DECLARATION OF THE ACP COMMITTEE OF AMBASSADORS ON THE DECISION OF THE INTERNATIONAL CRIMINAL COURT (ICC) TO ISSUE AN ARREST WARRANT AGAINST THE PRESIDENT OF THE REPUBLIC OF THE SUDAN, HIS EXCELLENCY MR. OMAR HASSAN AHMED EL BASHIR, FOR CRIMES AGAINST HUMANITY AND WAR CRIMES IN DARFUR
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- During its 816th Meeting held on 12 March 2009 at ACP House in Brussels, the ACP Committee of Ambassadors, under the Chairmanship of H.E. Mr. Joseph MA’AHANUA, Ambassador of Solomon Islands in Brussels, exchanged views on the Decision of the International Criminal Court (ICC) to issue an arrest warrant against the President of the Republic of the Sudan, His Excellency Mr. Omar Hassan Ahmed El Bashir, for crimes against humanity and war crimes in Darfur.
- Within this framework, the ACP Committee of Ambassadors listened to the presentations made by H. E. Mr. Najeib El Khair Abdelwahab, Ambassador of the Republic of the Sudan and H.E. Mr. René Makongo, Ambassador of the Republic of Gabon, Acting Chairman of the African Group in Brussels.
- The ACP Committee of Ambassadors expressed its firm belief in promoting the linkage between peace and justice, but also its support for the peace efforts of the African Union (AU) and the United Nations in the Sudan (Darfur and South Sudan), and its belief that a political settlement was the only realistic hope of achieving and ensuring a lasting peace in Darfur and the Region.
- The ACP Committee of Ambassadors expressed its serious concern in the face of the Decision of the Pre Trial Chamber of the ICC of 4 March 2009 to issue an arrest warrant against the President of the Republic of the Sudan for crimes against humanity and war crimes, as well as the serious consequences of that Decision.
- In this regard, the ACP Committee of Ambassadors reiterated its support for the Declaration of the 6th Summit of ACP Heads of State and Government held in Accra from 2 to 3 October 2008, and those of the AU Assemblies, particularly requesting the implementation of the provisions of Article 16 of the ICC Statutes which allows for the postponement of the said Decision in order to allow the political and diplomatic efforts to find a lasting solution to the Darfur problem.
- The ACP Committee of Ambassadors appealed for the continuation of the peace negotiations between the Government of the Sudan and the Rebel movements of Darfur.
Brussels, 12 March 2009
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(i) Jamaica, through a letter to the Chair of the Committee of Ambassadors, has formally expressed reservation about this Declaration being adopted in the name of this Committee.
(ii) The Chair of the Committee of Ambassadors has also been informed through Guyana, the coordinator of the Caribbean region, that Cuba, Guyana and Trinidad and Tobago have no objection to the draft Declaration as circulated.
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