Arab Gulf states drop condemnation of ICC warrant against Sudan’s Bashir
June 14, 2011 (RIYADH) – For the first time in nearly two years the foreign ministers of the oil-rich Arab Gulf states quietly removed reference to the International Criminal Court (ICC) arrest warrant against the Sudanese president Omer Hassan al-Bashir in their final communiqué issued on Tuesday.
The GCC includes Bahrain, Kuwait, Oman, Qatar, Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates (UAE).
The statements issued at the end of the GCC ministerial meetings since 2009 had always included a paragraph expressing solidarity with Sudan and rejecting the warrant as well as all charges leveled against Bashir who faces ten counts of war crimes, crimes against and genocide he allegedly committed in Darfur.
This was the case in the communiqué adopted at the conclusion of the GCC ministerial meeting held last March in Abu Dhabi.
It is not clear why today’s meeting omitted its usual condemnation of Bashir’s arrest warrant which is the first by the ICC against a sitting head of state.
Last month, Qatar hosted the first conference on the ICC in the Middle East which has seen wide participation by Arab Gulf states. Officials from Qatar and Kuwait have expressed their intention to ratify the Rome Statute at the conference but did not provide a timeframe.
Furthermore GCC states that are part of the Libya contact group endorsed the ICC investigations in Libya which were triggered by a United Nations Security Council (UNSC) referral last February.
The ICC prosecutor announced in May that he is seeking arrest warrants for Libyan leader Muammar Gaddafi, his son Saif al-Islam and spy chief Abdullah al-Sanoosi on two counts of murder and persecution.
The judges have yet to issue a decision on the prosecutor’s request.
(ST)
Bush
Arab Gulf states drop condemnation of ICC warrant against Sudan’s Bashir
fed up with Mr.Beshir’s cruelty against his own people for many years and now the Malaysian Ministers are considering withdrawing their invitation, Beshir is facing greater isolation ever.
Sudani Logik
Arab Gulf states drop condemnation of ICC warrant against Sudan’s Bashir
The real Arabs are getting fed up with these fake Arabs we have Sudan, lol. But this decision is mainly based on self interest and not appearing self contradictory in approving ICC investigation against Ghaddafi at the same time being against Bashir’s ICC warrant.
Power & Money = Influence
Michael Angelo
Arab Gulf states drop condemnation of ICC warrant against Sudan’s Bashir
There is no doubt that president Bashir must be arrested shortly after South Sudanese’ independence. All arab countries are now realize that human life is more important than anything in this world. Thanks arab countries for agreeing to stop supporting criminals.
Billiu Puoch
Arab Gulf states drop condemnation of ICC warrant against Sudan’s Bashir
Let Bashir face the ICC and there is no blaming about that.Bashir is very arrogance,killing the innocence people in Abyei and applying the genocide to people of Darfur.what a shame.
AM very sure that Bashir will be hung up whether the Arabs League will accept it or not.Thanks to U.S President for saying that,the Issue of Abyei,Unity State and South Kordofan will be Military Solution.
Arabs are almost to kiss the dust
Wanibuluk Ciciliba
Arab Gulf states drop condemnation of ICC warrant against Sudan’s Bashir
But the Arab Countries realized they backed up Al Bashir on a wrong ground yet he(Bashir)can’t refrain form wrong dictation and killings. He does not cooperate with other Arabs on a humanity issues.
Gadhafi who pused a motion in the AU summit in Sirt forcing all African Countries members to the ICC to withdraw their obligations as members is now facing what thought was impossible to come to him. Any way, whatever goes arround will come arround.
Kon Garang
Arab Gulf states drop condemnation of ICC warrant against Sudan’s Bashir
This time the Arab world will be aware that the Agenda of Arabs-Sudanese in Sudan is against the basic needs of humanity.
It is good that the Arab Gulf State has expressed her concern.
The rest of Arab Nations should get more informations about Sudan and follow.