Sudan says EU advised ACP countries against support for Al-Bashir
October 4, 2008 (KHARTOUM) — Sudanese official said the European Union Group lobbied the African, Caribbean and Pacific countries in a bid to dissuade them from including their supportive position to the Sudanese president in the final communiqué of their summit.
On July 14, Prosecutor Luis Moreno-Ocampo filed 10 charges: three counts of genocide, five of crimes against humanity and two of murder. He also said that President Al-Bashir “personally instructed” to wipe out three ethnic in Darfur region.
Sudanese Ambassador to the European Union and member of the Sudan delegation to the ACP summit in Accra, Nagib Al-Khair, told the official SUNA that the African countries rejected a request by the EU delegation to not include their position towards the ICC in the final communiqué of the sixth summit.
“The EU argued that the ICC judges didn’t yet issue a decision over the application filled by the prosecutor,” Al-Khair said.
However the 48 countries of the African block refused the European demand and made it clear that “the step taken by the ICC, was a violation of the sovereignty of an independent African state and that it would undermine the African regional peace,” the Sudanese official said.
The Ambassador commended particularly the stance of South Africa, Zimbabwe, Niger, Kenya, Uganda, Ethiopia, Eritrea, and Benin which firmly rejected the EU request underscoring that hey have to observe a decision adopted by the African Union.
Al-Khair further said that the Caribbean and the Pacific countries bowed to strong African position, and thus the Sudan succeeded to pass the call to freeze the ICC.
A number of regional organizations including the African Union (AU), Arab League, Non-Aligned Movement (NAM) and Organization of Islamic Conference (OIC) condemned Ocampo’s request and called on the UN Security Council (UNSC) resolution deferring Al-Bashir’s indictment.
However, the Security Council declined a request filed by Libya and South Africa on July 31, invoked the article 16 of Rome Statue to defer the jurisdiction of the world criminal court for one year.
Sudan has not ratified the Rome Statute, but the UNSC triggered the provisions under the Statute that enables it to refer situations in non-State parties to the world court if it deems that it is a threat to international peace and security.
(ST)
Akau Malek
Sudan says EU advised ACP countries against support for Al-Bashir
who cares about ACP Group? this is a group of the most brutal countries in the whole world. How can such an organization supports a leader who indiscriminately massacre his own civilians? and why are our African brothers and Caribbean like him and actually work against his indictment? to me, that ridiculous and they need to be reminded of 1994 genocide in Rwanda of which the world was blamed for ignorance. Darfur is another Rwanda but crazy and murderous African and Caribbean leaders are trying to hinder international justice to take its cause. Shame on you with your devilish actions and intentions. Please mind your own businesses and leave the ICC alone. You are fruitless and deserve zero respect with your ill judgments. Die hard souther.