US says it will not become party to Rome Statute of International Criminal Court

The United States has formally advised United Nations Secretary-General Kofi Annan that it does not intend to become a party to the Rome Statute of the International Criminal Court, a UN spokesman said today.

Accordingly, the US Government maintains that it has no obligations arising from its signature of the Statute on 31 December 2000, spokesman Fred Eckhard told the press in New York.

"The Secretary-General, as the depositary of the Rome Statute will, consistent with normal practice, circulate the US notification to all States concerned," Mr. Eckhard said. "The effect of the notification is a matter for the parties to the Statute to decide."

Responding to questions, the spokesman called the action by the US "unique and unprecedented."

By withdrawing its signature, the US sought to free itself of obligations that a signatory would have, the spokesman noted. "But the Statute has come into force; the court will come into being," he stressed.