Sudan calls on U.S. to take a clear stance on the ICC indictment
July 20, 2008 (KHARTOUM) — Sudan asked the U.S. Administration to take a clear position toward the International Criminal Court (ICC) and its accusations against the President Omer Hassan al-Bashir.
The U.S. is not a party to the ICC and has remained hostile to it. Washington had threatened to veto resolution 1593 referring Darfur case to the ICC adopted in March 2005 but eventually bent down to domestic and international pressure and abstained from voting.
The U.S. has recently showed signs of warming up to the court despite its long standing fears that it may be used to bring frivolous cases against its troops.
Karti denounced the contradictory position of the U.S. saying Washington is opposed to the ICC and asks the Sudan to implement the signed peace agreements but at the same time they target the head of state who guarantees all these agreements.
The U.S. State Department spokesman, Sean McCormack, confirmed on Friday 11 July before the official announcement of ICC accusations that the Prosecutor Luis Moreno-Ocampo would seek an arrest warrant for Sudanese President Omar al-Beshir for genocide and crimes against humanity in Darfur.
The minister pointed out that “there are different roles undertaken by different actors within the U.S. Administration where some people hold the file of the ICC and announce it before the court, while others reject it.”
He further added that “the official position which we heard now is that America gives great importance to the situation on the ground and the need to maintain the implementation of the agreements made with the Sudanese government.”
The U.S. Special Envoy to Sudan Richard Williamson said on 2 July that his administration had no intention of pressing the International Criminal Court (ICC) to suspend a new case that will be initiated month against new Sudanese officials suspected of crimes in Darfur.
The U.S. official said ” United States believes restorative justice is important in societies that gone through trauma and certainly where there has been genocide.” However Williamson acknowledged that depending on names that the ICC prosecutor will charge it may make dealing with the Sudanese government more difficult.
For his part, the U.S. top diplomat in Khartoum described the meeting with the state minister as “positive and constructive.”
Fernandez said in statements to the press in Arabic “We want to focus on the future. Our priorities are to make tangible progress on the ground in Darfur and to reach significant improvement in the dialogue between Sudan, the United Nations and the international community.”
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Uncle Louish
Sudan calls on U.S. to take a clear stance on the ICC indictment
WHY THIS TIME?
I think asking US to plead on behalf of Bashir for the acquittal of accusations levied on him by the ICC is not a solid and a concrete solution to Darfur crisis neither is it a solution to Bashir’s military mess. So, stop bothering the US and if anything let all the Darfurians be the ones to make a plea else forgive Bashir and the likes for whatever attrocities committed against them[Darfurians]. Besides, Bashir has no special consideration over the entire Citizenry of Darfur whom he allowed to suffer at the hands of Janjaweed and other militias responsible for the deaths; thus he is just almost dancing to the tune of the International Law and that is reverence of justice in totality!
Hope you got it right!!
Uncle Louish, the humble Gent.
phillip o
Sudan calls on U.S. to take a clear stance on the ICC indictment
It’s a curse mr.Omar Hassan al-Bashir because you did not foresee when you were sending the Darfureans and thousand of southerners to the beyond.
you need to know that in every action,there is equal and opposite reaction.therefore,you should not waste time turning to Libya, USA, mention them because they didn’t encourage you to murder.
So long as Beshir is still alive in this planet,he must not escape the long arm of the law.