Sudan’s peace determinant in stance over suspension of ICC action- Russian FM
July 24, 2008 (SINGAPORE) — Moscow will determine its position on the indictment of president Omer al-Bashirby the International Criminal Court according to its impact on the peace process and stability of the Sudan, said the Russian foreign minister.
Foreign Minister, Sergei Lavrov, told reporters on the sidelines of the ASEAN Regional Forum in Singapore that Russia will proceed from the premise that progress needs to be ensured with regard to resolving Darfur crisis and ensures the implementation of a peace agreement for southern Sudan.
“A proposal to this effect has been tabled with the UN, we are considering it and will base our decision on the need to ensure progress in a Sudanese settlement, including the problem of South Sudan and the problem of Darfur,” Lavrov told journalists in Singapore today.
He further added “The legal basis is that there is a statute of this court under which various actions by the prosecutor may be suspended if the UN Security Council considers it sensible.”
The African Union on July 21 asked the UNSC to invoke article 16 of Rome Statue and suspend any indictment of Sudan’s head of state. The Arab League has not made such a request formally but condemned the move by the ICC’s prosecutor and said a plan was in the works in cooperation with AU and UN.
Under Article 16 of the ICC statute, the 15-nation Security Council can pass a resolution suspending ICC investigations or prosecutions for a renewable period of one year.
The Russian Ambassador to the U.N., Vitaly Churkin, was more explicit than his minister. He had clearly said on July 22 that Security Council should respond positively to the African Union request for the suspension of the prosecution.
“This is a special case and we are dealing with a situation where a lot is at stake in terms of peacekeeping in eastern Africa, and in terms of the future of Sudan,” Churkin said.
In addition to Russia and China, other council members that would likely support an Article 16 suspension are Vietnam, South Africa, Libya and Indonesia, diplomats say.
French Ambassador Jean-Maurice Ripert, however, said he believed the council should wait until after the ICC judges make a decision on Moreno-Ocampo’s recommendations, which could take months, before considering taking up the issue.
U.S. Ambassador Zalmay Khalilzad added: “I think council action on this issue in the foreseeable future is unlikely.”
It is unclear whether France, Britain and the United States would use their powers as permanent veto-wielding council members to block a suspension of an ICC indictment of Bashir.
(ST)