US gives its blessings to Bashir’s China visit
June 15, 2011 (WASHINGTON) – The United States on Thursday called on China to use the visit of Sudanese president Omer Hassan al-Bashir to press him on implementing the 2005 Comprehensive Peace Agreement (CPA).
In Beijing the Foreign Ministry spokesman Hong Lei said that Bashir is making the June 27-30 visit at the invitation of Chinese President Hu Jintao.
Bashir will hold meetings with his Chinese counterpart and other leaders and that talks would seek to promote peace in Sudan.
The visit comes ahead of South Sudan split from the North which occurs next month and amid growing military clashes on the North-South border regions.
“The two countries, accepting the new situation, will discuss how to advance and consolidate our traditional friendship, expand and deepen comprehensive cooperation and exchange views on the North-South peace process and Darfur issue,” Lei said.
“China would like to play a positive role in promoting Sudan’s peace and reconciliation, boosting the implementation of the Comprehensive Peace Agreement and safeguarding regional peace and stability,” he added.
This would be the first time Bashir traveled to China since the issuance of the warrant by the International Criminal Court (ICC) and the first to a permanent member of the United Nations Security Council (UNSC).
Bashir faces ten counts of war crimes, crimes against humanity and genocide committed in Sudan’s western region of Darfur.
China is not a member of the Hague-based court and therefore has no obligation to arrest him.
In March 2005 the United Nations Security Council (UNSC) referred the situation Darfur to the ICC in a Chapter VII resolution despite Sudan not being party to the Rome Statute. China surprised observers and Khartoum by simply abstaining rather than using its veto power to block it.
Chinese companies are major investors in Sudan’s oil, and China is Khartoum’s top arms supplier, something long criticized by human rights activists and Western governments, especially because of the conflict in Darfur.
The United States urged China to use its clout to press Sudan on stopping the violence and adhering to peace accords.
“We hope that Beijing takes this opportunity to reaffirm the importance of stopping the violence, of getting back to the [peace agreement], and of full accountability for past issues,” new State Department spokesman Victoria Nuland told reporters.
“China shares our interest in peace in Sudan,” Nuland said. “So it is our hope that, in welcoming Bashir, they are going to make the same points that the international community have been making to both sides, frankly” she added.
Nuland acknowledged that China may believe its economic and commercial interests have more importance but noted wryly that “it’s hard to have money and oil when there’s no peace”.
Asked whether she thinks its appropriate for China to receive Bashir she said that this is a “national; decision”.
“Well, our position on Bashir is clear. China makes its own national decisions. We just hope that they use the opportunity of having him in town to make strong points to him about the future of his country and the importance of peace” Nuland said.
But Amnesty International lambasted China’s decision to invite the Sudanese leader.
“If China welcomes Omar Al-Bashir it will become a safe haven for alleged perpetrators of genocide”, said Catherine Baber, Deputy Asia Pacific Director at Amnesty International.
“China should not allow Omar Al-Bashir to enter its territory, and must arrest him if he turns up” Baber added.
She further stressed that “thousands of victims in Africa will perceive China as an accomplice to crimes under international law”.
This week Bashir cancelled a visit to Malaysia for an economic summit preempting a Friday cabinet meeting in Kuala Lumpur that was considering withdrawing that invitation.
“We’ve extended invitations to all heads of state or government, and many of them are sending high-ranking representatives such as vice-presidents and ministers” Malaysia foreign minister Datuk Seri Anifah Aman told reporters today.
“Do you think that a man who has been issued a warrant of arrest will come to Malaysia?” he said.
This week the Malaysian minister in the Prime Minister’s Department Datuk Seri Nazri Aziz had said that the presence of Bashir at the summit could be an embarrassment for the country.
(ST)
Aleu
US gives its blessings to Bashir’s China visit
Omar al Bashir need to be intercept on the air.
International community please, this dictator man must be intercept on the air.
Paul Chadrack
US gives its blessings to Bashir’s China visit
The criminal’s days are numbered.
fuck u be frank
US gives its blessings to Bashir’s China visit
Bashir can visit but I think Will face problems.
Akuma
US gives its blessings to Bashir’s China visit
President Omer Hassan Al Bashir has got no chances for international friendship?!. He has now become a nuisance president in Africa’s largest country to international community simply coz of dictatorship associated with massacre innocents civilians. Those things will follow him to grave. You see the way Malaysian described and rejected him a visit, very embarrassing to Sudan!
Marco A. Wek
US gives its blessings to Bashir’s China visit
It is a high time for China to rethink. It had always supported the wrong side of Sudan whose criminal president dwell on killing the Sudanese people especially the native Sudanese. China has two choices at this juncture and that is, either support the Sudanese people or lose the oil busyness that the jehadists north used to use it’s money to buy Antinovs and gunships to kill the Sudanese natives as a means to silent them from rising against the jehadists north oppressions.
American Missile.
US gives its blessings to Bashir’s China visit
Bashir visited to China is a more death contribution to people of Sudan,because he is going to buy more Guns from China market.so those who think that he is going to visited China for helping Sudan’s problem,its not at all.
I personally,am not happy with Bashir’s visited to China,he is going for Military strategy against People of Sudan generally.China is a major partnership to Khartuom in term of supplying weapons and Human rights abuses.
Bashir’s visited is more harmful than he has never been invited and China Government should keep off from Sudan’s affair.
However, i want to assure all people of God and Southern Sudan that,on 9th July 2011 at raising flage will be our pride day and protecting our land from invaders.
May God bless Southern Sudan,
By Majok Akotdit.
SPLM Political Activist-Southern Sector.
Mr. Talk De Sense
US gives its blessings to Bashir’s China visit
Dear Guys,
I feel sick and sad to read all your contributions on this forum. Is like some of you are taking this as privilege to learn how to write on internet or just matter of posting idea which never brings sense to the nation or to an individual.
If our cry is for peace, than let us pray that Bashir’s visit to China brings peace to Sudan. We are all corrupt and poor leaders should one of you appointed to take Bashir’s or Kirr’s position, you will do likewise. So before God we’re all equal. Evil and good all the same.
Talk sense and write sense my friends. I really condemn your negative postings beyond recognitions.
Green3
US gives its blessings to Bashir’s China visit
Mr, Talk
Moralities and human equalities are different with social system! Yes, we all have good people and bad people, but we cant keep reward the bad ones, instead to isolate them! be clear, and dont condamn others here. Peace can be achieve in two ways, by deterrance and peacefull mean. Bashir had defied these for so long.He is not honest man, he lies alot and that rooted in Arabs’ cultures! soon than later, the world will get ride of Bashir by force! Dont suppose Chinese’ position! He will go and lie to them as usual! If you trust that china will press him for peace, good luck with your assessment, but i doubt it!
Baring
US gives its blessings to Bashir’s China visit
Dear Sudanese
This the last visit to Bashir far from Africa. He will be arrested according to underworld sources.