Sudan says still party to 2000 Cotonou agreement
July 25, 2009 (KHARTOUM) — The Sudanese government today declared that its unsigning of the 2005 amendments to the Africa, the Caribbean and the Pacific (ACP)-European Union (EU) Cotonou Partnership Agreement (CA) does not mean that it is withdrawing from the accord in its entirety.
The government indicated that the decision was motivated by a stipulation to CA member nations to take steps towards ratifying the Rome Statute of the International Criminal Court (ICC) as well as items related to combating HIV through safe sex practices and birth control.
Last March the ICC issued an arrest warrant for Sudanese president Omer Hassan Al-Bashir over allegations of masterminding war crimes in the Western region of Darfur.
The foreign ministry spokesperson Ali Al-Sadiq said that Sudan and other countries asked the EU to allow them to agree on the amendments while incorporating reservations.
However, Al-Sadiq told the government sponsored Sudanese Media Center (SMC) that their demands were refused by the EU adding that Sudan is working on including amendments allowing states to put their reservations down.
The Cotonou treaty in its original format aims at the reduction and eventual eradication of poverty while contributing to sustainable development and to the gradual integration of ACP countries into the world economy.
However, 2005 amendments add the fight against impunity and promotion of criminal justice through the International Criminal Court (ICC).
“The parties shall seek to take steps towards ratifying and implementing the Rome Statute and related instruments,” the agreement reads.
Because of the withdrawal, Sudan may be denied access to approximately 300 million euro effective last June.
Al-Sadiq acknowledged that Sudan will lose some of the funds as a result of refusing to endorse the amendments to the CA but added that the EU affirmed that some programs will still be in place in areas of development.
A large portion of the funds was allocated to support the semi-autonomous Government of South Sudan (GoSS) and the Comprehensive Peace Agreement (CPA).
The Sudanese diplomat said that consultations are ongoing particularly after Sweden assumed EU presidency.
(ST)
Kur
Sudan says still party to 2000 Cotonou agreement
Now what! Your blind policies that do not see beyond the borders of the NCP will always fail you. You will try to avoid law and order, but you will not run away from it. The arms of the international law are far reaching. ICC is everywhere; you hear it not only about the CA, but also about other important treaties that govern the world order.
Kur