McKinney Confronts Powell on Milosevic and Kissinger Via NY Transfer News * All the News That Doesn't Fit source: www.truthout.com CYNTHIA McKINNEY CONFRONTS POWELL ON MILOSEVIC, KISSINGER [McKinney's letter to Powell follows the press release] Milosevic Transfer Sounds a Warning for Leaders Past and Present WASHINGTON - 07.03.01--Serbian authorities surrendered Slobodan Milosevic to representatives of the International Criminal Tribunal for the former Yugoslavia. Milosevic's transfer to the United Nations war crimes tribunal is a great triumph for the victims of war crimes all over the world, and paves the way for an open dialogue regarding Henry Kissinger's knowledge and possible role in war crimes committed in South America. "What the world justice system needs is accountability. There is no justice if there is no accountability. That accountability must be, without reservation, for the powerful as well as the powerless. Crimes against humanity must never go unpunished," McKinney said. "The search for truth and justice should not be impeded by the stature or power of an individual in question. The fact that Serbian officials turned Milosevic over to international authorities demonstrates that nation's resolve to face its demons and admit responsibility for its grave crimes. No world leader, or world superpower should be immune from the requirements of international justice," McKinney continued. In a letter dated June 26, 2001 addressed to Secretary of State Colin Powell, Ms. McKinney expressed her concern with the State Department's reluctance to cooperate with French and Argentinean authorities who have requested the appearance of Henry Kissinger in their domestic courts. On May 28th of this year, former U.S. Secretary of State Henry Kissinger was delivered a summons by Parisian Police at the request of Judge Roger Le Loire. This summons was requested to investigate and inquire upon events that occurred during Dr. Kissinger's tenure as Secretary of State, and that were related to the United States knowledge of murders, kidnapping and conspiracies committed by the Chilean government. Unfortunately, Dr. Kissinger has not yet responded to this summons. Further, the Department of State has not been forthright in answering or responding to requests for information, and has in fact defended Kissinger's silence and disposal of the issue. "Though national security has been cited as reasoning for the avoidance and deflection of such issues, these events occurred nearly 20 years ago, and I can only imagine that the only security being protected is from incrimination and guilt. Refusing to assist the French with respect to investigations into the killings and forced disappearances of leading political figures and activists in Chile smacks of hypocrisy and serves to fuel growing international criticism of the United States," McKinney wrote. "The United States has demanded Yugoslavia's cooperation in the case of Slobodan Milosevic, with extraordinary results for world justice. For years, the United States has led the call for international justice. It now smacks of the grossest hypocrisy for the United States to deny the same justice to others that it has so zealously carved out for itself and its friends," McKinney concluded. * * * June 26, 2001 The Honorable Colin L. Powell Secretary of State U.S. Department of State 2201 C Street, NW Washington, D.C. 20520 Dear Secretary Powell: I write to you regarding recent developments in the pursuit of truth and justice surrounding the disappearances that occurred in South America, and particularly Chile during the early 1970's. On May 28th of this year, former U.S. Secretary of State Henry Kissinger was delivered a summons by Parisian Police at the request of Judge Roger Le Loire. This summons was requested so as to investigate and inquire upon events that occurred during Dr. Kissinger's tenure as Secretary of State, and that were related to the United States knowledge of murders, kidnapping and conspiracies committed by the Chilean government. Unfortunately, Dr. Kissinger has not yet responded to this summons. Further, the Department of State has not been forthright in answering or responding to requests for information itself, and has in fact defended Kissinger's silence and disposal of the issue. In responding to questions about the summons, a spokesman for the U.S. Embassy in France stated that Kissinger had not responded due to "other obligations" and that the French judge should issue his requests directly to the Department of State. As a matter of fact, Judge Le Loire had sent a request for information and interviews to the State Department two years ago -- without any apparent response. As I feel that Dr. Kissinger's knowledge and memory, in addition to relevant State Department documents and other staff, will lead to a better understanding of the events and the U.S. knowledge -- and potential involvement -- in the deaths of French citizens, I implore you to assist the French government and courts in this investigation. The State Department should make available to Judge Le Loire all documents pertaining to U.S. knowledge of and, involvement in the disappearances and murders of French citizens, to make available State Department staff who may have relevant knowledge, and to encourage Dr. Kissinger to respond to the summons and to appear before Judge Le Loire in proceedings. Though national security has been cited as reasoning for the avoidance and deflection of such issues, these events occurred nearly 20 years ago, and I can only imagine that the only security being protected is from incrimination and guilt. Refusing to assist the French with respect to investigations into the killings and forced disappearances of leading political figures and activists in Chile smacks of hypocrisy and serves to fuel growing international criticism of the United States. I appreciate your attention to this issue, and I again urge you to make the State Department honest and open with respect to this issue. Sincerely, Cynthia McKinney Member of Congress CM/ell ================================================================= NY Transfer News Collective * A Service of Blythe Systems Since 1985 - Information for the Rest of Us 339 Lafayette St., New York, NY 10012 http://www.blythe.org e-mail: nyt@blythe.org ================================================================= nyteeu-07.06.01-16:34:24-21571