Four EU member states urged the UN to refer Syria to the International Criminal
Court, in a joint letter Austria’s Foreign Ministry released to CNN on
Friday.
Austria, Denmark, Ireland and Slovenia lamented the “horrendous
crimes” that have been committed during the conflict in Syria and bemoaned the
fact that there have been no consequences for the perpetrators.
“A
referral to the ICC would make clear to every fighter on all sides of the
conflict that the gravest crimes will eventually be punished,” the foreign
ministers of the four countries wrote.
The letter cites an attack by
Syrians on Austrian UN peacekeepers on the Golan Heights as well as reports of
Syria using chemical weapons as reasons for immediate action.
Since Syria
is not a party to the ICC Statute, the UN Security Council would need to refer
Syria to the court for it to have jurisdiction.