Sir, – I hope US Secretary of State Antony Blinken’s announcement that the US will back the criminal prosecutions of those it believes have been involved in war crimes in Ukraine means that it will now also recognise, and in future support, the work of the ICC (World, March 24th).
Unfortunately the attitude of the US to the ICC to date has been nothing but belligerent and in direct contrast to its oft-repeated claims of being a beacon of democracy and freedom. The ICC, despite its flaws, is the only recognised forum for the prosecution of violations of international law and needs the support of all nations that claim to uphold international law, as the US claims it does.
Given the required resources, the ICC can prove an effective and objective mechanism to deal with Russian atrocities in Ukraine and also any other violations of international law in the current theatre of war. I hope Mr Blinken also recognises that, but I feel I should not hold my breath. – Yours, etc,
BARRY WALSH,
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Blackrock,
Cork.