US special envoy starts a new tour of Sudan
November 16, 2009 (KHARTOUM) – The US special envoy to Sudan Scott Gration started today a new visit to the country weeks after he left without succeeding in resolving dispute between the ruling National Congress Party (NCP) and Sudan People Liberation Movement (SPLM) centered around census results and referendum.
Gration will also fly to “El Fasher and Jebel Marra in Darfur to continue to support Darfuri armed movement unification and the Darfur peace process”.
It is not clear if Gration’s stop in Jebel Marra is a new bid to host a unification conference for commanders that have defected from Sudan Liberation Movement (SLM) led by Abdel-Wahid Al-Nur who resides in France.
The SLM has warned Gration that he will bear responsibility if he insists on venturing into areas controlled by their fighters without prior permission.
Sudan state media also reported that during the week-long visit Gration will discuss the preparations to resume the Doha peace talks between Darfur rebels and Khartoum.
He will meet with Sudan 2nd Vice president Ali Osman Taha, presidential adviser Ghazi Salah Al-Deen Attabani and foreign minister Deng Alor.
(ST)
Gatwech
US special envoy starts a new tour of Sudan
Scott Gration should open his eyes and ears to the reality of the situation in Sudan. General, use your sticks instead of carrots that Khartoum will eat and spit on you. Put pressure on both NCP and SPLM to come to conclusion on referendum bill plus other issues. Time is running out if you are really here to assist in the situation. Dr. Riek Machar and Ali Osman are doing their best to successfully reach an agreement, but hardliners on both sides thwart their efforts using their own agenda and self-interests.
Samson Shawel Ambaye
US special envoy starts a new tour of Sudan
God be with US for observing ICC annual meeting. We pro-human rights international community look for ward US cooperation with ICC.
U.S. To Attend International Criminal Court’s Annual Meeting As Observer
11/16/2009 5:12 PM ET
(RTTNews) – The United States announced Monday that it will attend the annual meeting of the Hague-based International Criminal Court (ICC) as an observer for the first time since the establishment of the international war crimes court in 2002.
U.S. envoy for war crimes Stephen Rapp told reporters in the Kenyan capital of Nairobi on Monday that he will be leading a U.S. delegation to the annual meeting of the ICC in The Hague from 18 to 26 November 2009.
“Our government has now made the decision that Americans will return to engagement with the ICC,” Rapp said, adding that the U.S. was still years away from ratifying the treaty required for joining the war crimes court.
“There remain concerns about the possibility that the United States, upon whom a great deal of the world relies for security, and its service members might be subject to politically inspired prosecutions,” Rapp said.
“We are certainly looking to engage with the ICC to ensure where there are no other avenues for accountability, that it will be an effective instrument for ensuring that individuals are brought to justice,” he added.
The International Criminal Court was established in 2002 to prosecute individuals accused of war crimes, genocide and crimes against humanity. It, however, takes up the cases only when the national courts are unable or unwilling to do so.
So far, only 110 countries have ratified the treaty required for joining the ICC, whose authority is limited to trying individuals from countries which have ratified the treaty. Though the U.S. was involved in the negotiations that led to the establishment of the ICC, Washington has so after resisted joining the first permanent global war crimes court.
by RTT Staff Writer
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