*EPF111 08/04/2003
Excerpt: U.S. Appreciates Belgian Effort to Change War Crimes Law
(Richard Boucher at August 1 regular State Department Briefing) (330)

The United States appreciates the Belgian Government's "efforts to change the law related to universal competence," State Department Spokesman Richard Boucher said in response to a journalist's question at the regular State Department briefing August 1.

"Ultimately, as we have said, it's up to Belgium to solve the problem, and thus to prevent the Belgian legal system from being a haven for politically motivate war crimes cases," Boucher added.

"We hope that the legislation will be effective in this regard. But whether the problem is resolved will be judged by the results, whether the complaints naming U.S. officials are dismissed and whether future ones are prevented," he said.

Following is an excerpt from the briefing:

(begin excerpt)

U.S. DEPARTMENT OF STATE
DAILY PRESS BRIEFING

FRIDAY, AUGUST 1, 2003
(ON THE RECORD UNLESS OTHERWISE NOTED)

1:10 p.m. EDT

[...]

QUESTION: Do you have anything on the story out of Belgium where the Senate gave final approval to a scaled down war crimes law that the Belgian Government hopes will repair relations with the U.S.?

MR. BOUCHER: We appreciate the Belgian Government's efforts to change the law related to universal competence. Ultimately, as we have said, it's up to Belgium to solve the problem, and thus to prevent the Belgian legal system from being a haven for politically motivate war crimes cases.

We hope that the legislation will be effective in this regard. But whether the problem is resolved will be judged by the results, whether the complaints naming U.S. officials are dismissed and whether future ones are prevented.

Jonathan.

QUESTION: So, in other words, you're not too impressed?

MR. BOUCHER: No, we appreciate their efforts. We appreciate the changes they have made, the effort that they have put into it. Does it solve the problem? We'll have to see. (...)

(end excerpt)

(Distributed by the Bureau of International Information Programs, U.S. Department of State. Web site: http://usinfo.state.gov)

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