Russia unhappy about Sudan’s expulsion of aid groups
April 8, 2009 (CAIRO) – The decision by Sudan to expel aid groups from Darfur is an “illogical step” a senior Russian official said today.
Margelov said his government rejects the ejection of relief groups by Khartoum but expressed Russia’s willingness to help any party wishing to deliver aid to Darfur.
The remarks a rare criticism by Moscow to its African ally. Both countries enjoy strong military ties.
Sudan accused the expelled groups of collaborating with the ICC in its Darfur investigations. But the court’s prosecutor said he received “zero” information from them.
The Russian envoy criticized the ICC arrest warrant against Bashir saying that it came at a “bad timing”.
He affirmed however that Moscow will maintain contacts with the embattled president as the “legitimate and elected” leader in Sudan.
Asked whether Russia would veto any attempts in the UN Security Council (UNSC) to enforce the arrest warrant, Margelov said “it is too early” to determine a position on the issue.
On March 4th the ICC judges officially charged Bashir on seven counts of war crimes and crimes against humanity making him the first sitting head of state to be indicted by The Hague based court.
Russia was one of the countries that voiced opposition to the move and said it will support a deferral of the indictment through a UNSC resolution invoking Article 16 of the ICC Statute allowing the council to freeze the warrant for a period of 12 months tat can be renewed indefinitely.
The Russian positions come despite being one of the UNSC countries that voted in favor of resolution 1593 referring the Darfur situation to the ICC in March 2005.
(ST)