SECRETARY-GENERAL WELCOMES ADOPTION OF SECURITY COUNCIL RESOLUTION REFERRING SITUATION IN DARFUR, SUDAN, TO INTERNATIONAL CRIMINAL COURT PROSECUTOR

SECRETARY-GENERAL WELCOMES ADOPTION OF SECURITY COUNCIL RESOLUTION REFERRING

SITUATION IN DARFUR, SUDAN, TO INTERNATIONAL CRIMINAL COURT PROSECUTOR

The following statement was issued today by the Spokesman for UN Secretary-General Kofi Annan:

The Secretary-General welcomes the adoption today of Security Council resolution 1593 (2005), which refers the situation in Darfur since 1 July 2002 to the Prosecutor of the International Criminal Court.  He commends the Council for using its authority under the Rome Statute to provide an appropriate mechanism to lift the veil of impunity that has allowed human rights crimes in Darfur to continue unchecked.  He congratulates all Members for overcoming their differences to allow the Council to act to ensure that those responsible for atrocities in Darfur are held to account.  He also welcomes the Council’s encouragement of undertakings that complement the judicial process and promote healing and reconciliation.

The Secretary-General calls on the Government of Sudan, all other parties to the conflict in Darfur, and all other States and concerned regional and other international organizations to cooperate fully with, and provide any necessary assistance to, the Court and the Prosecutor.

The Secretary-General also emphasizes that lasting peace in Darfur can only be based on a negotiated settlement between the parties to this tragic conflict, and calls on them to return to negotiations in Abuja to bring it to a speedy end.

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