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European Union Calls for Bin Laden To Be Extradited to International Tribunal
STRASBURG, Sept 28 (IslamOnline & News Agencies) - The Parliamentary Council of the European Union has requested the U.S. to have Osama bin Laden, accused by the U.S. for the September 11th attacks on New York and Washington, to be extradited to an international tribunal for trials in accordance with the United Nations Treaty for Combating Terrorism and United Nations Security Council Resolutions.
This would be an alternative by which the global community can avoid the repercussions of a hasty attack on Afghanistan
The Parliamentary Council pointed out in its meeting in Strasburg, France, on Wednesday, that the attacks on the U.S. were criminal acts, not acts of war.
Furthermore, the majority of the Parliamentary Council voted for a resolution that suggested broadening the authority of the International Court for War Criminals to include those responsible for terrorist activities like the recent attacks on the U.S.
Of the 43 member states of the E.U. 148 representatives voiced their approval for taking economic measures against any country that harbors or assists terrorism; one member dissented and another abstained.
The Council also called for member states to concentrate efforts on restricting monetary sources used for terrorism and permitting authorities investigating international crimes and acts of terror to review financial accounts.
Furthermore, the Council requested that European states not take further measures to curtail the freedom of travel - especially in regards to air - in response to the terrorist acts.
Meanwhile, NATO defense ministers met in Brussels Wednesday to negotiate the type of assistance they will offer to the United States in the event of a possible military strike against Afghanistan.
NATO General Secretary George Robertson stated in his opening remarks to the session that, "The attacks on the United States are not directed at the American people, but at humanity and the values we believe in as a whole, as poses a threat to international peace and security."
Diplomatic sources remarked that Robertson would encourage the 18 ministers to narrow the nature of their assistance, after verifying their initial support to the United States.
They also remarked that U.S. Secretary of Defense Donald Rumsfeld's office would explain to the defense ministers the details of the military operation against Afghanistan.
It was also pointed out that the NATO alliance had for the first time raised Article 52 of their treaty after the attack. The article considers any attack on a single member in the alliance is an attack on all members, and that the victim member, the United States in this case, has the right to determine the nature and magnitude of the assistance it anticipates from the other members of the coalition.
The United States has not yet requested anything concrete from its allies, even though other states within the alliance, like Greece and Hungary, have announced opening their air space for U.S. air forces.
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