EU criticizes Djibouti for receiving Sudan’s Bashir
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May 14, 2011 (WASHINGTON) – The European Union (EU) top official on
Saturday expressed concern over Djibouti’s decision to allow Sudanese
president Omer Hassan Al-Bashir to visit despite the country being a
member of the International Criminal Court (ICC).
Bashir attended the swearing in ceremony of Djibouti’s Ismail Omar
Guelleh last weekend. This is his third visit to a country that is a
signatory to the Rome Statute.
The Sudanese leader is wanted by the Hague tribunal on charges of war
crimes and genocide he allegedly masterminded in Darfur.
African and Arab regional organizations have rallied behind Bashir and
vowed not to cooperate with the court in apprehending him. However,
Bashir was forced to miss several events since the warrant for fears
of being arrested and because of international pressure on countries
that have been willing to host him.
"The High Representative is concerned by the visit of President Omar
Al-Bashir to Djibouti, a State party to the Rome Statute of the
International Criminal Court (ICC). She firmly recalls the importance
of all Member States of the United Nations abiding by and implementing
the resolutions adopted by the Security Council under Chapter VII of
the UN Charter, in this case, UNSCR 1593(2005). She urges Djibouti to
respect its obligations under international law to arrest and
surrender those indicted by the ICC" said a statement by spokesperson
of EU High Representative Catherine Ashton.
"The European Union is a staunch supporter of the ICC as a valuable
instrument of the international community to combat impunity for the
most serious crimes of concern to the international community as a
whole; genocide, crimes against humanity and war crimes must not go
unpunished and their prosecution must be ensured by measures at both
domestic and international levels"
The ICC judges ordered the court’s registrar this week to inform the
United Nations Security Council (UNSC) about Djibouti’s failure to
arrest Bashir in order to take any action it deemed appropriate.
But diplomats at the UNSC said it is unlikely that the council would
take any action.
(ST)
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