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British FM pledges to defer Bashir indictment: Sudan state media

November 18, 2008 (KHARTOUM) — London and Paris are working together to introduce a UN Security Council (UNSC) resolution freezing ICC move against president Bashir, the British Foreign Secretary David Miliband told Sudan official news agency (SUNA).

British Foreign Secretary David Miliband, speaks during an interview with the Associated Press, in Damascus, Syria, on Tuesday Nov. 18, 2008 (AP)
British Foreign Secretary David Miliband, speaks during an interview with the Associated Press, in Damascus, Syria, on Tuesday Nov. 18, 2008 (AP)
“The UK supports the international efforts undertaken in the UNSC aiming to suspend a decision by the International Criminal Court (ICC) to Sudanese president Omer Hassan Al-Bashir for another year” Miliband told SUNA in an interview from Damascus.

“We realize that these international measures will not solve the crisis but will complicate it even further and may be put the future of peace in Sudan on the brink of collapse” he added.

Miliband’s statements contrast that of UK Foreign Office Minister for Africa Lord Malloch Brown who said in September that suspension “is a very bad idea”.

“We are extremely wary of doing anything to interfere with the independence of the ICC. We look at it as one of the most important international innovation of recent years” Brown said.

The British official said he told Sudan that “there is no bargaining” before adding that London “cannot sellout the International Court or the justice system”.

In mid-July the ICC prosecutor Luis Moreno-Ocampo announced that he is seeking an arrest warrant for Al-Bashir.

Ocampo filed 10 charges: three counts of genocide, five of crimes against humanity and two of murder. In early October ICC judges have officially started reviewing the case in a process that could possibly drag on to next year.

The African Union, Arab League, Non-Aligned Movement (NAM) and Organization of Islamic Conference (OIC) called for invoking Article 16 which allows the UNSC to suspend the ICC prosecutions in any case for a period of 12 months that can be renewed indefinitely.

But Western members of the UNSC such as US and France made it clear that they would veto such a resolution was introduced at this point in time.

The British top diplomat told SUNA that he will meet with his French counterpart to come up with a common position on an introducing an Article 16 resolution in the council.

Sudanese officials have expressed increasing optimism that they can secure a suspension before the end of the year.

SUNA published a report this week saying that France and Britain have agreed to boost efforts to push for a deferral following efforts exerted by Syria, the current president of the Arab League, to persuade the two permanent members of the Security Council.

But asked about the news, French diplomatic sources speaking with Sudan Tribune from Paris expressed surprise and reiterated that France had not changed its initial stance on the necessary cooperation with the International Criminal Court (ICC).

Sudan has not ratified the Rome Statute, but the UN Security Council (UNSC) triggered the provisions under the Statute that enables it to refer situations in non-State parties to the world court if it deems that it is a threat to international peace and security.

(ST)

2 Comments

  • Saaid Nafe
    Saaid Nafe

    British FM pledges to defer Bashir indictment: Sudan state media
    Hi our people in Sudan, I would rather tell you that better solve your own problems within Sudan than depending on the international community in which they are focusing mostly into their interest first in solving matters. SEE WHAT IS GOING TO HAPPEN ABOUT ICC.
    No friendship without interest. Today’s friend is tomorrow enemy. Better look into your interest then wasting time with the empty friendship and ideological relationship.
    Interst of Sudanese people first and the last without discrimination and then comes friends and the world interst.Things will be better in Sudan for all.Let us accept change for good than we are to be change to worst by force .

    Reply
  • William Majier
    William Majier

    British FM pledges to defer Bashir indictment: Sudan state media
    Should the British goverment depend Bashir then who will depend the innocent Darfurian than have died and the displaced one. No for that let Bashir face the law and the ICC. If someone committed crimes like humanterian crisis and crimes against humanity and seek somebody to depend him then all will practices the same and there will be no work of human right.so a coward man like Bashir do things unknowingly and when the things gone bad he again seek for help “what a dud is he?” Stop childish behaviours, wait ICC and answer them like a man than looking for help ,Sssssssssssssssssssssssssssssame on you.

    Reply
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