And while it may be pithy and suggest, on a personal level, that we shouldn't kill someone who has had minor indiscretions - on the field of international law and relations, its nonsense.
It means that any issue you raise about another state cannot be discussed until you discuss first whatever the accused wants discussed.
It would be like you being tried for murder, and insisting that before *any* discussion of your case, the complete background of all the jurors, solicitors and judges be first examined.
"The republicans will draft your kids, poison the air and water, take away your social security and burn down black churches if elected." Gawain of Orkney
Bookmarks