Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
09DJIBOUTI169
2009-03-10 13:58:00
UNCLASSIFIED
Embassy Djibouti
Cable title:  

MGSUO1: IGAD "DISSAPOINTED" WITH ICC INDICTMENT

Tags:  PREL PHUM CASC AEMR ASEC KAWC KPAO KJUS AMGT KFLO MARR 
pdf how-to read a cable
R 101358Z MAR 09
FM AMEMBASSY DJIBOUTI
TO SECSTATE WASHDC 0189
INFO DARFUR COLLECTIVE
IGAD COLLECTIVE
AMEMBASSY DJIBOUTI
UNCLAS DJIBOUTI 000169 


DEPARTMENT FOR AF/E AND AF/SPG

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PREL PHUM CASC AEMR ASEC KAWC KPAO KJUS AMGT KFLO MARR
PINR, SU, DJ
SUBJECT: MGSUO1: IGAD "DISSAPOINTED" WITH ICC INDICTMENT

UNCLAS DJIBOUTI 000169


DEPARTMENT FOR AF/E AND AF/SPG

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PREL PHUM CASC AEMR ASEC KAWC KPAO KJUS AMGT KFLO MARR
PINR, SU, DJ
SUBJECT: MGSUO1: IGAD "DISSAPOINTED" WITH ICC INDICTMENT


1. Post received the following press statement from the
Intergovernmental Authority on Development (IGAD) Executive
Secretariat March 10.


2. BEGIN TEXT OF IGAD PRESS STATEMENT:

PRESS STATEMENT BY THE EXECUTIVE SECRETARY OF IGAD ON THE
INDICTMENT OF THE PRESIDENT OF SUDAN

The Executive Secretary of the Inter-Governmental Authority on
Development (IGAD),Engineer Mahboub M. Maalim expressed his deep
concern and disappointment with the action taken by the
International Criminal Court (ICC) in indicting the President of
Sudan H.E. Omar Hassan Al-Bashir, despite the repeated appeals by
the International community and in particular the African Union not
to pursue the case in the interest of peace, security and stability
of Sudan. The action has no doubt put in danger the fragile peace
effort underway between the Government of Sudan and the opposition
groups in Darfur. Moreover, it will no doubt further exacerbate
the humanitarian situation in Darfur.

Engineer Mahboub recalled the position taken by the Ministers of
Foreign Affairs of IGAD Member States at their meetings in New York
on September 24th, 2008, and in Addis Ababa on 27th January 2009 in
which they inter alia called upon the United Nations Security
Council to defer the process initiated by the ICC.

Engineer Mahboub stated that in view of the current political and
security developments in Sudan and its consequences to the IGAD
region at large, the Security Council is called upon once again to
assume its responsibility and suspend the action initiated by the
ICC against the President of Sudan.

10 MARCH 2009

END TEXT OF IGAD PRESS STATEMENT.


3. Bilaterally, the GODJ had previously condemned the ICC
indictment in a March 6 French-language MFA communique which
"rejected" the "unjust and unjustified" ICC decision and called it
a "incontestable threat" to the peace process in Darfur. President
Guelleh echoed this theme in a speech given during 30th anniversary
celebrations for his ruling RPP party, saying that "we cannot
accept a decision like this which attacks the sovereignty of the
Republic of Sudan."


4. Post will forward original texts of both statements to AF/SPG.
SWAN

To view the entire SMART message, go to URL
http://repository.state.sgov.gov/_layouts/OSS SearchResults.aspx?k=messageid:3e87eb21-6801- 4de9-ae90-4d71553fb797