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From: knop@dutesta.UUCP (Peter Knoppers)
Newsgroups: net.politics
Subject: US vs Nicaragua, international law
Message-ID: <222@dutesta.UUCP>
Date: Tue, 10-Apr-84 06:12:37 EST
Article-I.D.: dutesta.222
Posted: Tue Apr 10 06:12:37 1984
Date-Received: Wed, 11-Apr-84 07:27:52 EST
Organization: Delft univ. of tech., the Netherlands
Lines: 29

The US have announced that they will not recognize the international
court of the UN for two years to come.  This is to *prevent*
Nicaragua from using the court for propaganda.

Nicaragua appeals to the the UN court in The Hague (Holland) with a
complaint about the US, concerning the participation of the US in
secret military actions against Nicaragua.

The court consists of 15 judges of different nationalities.  The US 
have a vote in the selection of the judges.  The international court
(I'm not sure about the official English name) *is* recognized by the
US in the case of financial claims concerning the hostages in Iran.

It looks very much like the US don't give a damn about the
international court when they expect to be convicted.

International law looses its credibility when one of the mayor
participants makes such statements.  (Of course, the US looses
credibility also.)

On the other hand, the claims of Nicaragua gain (at least, that's
how I feel about it).  Nicaragua now has a first class opportunity
for a lot of propaganda.

I believe that the US should reconsider their decision.  There's much
more at stake than just the possible propaganda of Nicaragua.
-- 
Peter Knoppers, Delft Univ. of Technology
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