U.S. letter to U.N. Secretary-General Kofi Annan

(CNN) -- The United States Monday notified the United Nations it was rejecting the International Criminal Court treaty. The U.S. State Department released a letter from U.S. Undersecretary of State for Arms Control and International Security John R. Bolton to U.N. Secretary-General Kofi Annan. Here is the text of the letter.

"Dear Mr. Secretary-General:

This is to inform you, in connection with the Rome Statute of the International Criminal Court adopted on July 17, 1998, that the United States does not intend to become a party to the treaty. Accordingly, the United States has no legal obligations arising from its signature on December 31, 2000. The United States requests that its intention not to become a party, as expressed in this letter, be reflected in the depositary's status lists relating to this treaty.

Sincerely,

John R. Bolton