United Nations, .- The Chief Prosecutor of the International Criminal Court (ICC), Fatou Bensouda, appeared before the UN Security Council on Wednesday, traveling to New York despite the fact that the United States revoked his visa this year to enter country.
Although initially there had been speculation that Bensouda could speak to the Security Council via videoconference, he finally appeared in person to report on the progress of the ICC investigation into crimes committed in Libya.
In April, the tribunal based in The Hague confirmed that the US He had revoked the visa to the prosecutor, in the midst of an escalation of tension between Washington and the Court.
A few weeks earlier, US Secretary of State, Mike Pompeo, had announced that his country was going to restrict visas to enter the country to any person of the ICC involved in the investigation of alleged human rights violations committed by the United States. in Afghanistan or elsewhere.
The Prosecutor of the International Criminal Court requested in late 2017 to open an investigation in Afghanistan for alleged war crimes and crimes against humanity at the hands of Taliban, country authorities and US troops.
Finally, on April 12, the judges of the court rejected the Prosecutor’s request, considering that “the prospects for a successful investigation and prosecution are extremely limited.”
Despite seeing his visa revoked, Bensouda could be in New York on Wednesday to offer the Security Council a report on the situation in Libya, something he does regularly.
The agreements between the United States and the UN usually allow people sanctioned by Washington to enter the country to go to the headquarters of the international organization.
Bensouda, who did not speak to the media, took advantage of his intervention before the Security Council to once again issue a warning to the Libyan armed groups that are currently fighting in the vicinity of Tripoli.
The ICC prosecutor urged all of them to respect the rules of international humanitarian law and warned them that those who commit war crimes or permit them can be persecuted from The Hague. (EFE)
