Briefing of the International Criminal Court (ICC) Prosecutor on the 17th Report of the ICC on the Sudan
(5 June 2013)
Thank you Mr. President,
I congratulate you on the assumption of the Presidency of the Council for this month and thank Togo for its effective Presidency last month.
We thank the ICC Chief Prosecutor Ms. Fatou Bensouda for her briefing. We have taken a careful note of the Seventeenth report of the Prosecutor. We welcome the presence of distinguished Ambassador of Sudan in the Council.
- Pakistan is not a party to the Rome Statute of the International Criminal Court (ICC). However, we acknowledge the rights and obligations of the State Parties to the ICC.
Mr. President,
- Pakistan supports a peaceful and viable resolution of the situation in Darfur through an inclusive political process, which respects and upholds the unity, sovereignty and territorial integrity of Sudan.
- The goal of durable peace in Darfur can only be realized through a comprehensive, multi-pronged strategy. Such a strategy should provide impetus to encouraging a peaceful solution through dialogue; promote justice and reconciliation; establish a conducive security environment; and address the human rights and humanitarian aspects of the longstanding conflict in Darfur by ending impunity.
- We support the efforts of the African Union, particularly its High-level Implementation Panel (AUHIP), towards achieving peace, stability, justice and reconciliation in Darfur. The advice of the the League of Arab States (LAS) and the Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) should also be given due weight.
Mr. President,
- We welcome the several important steps taken by the signatories to implement the Doha Document for Peace in Darfur (DDPD), including the transfer of funds to the Darfur Regional Authority (DRA) and holding of the International Donors Conference for Reconstruction and Development in Darfur. These steps would help address the underlying issues of development and governance in the region. We urge the signatories to implement their commitments under the Doha document. It is important that progress is made on the provisions related to land and property.
- The attacks against the peacekeepers in Darfur remain a serious concern. These attacks should be swiftly investigated and the perpetrators brought to justice.
- The destabilizing activities of the Darfuri armed rebel movements under the umbrella of Sudan Revolutionary Front (SRF) and their attacks against civilians and humanitarian workers should be thoroughly investigated. Sanctions should be imposed against all armed movements that continue to obstruct the peace process in Darfur and against all those who flagrantly violate international humanitarian and human rights law.
- The Secretary General's guidelines of 3 April 2013 on contacts between UN officials and persons who are subject to ICC arrest warrants and summons highlight that “the UN and the ICC are separate organizations, each with its own mandate.”; and underline the operational nature of the decision on the requirement of contact with various individuals for carrying out UN-mandated activities. This is a new document and we would give it some time to be tested in the field.
- Durable peace and stability in the Sudan is a strong aspiration of the Sudanese people and an imperative for regional peace and security. Achieving that objective requires support and understanding of the international community. The situation in Drafur, in particular the suffering of the people, has been a matter of concern for several years. We must do more to help resolve this complex problem in a holistic manner.
I thank you Mr. President.