In light of the visit of the President of Sudan, Mr. Omar Hassan Ahmed Al-Bashir to Abuja, Nigeria, from 14-16 July 2013, the President of the Assembly of States Parties to the Rome Statute of the International Criminal Court, Ambassador Tiina Intelmann, recalled that two warrants of arrest were outstanding against Mr. Omar Al-Bashir.
In her letter to H.E. Mr Olugbenga Ashiru, Minister of Foreign Affairs of Nigeria, the President of the Assembly reminded the Government of Nigeria of its commitment, as a State Party to the Rome Statute, to cooperate with the Court. The Assembly had repeatedly expressed concerns regarding the negative consequences that failure to comply with decisions of the Court had on the Court’s capability to carry out its mandate.
As President of the Assembly, she deplored the visits of persons subject to arrest warrants of the Court to any State Party. “I call upon the Government of Nigeria to respect and fully comply with its Rome Statute obligations, and I renew my appeal to States Parties and others in a position to do so to join efforts to prevent instances of non-cooperation”, the President said, speaking in New York.
Decision Regarding Omar Al-Bashir's Visit to the Federal Republic of Nigeria
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