Arab Gulf states criticize ICC move against Sudan president
December 30, 2008 (MUSCAT) – The annual summit of six Persian Gulf states issued a statement today criticizing the move by the International Criminal Court (ICC) against Sudanese president Omer Hassan Al-Bashir.
The summit also “hailed efforts by the Sudanese government to resolve the crisis and its cooperation with all efforts undertaken for a settlement of Darfur conflict”.
The GCC includes Bahrain, Kuwait, Oman, Qatar, Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates (UAE).
Despite pressure from the US and other Western countries Arab Gulf states have generally avoided making any public stances on the ravaging conflict in Darfur as they consider it an internal affair of another Arab country.
Furthermore some GCC countries such as the United Arab Emirates enjoy strong economic and trade relations with Sudan.
The GCC summit also expressed solidarity with Sudan and rejected the “unbalanced” position of the ICC prosecutor.
In mid-July the ICC prosecutor Luis Moreno- Ocampo filed 10 charges: three counts of genocide, five of crimes against humanity and two of murder and accused Al-Bashir of masterminding a campaign to get rid of the African tribes in Darfur; Fur, Masalit and Zaghawa.
The ICC judges are still reviewing the evidence before making a ruling that could come as early as next month.
The GCC statement on the ICC row matches that of the Arab League states issued last July in Cairo, Egypt.
Excluding Qatar, GCC countries have individually not been outspoken critics of the ICC following the indictment of Al-Bashir.
Qatar is leading mediation efforts between the warring parties in Darfur but some rebel groups have expressed reservation on whether the Arab Gulf state would be non-biased broker given its relationship with Khartoum.
The GCC statement lauded Qatar’s mediation efforts expressing hope that it will lead to successful outcome.
UN experts estimate some 300,000 people have died and 2.5 million driven from their homes. Sudan blames the Western media for exaggerating the conflict and puts the death toll at 10,000.
(ST)