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Chile's president resists U.S.
pressure on ICC, UN vote
Chilean President Michelle
Bachelet said on Wednesday that
her country would resist the
U.S. pressure on issues related
to the International Criminal
Court (ICC) and the United
Nations Security Council.
"Chile has had in the past, has
at present and, I am sure,
will(continue to) have in the
future an independent and
autonomous foreign policy," said
Bachelet.
Chile will bear in mind the
interests of its own and the
region when it votes, she added.
Chile's legislators ratified the
ICC without guaranteeing
immunity for U.S. soldiers and
agents. The United States has a
policy of withholding military
aid, equipment and training to
the nations that ratify the ICC
without exempting U.S. forces.
The United States has also urged
Chile not to vote for Venezuela,
which is seeking a two-year term
as a new member of the Security
Council.
"Chile has shown in the past
that it does not put up with
pressure from anyone, at any
time, and during my term, there
will be no difference, in any
way," Bachelet said.
On Tuesday, Chile's Defense
Minister Vivianne Blanlot and
her U.S. counterpart Donald
Rumsfeld met in Washington and
discussed the two topics.
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