Khalil Fleihan
Daily Star correspondent

The European Union has called on Lebanon to join the Rome Agreement on establishing the proposed International Criminal Court, European sources said on Thursday.
According to these sources, the Spanish Embassy had conveyed this call to the Foreign Ministry on April 10.
A day later, the Lebanese Foreign Ministry was notified by its embassy in The Hague that the number of countries which had endorsed the agreement had surpassed 60.
When adopted by the EU in June, 2001, the agreement had the approval of 13 countries, in addition to the EU’s 15 member states.
The sources indicated that with the number of approvals reaching the required limit, the court would be considered to be in existence within 31 days ­ effective July 1.
They said, however, that establishing the court did not mean that all the superpowers had agreed to it, as the United States, Russia and China had so far refrained from endorsing it.
Washington, for its part, has certain reservations about ratifying the agreement, considering some of its provisions to be in conflict with those of national courts.
The United States has also expressed fear about the large prerogatives given to the prosecutor and was looking into the possibility of retracting its signature on the system establishing the court.
Such a move would be prompted by the power given to the court to take action against citizens of non-member states, in addition to fears that ths power would come at the expense of the UN Security Council.
According to the sources, the EU hopes that the agreement will be ratified in the summer, when the first General Assembly will be held by member states and during which agreement will be reached on the court system of operation soon.
The sources said that during the second General Assembly, expected in early 2003, the court’s panel of judges and prosecutors would be elected.
The EU views the agreement as a “historic achievement” and considers it of paramount importance that Lebanon, like other countries, participate from the beginning in the General Assembly’s activities after joining the understanding, the sources added.
Lebanon is said to be looking into the EU request after having previously intended to sign the agreement, but the deadline for signing was originally set at Dec. 31, 2000.
International quarters friendly to Lebanon have advised it to join the agreement, contending that such a court would play a decisive role in affirming respect for international law, freedom and justice and preserving world peace and security.

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