China will respond ‘appropriately’ to ICC decision on Bashir warrant: Official

January 18, 2009 (KHARTOUM) — The Chinese government will respond appropriately to an arrest warrant issued by the International Criminal Court (ICC) for Sudanese president Omer Hassan Al-Bashir, its ambassador said today.

“China is in contact with all parties particularly since the UN Security Council (UNSC) has a responsibility to preserve peace and political solution in Darfur” the Chinese ambassador told reporters Li Chengwen at the embassy.

“The P-5 members at the UNSC seek Sudan stability and solving the root problems of Darfur” he said.

Asked whether his country will seek to block ICC indictment of Bashir Lee said that China wants a political and peaceful settlement to the Darfur conflict.

He further said that the right step is to encourage voluntary repatriation of Darfur displaced through improving security and development as well as creating a constructive environment through dialogue to solve it the crisis.

In mid-July the ICC’s 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 African Union (AU), Arab League, Non-Aligned Movement (NAM) and Organization of Islamic Conference (OIC) have called on the UNSC to invoke Article 16 of the ICC Statute which allows the council to suspend the ICC prosecutions in any case for a period of 12 months that can be renewed indefinitely.

Earlier this month the Chinese special envoy to Sudan Liu Guijin told reporters that an arrest warrant will have dire consequences on peace process but said that his government does not intend to table an Article 16 resolution though they would support one.

The Chinese ambassador also said today that they share common views with Russia on the issue of the ICC but stressed that the coordination should be with the international community.

China, a veto-wielding permanent member of the Security Council, buys two-thirds of Sudan’s oil exports and sells the African country weapons and military aircraft. China’s leadership has been criticized for not using its influence to do more to stop the Darfur crisis and preventing tougher action by the UN against Khartoum.

(ST)