New Delhi, Dec 26: Nursing reservations over the efficacy of the international criminal court, India and the United States today agreed not to surrender each other's nationals charged with human rights violations to any international tribunal without express consent of the two countries. An agreement, inked by foreign secretary Kanwal Sibal and US ambassador to India Robert Blackwill, stipulates that each country will not knowingly facilitate, consent to or cooperate with efforts by any third party or country for extradition, surrender or transfer of each other's nationals to any international tribunal.
This can be considered only if the two sides are otherwise obligated to do so by an international agreement to which they are parties.
"As strong and vibrant democracies, both India and the US share concerns about the possible conflicts between robust national judicial processes and international tribunals as also the impact of such tribunals on national sovereignty," external affairs ministry spokesman told reporters.
"India and the US share the strongest possible commitment to bringing to justice those who commit war crimes, crimes against humanity and genocide," Blackwill told reporters at Hyderabad House shortly after the accord was signed.
"However, we are concerned about the international criminal court treaty with respect to the adequacy of checks and balances, the impact of the treaty on national sovereignty and the potential for conflict with the UN charter", he said. Bureau Report