OIC holds meeting, issues communiqué 2 Jeddah

His statement underlined that Sudan's response to the accusations
leveled by the chief prosecutor of the ICC against senior Sudanese
officials, including President Omar Hassan Al Bashir, was adequate.
It also affirmed that the ICC move represents a dangerous precedent
and an unnecessary diversion capable of complicating the situation in
Darfur and warned against the grave ramifications that might arise of
the ICC action, notably the politicization of a purely legal issue.
He expressed hope that the ICC would reject the warrant by the chief
prosecutor as the situation in Sudan now demands actions towards
healing and reconciliation and not accusations.

Following the meeting, a communiqué was issued stating:

1. The meeting expressed its full solidarity with the Sudan under the
leadership of H.E. President Omar Hassan Ahmed Al-Bashir and stated
its unflinching support for the various endeavors to achieve genuine
national reconciliation, lasting peace and stability within the
context of a sovereign and united country. In this context, the
meeting appealed to the Sudanese parties and other stakeholders to
recommit themselves to the revival of the peace process in Darfur and
deal constructively with various initiatives in this regard.

2. The meeting reiterated its respect for the sovereignty,
independence, territorial integrity and non-interference in the
internal affairs of the Sudan, and called on all sections of the
international community to do the same.

3. The meeting considered the recent application by the ICC
Prosecutor for the indictment of H. E President Omar Hassan El
Bashir, as unwarranted and unacceptable, and expressed its deep
concern that this action could seriously undermine the ongoing
efforts aimed at facilitating the early resolution of the conflict in
Darfur and the promotion of long lasting peace and reconciliation in
the Sudan. The meeting also expressed its deep concern that this
action could further lead to greater destabilization for the country
and the entire region.

4. The meeting urged the UN Security Council to suspend indefinitely
the move by the Prosecutor directed against President Omar Hassan El
Bashir and, in this respect decided that the OIC should coordinate
its efforts with the African Union, the League of Arab States, the
Non-Aligned Movement and other political groupings to support steps
in the UN and elsewhere aimed at defusing this dangerous situation
and preventing its recurrence. In this context, the meeting
instructed the OIC Group in New York to evolve best ways and means of
tackling the issue during the 63rd Session of the UNGA.

5. The meeting reaffirmed that any kind of selectivity and double
standards in the application of principles of criminal justice and
putting an end to impunity for crimes of genocide and crimes against
humanity and war crimes will undermine vitality and may negatively
affect the credibility of the ICC.

6. The meeting stressed that, in accordance with the Rome Statute,
the ICC can only be complementary to national legal systems, which
have the primary responsibility of investigating or prosecuting cases
over which they have jurisdiction.

7. The meeting called on OIC Member States and the international
community to intensify their engagement for the peace building
efforts in Darfur. In this regard, it urged them to urgently
contribute to reinforce UNAMID operations whose mandate has just been
extended by the UN Security Council as well as invest massively in
support of improved humanitarian conditions, reconstruction and
development in Darfur.

8. The meeting pledged its firm support for the newly appointed joint
UN/AU chief mediator on the Darfur conflict, His Excellency Djibril
Bassole, and urged the parties to extend full cooperation for the
success of his mission.
9. The meeting noted with satisfaction the progress being made in the
implementation of Sudan/Chad Agreement brokered by the Chairman of
the 11th Session of the OIC Summit, H.E .President Maitre Abdoulaye
Wade of Senegal, and urged the two OIC Member States to continue to
respect their obligations, to promote good neighborliness and
facilitate the speedy resolution of the Darfur conflict within the
framework of the Dakar Agreement of 13th March 2008. It also welcomed
the recent efforts of H.E President Abdoulaye Wade and the Libyan
Leader Muammar Al-Gaddafi which led to the restoration of diplomatic
relations between the Sudan and Chad.

10. The meeting welcomed the joint efforts of the Government of the
Sudan, the OIC Secretary General and the IDB President to organize an
OIC Donors’ Conference, which indicates serious commitment of the
Government of the Sudan towards achieving peace and development in
Darfur, and called upon Member States to participate effectively and
contribute generously at the Conference.

11. The meeting appealed to UNAMID and humanitarian aid agencies to
remain focused on their mandate and continue to deliver their
valuable assistance to the needy people of Darfur.

12. The meeting requested the OIC Secretary General to communicate
this final communiqué to the UN Secretary General, Presidents of the
Security Council and the General Assembly, through the OIC
Ambassadors' Group in New York, for circulation as an official
document.

--SPA