Saudi Arabia ‘disturbed’ by arrest warrant against Sudan president
March 9, 2009 (RIYADH) – The Saudi government today said it was “disturbed” by the International Criminal Court’s (ICC) decision last week to issue an arrest warrant for Sudanese President Omar Hassan Al-Bashir.
“This will not solve the problems in Sudan. On the contrary, it will complicate them” al-Khoja said.
The ICC judges issued an arrest warrant for Bashir on seven counts of war crimes and crimes against humanity, which include murder, rape and torture. The three-judge panel said it had insufficient grounds for genocide.
Saudi Arabia joins the bulk of Arab states that expressed concern over the indictment without criticizing the court and urging the UN Security Council (UNSC) to invoke Article 16 of the Rome Statute that would suspend ICC proceedings against Bashir for a period of 12 months that can be renewed indefinitely.
“The kingdom will stand by Sudan in facing all that could threaten its sovereignty and territorial unity” he added.
Saudi Arabia has been one of the few Arab states that received the ICC prosecutor Luis Moreno-Ocampo last year who met with foreign minister Saud Al-Faisal.
Ocampo disclosed last year that the powerful Arab Gulf state was made aware of a plan to divert a plan carrying Sudanese state minister for humanitarian affairs Ahmed Haroun who wanted to perform the annual Islamic pilgrimage on a forged passport.
Haroun, who is also wanted by the ICC, ended up cancelling his travel plans thwarting the plot to nab him.
The UNSC issued resolution 1593 which referred the Darfur case to the ICC even though Sudan is not a party to the Rome Statute. Sudan therefore refuses to recognize the jurisdiction of the court.
(ST)