Sudan plays Turkey card at criminal court
Güncelleme Tarihi:
Hürriyet Daily News
Oluşturulma Tarihi: Mart 06, 2009 00:00
ANKARA - Sudan has asked Turkey for help on the United Nations Security Council against the International Criminal Court, or ICC’s, arrest warrant for Sudan’s President Omar al-Bashir.
"We trust that Turkey will defend our position at the Security Council and convey it to the council’s permanent members," said the Sudanese ambassador, Ibrahim Mohamed, at a press meeting yesterday. "We did not speak with Turkish authorities after the decision was announced, but we have always had an open dialogue with them. We will speak with Turkish authorities today and tomorrow," he said.
Turkey is not a party to the ICC, which can convict individuals for crimes against humanity.
"Sudan does not recognize the ICC decisionü, Mohamed said. "Our battle with the ICC has ended. We can no longer work with the ICC."
The ICC has demanded that the Sudanese government cooperate in delivering al-Bashir and that it may refer the matter to the decision to the Security Council for implementing necessary measures.
NATO-member Turkey holds a non-permanent seat on the U.N. Security Council, which, under the ICC statute, can ask the court to suspend the investigation or prosecution for 12 months.
Mohamed said his country would provide security for all foreign missions in Sudan. "We will never act in anger. The government and the president wish to make it clear that no reprisals will take place in response to the wrong decision," Mohamed said.
Turkey is not a party to the ICC, which can convict individuals for crimes against humanity.
"Sudan does not recognize the ICC decisionü, Mohamed said. "Our battle with the ICC has ended. We can no longer work with the ICC."
The ICC has demanded that the Sudanese government cooperate in delivering al-Bashir and that it may refer the matter to the decision to the Security Council for implementing necessary measures.
NATO-member Turkey holds a non-permanent seat on the U.N. Security Council, which, under the ICC statute, can ask the court to suspend the investigation or prosecution for 12 months.
Mohamed said his country would provide security for all foreign missions in Sudan. "We will never act in anger. The government and the president wish to make it clear that no reprisals will take place in response to the wrong decision," Mohamed said.