U.S. blacklisting of ICC prosecutor must be reversed, EU says

BRUSSELS, Sept 3- The European Union’s top diplomat called on Thursday for Washington to reverse its sanctions on International Criminal Court prosecutor Fatou Bensouda and another member of the ICC, calling the measures “unacceptable and unprecedented”. The U.S. sanctions reflect the Trump administration’s view that the tribunal threatens to infringe on…

BRUSSELS, Sept 3 (Reuters) – The European Union’s top

diplomat called on Thursday for Washington to reverse its

sanctions on International Criminal Court prosecutor Fatou

Bensouda and another member of the ICC, calling the measures

“unacceptable and unprecedented”.

The United States blacklisted Bensouda on Wednesday over herinvestigation into whether American forces committed war crimesin Afghanistan, under sanctions authorised by President DonaldTrump in June that allow for asset freezes and travel bans.

Sanctions were also imposed on Phakiso Mochochoko, the headof the Hague-based ICC Jurisdiction, Complementarity andCooperation Division.

“The sanctions … are unacceptable and unprecedentedmeasures that attempt to obstruct the court’s investigations andjudicial proceedings,” Josep Borrell said in a statement.Washington should “reconsider its position and reverse themeasures it has taken”, he said.

The U.S. sanctions reflect the Trump administration’s viewthat the tribunal threatens to infringe on U.S. nationalsovereignty. They are the latest move by Washington to goagainst the stance of long-standing European allies, which havelargely supported American policy and whose trade and securityties are intertwined with the United States.

The EU condemned Trump’s decision to halt funding to theWorld Health Organization in April and says Trump’s withdrawalfrom other treaties and accords undermines Western priorities.(Reporting by Robin EmmottEditing by Frances Kerry)