‘The situation in Darfur remains of serious concern’
Statement by Ambassador Lyall Grant, Permanent Representative of the UK Mission to the UN, to the Security Council Sudan ICC Briefing – 5 June 2013
I thank Ms Bensouda for her briefing today. We share the sense of frustration she expressed in her statement.
The situation in Darfur remains of serious concern. There has been a further deterioration in the security situation, resulting in an estimated 300,000 Darfuris becoming displaced – more than the total number in the last two years.
We welcome the initial steps to implement the Doha Document for Peace in Darfur, but it remains way behind schedule. The Government of Sudan and Darfur Regional Authority must make a renewed effort, and clearly signal their commitment to delivering peace in Darfur.
We welcome the commitment of Justice and Equality Movement – Bashar’s support for the Doha Document, and strongly condemn the attack which resulted in the deaths of Mohammad Bashar, and ten members of his movement. Attacks against those willing to lay down arms and negotiate are unacceptable and detrimental to the peace process. We call on all sides involved in the fighting to cease hostilities immediately and to engage in a peaceful settlement of the conflict.
UNAMID plays a crucial role in building peace and stability for the people of the region. And it is unacceptable that they continue to face access restrictions across Darfur despite clear demands of this Council. The commitment made by the Government of Sudan to remove all obstacles to development in Darfur must now be put into practice.
We thank the Prosecutor for her update on the trials of Abdallah Banda and Saleh Jerbo. It remains concerning that the Government of Sudan continues to obstruct the pursuit of justice for the people of Darfur and has failed to cooperate over the four outstanding arrest warrants. Reports of one of those indicted being present in the area of current conflict is particularly alarming. As laid down by this Council in resolution 1593, the Government of Sudan has an obligation to cooperate with the ICC and we continue to urge them to do so. We also call on all states to cooperate with the ICC to end impunity and to deliver much needed accountability and regret the fact that some ICC states parties have failed in their duty under the Rome Statute. This Council, for its part, must consider what more it can do to assist the Court to deliver the mandate we entrusted it with in referring the situation in Darfur.
In conclusion, we look forward to continuing to work together with the Prosecutor and all States, to achieve justice for the victims of this conflict.