadhafi's regime. It called for stronger witness protection measures, increased psychosocial support during trials, and removal of restrictions on civil society.
The United States praised Libyan civil society and human rights defenders while condemning any restriction on freedom of expression through arbitrary arrest or detention. The statement stressed confronting past wrongs to break Libya's cycle of impunity and empower its people towards a peaceful future.
Despite 14 years of investigations into Libya's situation, accountability remains elusive according to U.S. remarks at this UN Security Council briefing.