Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
06PARAMARIBO96
2006-02-16 14:26:00
CONFIDENTIAL
Embassy Paramaribo
Cable title:  

COMMISSION ESTABLISHED TO REVIEW SURINAME'S

Tags:  PREL PGOV MARR EAID NS 
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VZCZCXRO9692
RR RUEHAO
DE RUEHPO #0096 0471426
ZNY CCCCC ZZH
R 161426Z FEB 06
FM AMEMBASSY PARAMARIBO
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC 8071
INFO RUCNCOM/EC CARICOM COLLECTIVE
RUEHAO/AMCONSUL CURACAO 0961
RHMFISS/HQ USSOUTHCOM MIAMI FL
C O N F I D E N T I A L PARAMARIBO 000096 

SIPDIS

SIPDIS

DEPT FOR WHA/CAR Q LLUFTIG, L/PM Q MIKE COFFEE, AC - JOAN
CORBETT
SOUTHCOM ALSO FOR POLAD

E.O. 12958: DECL 02/16/2016
TAGS: PREL PGOV MARR EAID NS
SUBJECT: COMMISSION ESTABLISHED TO REVIEW SURINAME'S
ACCESSION TO THE INTERNATIONAL CRIMINAL COURT AND ARTICLE
98

REF: (A) 05 PARAMARIBO 789 (B) 05 PARAMARIBO 828

Classified By: Ambassador Marsha E. Barnes, reasons 1.4 (b)
and (d).

C O N F I D E N T I A L PARAMARIBO 000096

SIPDIS

SIPDIS

DEPT FOR WHA/CAR Q LLUFTIG, L/PM Q MIKE COFFEE, AC - JOAN
CORBETT
SOUTHCOM ALSO FOR POLAD

E.O. 12958: DECL 02/16/2016
TAGS: PREL PGOV MARR EAID NS
SUBJECT: COMMISSION ESTABLISHED TO REVIEW SURINAME'S
ACCESSION TO THE INTERNATIONAL CRIMINAL COURT AND ARTICLE
98

REF: (A) 05 PARAMARIBO 789 (B) 05 PARAMARIBO 828

Classified By: Ambassador Marsha E. Barnes, reasons 1.4 (b)
and (d).


1. (U) On February 9, Minister of Justice and Police
Chandrikapersad Santokhi established the 'International
Criminal Court Commission.' The commission's main tasks are
to advise the Government of Suriname (GOS) on the country's
accession to the Statute of Rome; to advise the government
on signing an Article 98 with the US; and to adapt
Surinamese legislation to encompass crimes such as genocide
and war crimes. The establishment of the commission comes
in response to Surinamese President Ronald Venetiaan's
announcement in an appearance before the National Assembly
on December 6 that Suriname intends both to join the
International Criminal Court (ICC) and sign an Article 98
agreement with the United States. (See reftels).


2. (U) Attorney General Subhas Punwasi chairs this
commission in which officials of the Ministries of Foreign
Affairs and Justice and Police are represented. The
commission is scheduled to present an interim report of
their findings to the Minister at the end of March.


3. (C) Embassy has seen a memo prepared for the President
and sent to Minister Santokhi by the President's
international affairs adviser, which notes the detriment to
U.S. assistance of joining the ICC before signing an
Article 98, and therefore encourages serious consideration
to signing an Article 98 agreement first. The memo's
drafter is serving as an advisor to the newly formed
commission.

BARNES