Cabinet concerned over JASTA
Arab and International Relations Council warns
Minister of State for Cabinet Affairs Sheikh Mohammad Abdullah Al-Mubarak Al-Sabah said yesterday the Cabinet is monitoring (with much interest and concern) US Congress’ rejection of US President Barack Obama’s veto against Justice Against Sponsors of Terrorism Act (JASTA). He said in a statement that the Cabinet sees that JASTA is a source of extreme worry to the international community, where the rules of relations among the States have been established by the laws that are based on the principles of equality and sovereign immunity.
He quoted the Cabinet as stressing that the adoption of laws that violate such principles in breach of international law would negatively affect all world countries, including the US, and undermine international efforts and cooperation against terrorism.
The Cabinet finally hoped that US Congress would rethink about this law in order to preclude its serious ramifications. JASTA was passed by US Congress last week. It creates an exception to the sovereign immunity law introduced in 1976, allowing Americans to sue foreign countries for acts of terrorism that kill Americans on US soil.
Meanwhile, Arab and International Relations Council has warned against the economic and political ramifications of a recently approved US bill which allows the families of 9/11 victims to sue Saudi Arabia for damages. The Council said in a statement, at the conclusion of its 6th meeting Tuesday, that the 9/11 bill will create a judicial “mess” for the US Government and its people.
The bill overrides sovereign immunity law that protects nations from any civil suit or criminal prosecution. The Council called on the US Congress to rectify the bill which has been challenged by many international blocs such as the European Union, Asean, the African Union and the Arab League. JASTA was passed by US Congress last week. It creates an exception to the sovereign immunity law introduced in 1976, allowing Americans to sue foreign countries for acts of terrorism that kill Americans on US soil. The Arab International Council was established in Kuwait in 2009 as an independent non-profit Arab organization. — Agencies