Sir, - I have at least two concrete steps that the 20 presidents and prime ministers present in Stockholm can take in reply to your headline "Leaders call for concrete steps to prevent Genocide", (The Irish Times, January 20th).
First, they can sign up to and ratify the establishment of the Permanent International Criminal Court which would have the power to prosecute for the crime of genocide. To date only a handful of countries, excluding Ireland, have done so.
The second immediate step they can take is to withdraw their ambassadors from the Russian Federation in protest at the continuing genocide of the Chechen people.
This is the time for action, not for more empty rhetoric. - Yours, etc., Brendan Butler,
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Pennock Hill, Swords, Co Dublin.