US praise for East Timor
ABC Radio Australia News
02/10/2002
East Timor's President Xanana Gusmao has met with US Secretary of State Colin Powell, as Washington praised the world's newest nation for promising not to expose US soldiers to the jurisdiction of the International Criminal Court.
Mr Powell welcomed the Timorese president to the State Department, as part of a visit to the United States by the former resistance fighter which also includes talks with President George W. Bush.
Court agreement
State Department spokesman Richard Boucher says during the meeting the
US expressed its appreciation for East Timor's signing of an International
Criminal Court Article 98 agreement.
Article 98 agreements commit a US partner to decline to hand over US personnel to the International Criminal Court, a body to which the United States has vehemently opposed.
Washington fears the court may be used as a tool to unfairly prosecute
US servicemen and women for political reasons.