Zuma’s remarks on ICC warrant “misunderstood” says Sudan

September 30, 2009 (WASHINGTON) — The Sudanese government downplayed statements made by the president of South Africa Jacob Zuma in which he said that his country will arrest his Sudanese counterpart Omer Hassan Al-Bashir if visits.

Zuma told CNN in an interview last week that despite his government’s view that Bashir’s warrant by the International Criminal Court (ICC) should be deferred to give peace efforts a chance, but as signatories to the Rome Statute they have legal obligations.

The Sudanese foreign ministry spokesperson Muawiya Khalid was quoted by media as saying that statements attributed to Zuma “are simply a misunderstanding”.

Khalid said that Khartoum understands the position of South Africa on ICC “within the framework of the ICC”.

He also dismissed claims that other counties such as Botswana and Uganda are willing to cooperate with the ICC in arresting Bashir.

Both countries have warned Sudan that he faces arrest of he was to ever come up to their shores.

The Sudanese head of state was forced to turn an invitation to take part in a conference in Uganda last July as a result.

This was despite the African Union (AU) decision in July to halt cooperation with the ICC in executing the warrant. However, South Africa issued a formal statement afterwards saying it cannot abide by that resolution.

The South African Vice President Kgalema Motlanthe is scheduled to visit Sudan in late October, Khalid said.

(ST)