Meeting of EU Foreign Ministers in Copenhagen - 2002-08-30

In Denmark, the foreign ministers of EU member states have begun discussions on Denmark's proposal for peace in the Middle East, while they announced yesterday that the United Nations, not the United States, should decide on how to deal with Iraq. Denmark, which holds the rotating presidency of the EU, states that the proposal for establishing peace in the Middle East is primarily in line with President Bush's peace proposal, which calls for the establishment of a Palestinian state. Per Stig Møller, the Danish Foreign Minister, says that today's discussions will address the tensions between the US and Europe regarding the International Criminal Court. The White House states that American peacekeepers should be exempt from the jurisdiction of this court because there is a possibility that some may politically motivated pursue American citizens. The EU foreign ministers have gathered for an informal two-day meeting in Copenhagen, the capital of Denmark. The aim of the meeting is to discuss the expansion of the EU, the situation in the Middle East, and the new international criminal court. Per Stig Møller intends to present his three-phase plan for peace in the Middle East during this meeting, which anticipates the establishment of an independent Palestinian state by 2005. The issue of Iraq, the US's efforts to gain immunity for its citizens from prosecution in the international criminal court through bilateral agreements, will also be discussed in Copenhagen. Europeans believe that these agreements will weaken the international court. Denmark currently holds the rotating presidency of the EU. The EU foreign ministers meeting in Denmark state that the United Nations, not the US, should decide on what needs to be done regarding Iraq. They did not rule out resorting to international military action if Saddam Hussein continues to refuse to allow UN weapons inspectors to return, but they expressed opposition to a US-led attack. Denmark states that the EU will also seek to reduce tensions with the US over the international criminal court. The White House wants American peacekeepers to be exempt from the court's jurisdiction due to concerns that they may be targeted by politically motivated accusations.