Jordan to convey Sudan’s position during ICC members meetings
November 16, 2008 (AMMAN) – The Sudanese justice minister Abdel-Basit Sabdarat will travel to Jordan this week and deliver his country’s position on the indictment of president Omer Hassan Al-Bashir by the International Criminal Court (ICC).
The newspaper said that Jordan agreed to pass on Sudan’s position during the meetings which adjourn on November 22nd.
In mid-July the ICC prosecutor Luis Moreno-Ocampo announced that he is seeking an arrest warrant for Al-Bashir.
The ICC’s prosecutor Luis Moreno-Ocampo filed 10 charges: three counts of genocide, five of crimes against humanity and two of murder. In early October ICC judges have officially started reviewing the case in a process that could possibly drag on to next year
Representatives from the 108 nations that have ratified the court’s founding treaty started their annual meeting in The Hague last Friday.
Jordan is one of three Arab states along with Djibouti and Comoros Island which are members of the ICC.
The Jordanian delegation at the Assembly parties meetings led by Prince Zeid Bin Ra’ad affirmed “their continued support to the ICC”.
“Jordan calls all states, regional and international organizations to provide support to the court…. stresses the need for full international cooperation with court since its work and success in achieving its goals are dependent on constructive cooperation from all states” Prince Zeid Bin Ra’ad said in prepared remarks last Friday.
However Prince Ra’ad who is also the Jordanian ambassador to Washington made no mention of Al-Bashir’s indictment.
Last month the London based daily Al-Sharq Al-Awsat newspaper published in London said that Sudanese officials asked the Jordanian government to try and convince Western members of the UNSC to invoke Article 16.
The newspaper report said that Amman advised Sudanese officials that they are only able to offer legal assistance but will not be able to intervene in mediation efforts with Western capitals to freeze Al-Bashir’s indictment.
Furthermore Amman recommended that Khartoum cooperate with the ICC.
In September the Jordanian King Abdullah II received Sabdarat who delivered a message from Al-Bashir.
King Abdullah II told Sabdarat that Jordan is “keen on preserving the security and stability of Sudan as well as achieving national reconciliation and strengthening peace all over Sudan” PETRA reported.
But the Jordanian monarch avoided making public comment criticizing the Hague based court despite his government supporting an Arab League resolution in July describing the ICC move as “unbalanced”.
Sudan has not ratified the Rome Statute, but the UN Security Council (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)