New York, 12 June 2012
The President of the Assembly of States Parties to the Rome Statute, Ambassador Tiina Intelmann, expressed her satisfaction over the recent news that the Government of Malawi had decided not to host the President of Sudan, Omar Al-Bashir, against whom the International Criminal Court had issued an arrest warrant. In this connection, the President recalled the 12 December 2011 decision by Pre-Trial Chamber I that the Republic of Malawi had failed to cooperate with the Court by not arresting and surrendering Omar Al Bashir to the Court during his visit to Malawi on 14 October 2011.
The President further emphasized that the cooperation of States Parties with the Court, including the execution of arrest warrants, is a crucial prerequisite for the success of the Court's work and the fight against impunity.