أمريكا ترفض المشاركة فى إعتقال البشير

Quote: Robert Wood Acting Department Spokesman Photo of Robert Wood Acting Department Spokesman SUDAN Taken Question on Alberto Fernandez to be Posted Later Today: - Bashir's Travel to Eritrea / Those Responsible for Atrocities Must Be Held Accountable. - U.S. Disappointed in Bashir's Decision to Expel International Aid Organizations - Bashir Would Not be Welcome in the U.S. - Decision on Aid Groups Needs to be Reversed Immediately. - Situation in Darfur is Genocide / No Link Between ICC Indictment and Bashir's Decision. - Bashir Should Turn Himself In. MR. WOOD: Okay. Good afternoon, everyone. Happy Monday. Welcome to the briefing. Let me just start out with a brief statement on secretarial travel, which I think most of you have seen but I’ll just go ahead and read it for those who have not. QUESTION: Speaking of delayed readouts, do you have anything on Alberto Fernandez from last week? MR. WOOD: In fact, there is a response to that taken question and it should be issued a little – I’ve seen a draft of it, so I’m – we’ll have it for you a little bit later. So just be a little patient and we’ll give it to you. QUESTION: On -- MR. WOOD: Same subject? QUESTION: On Darfur, or Sudan. QUESTION: Okay. I’m sure it’s the same question on Bashir’s -- QUESTION: Bashir’s travel to – yes, his visit to Eritrea. MR. WOOD: Oh, I saw the reports. You know, our position remains the same with regard to, you know, people who have been accused of committing crimes, atrocities, that they need to be held accountable. And he – I’m sorry? QUESTION: You are not disappointed he has not been arrested in Eritrea? MR. WOOD: We’re – what we are disappointed in is this decision that Bashir took to kick out these international aid organizations, and we want to see him reverse that decision. Going back to the ICC indictment, as we’ve said before, those who have committed these types of atrocities or been responsible for the commitment of these types of atrocities need to be held accountable. And so our policy has not changed. I’m sorry. You’re -- QUESTION: Well, what does this say about the Eritreans, though? MR. WOOD: Well, look, that’s a decision for the Eritreans. If they decide to arrest, you know, President Bashir or not, that’s a decision for the Eritrean Government. However -- QUESTION: What they did was they welcomed him with – you know, with full honors. MR. WOOD: Well, we wouldn't do that here, I can assure you. That’s a decision for the Eritrean Government. I can’t say more than that. QUESTION: But will – well -- QUESTION: You don’t think that -- QUESTION: What do you mean, you wouldn't -- QUESTION: -- (inaudible) to arrest him? MR. WOOD: As we have said, we want to see those who commit these types of atrocities held accountable. I don’t think I can be any clearer on that. Go ahead. QUESTION: When you say that you would not do that here, what does that mean? MR. WOOD: Well -- QUESTION: Would the United States be prepared to arrest President Bashir if he -- MR. WOOD: Look, what I’m saying is he would not be welcomed in the United States in any way. My point is only that, as we have said over and again, these types of atrocities, when you have people who are responsible for them, they need to be held accountable, they need to be brought to justice. And that’s been – we’ve been very clear on that. And what I’m saying to you is that what we are very disappointed in right now – and I’m going to continue to make this point, as well as others – that this decision that President Bashir took with regard to kicking out these international aid organizations needs to be reversed and reversed immediately. We’re very concerned about the plight of the people of Darfur, and we’re going to continue to push until we can get that reversal. If we are unable to get him to reverse his decision, then we think it’s incumbent upon a number of countries in the international community that have relations and influence with the Government of Sudan to use that influence and to also try to fill in the gaps with regard to assisting the people of Darfur. Yes. QUESTION: Just to take it a step further, when Charles Taylor was being sought, the United States appealed to neighboring countries to do everything they could to ensure that he was handed over, and Nigeria was involved in that. But what are you doing in terms of countries where Bashir is visiting? Are you appealing directly to those countries to hand him over to the ICC? Are you asking them to, you know, take it one step further? I mean, you say he’s not welcome here, so I would assume that means that you would just arrest him and send him on his merry way on a plane. MR. WOOD: Well, first and foremost, we’re not a party, as you know, to the Rome Statute. There are countries that are parties to the Rome Statute, and they have obligations, international obligations under that statute. What I’m saying to you is, and this is not just with regard to President Bashir but with others who have been responsible for committing these types of atrocities, that they need to be held accountable and brought to justice. QUESTION: Did this come up with the Nigerians today? MR. WOOD: The question of the situation in Darfur came up, but not with regard to – that I can recall, that that specific issue came up. QUESTION: Do you have any readout on this meeting between the Secretary and the Nigerian foreign minister? MR. WOOD: Yeah, they had a very good meeting. It was their first meeting. And they talked about Nigeria’s role with regard to peacekeeping in Africa. Nigeria, as you know, is one of the largest contributors to UN peacekeeping forces. They talked about democracy issues and good governance. And the Secretary made clear that it was important and that the United States wanted to see this decision of President Bashir that I’ve already spoken to reversed. And I’m certainly not going to speak for the Nigerians, but I think they see the issues in pretty much the same way that we do. QUESTION: To go back to Darfur and to Bashir? MR. WOOD: Oh, okay. QUESTION: The previous administration considered what happened in Darfur as a genocide. Is it the position of this Administration too? MR. WOOD: Well, certainly, what’s going on in Darfur is genocide. There’s no question about that. And as I’ve said time and again, we’re very concerned about the situation on the ground in Darfur and the plight of Darfurians. And I’m not going to repeat myself, but that decision of President Bashir needs to be reversed and reversed immediately. QUESTION: So if it’s genocide, isn’t it the duty of every country to arrest Bashir -- MR. WOOD: Well, look -- QUESTION: -- and the duty of the U.S. to press for his arrest? MR. WOOD: Well, first and foremost, we are pressing to try to relieve the humanitarian situation on the ground in Darfur. This decision by President Bashir has just had a profound impact on the ability of the international community to assist the people of Darfur. And you know, I’ve said it many times here. We’re going to continue to push that. As I’ve said before – I’ll say it again – people who commit atrocities or are responsible for committing these atrocities need to be held accountable. QUESTION: Some new subjects. QUESTION: I just wanted to clear up one more thing. Because the U.S. has not subscribed to the ICC, does that mean that you wouldn’t legally be bound to actually arrest him, so therefore – MR. WOOD: I’m not an international lawyer, to be very frank. But as I said, we’re not a party to the ICC. But with regard to providing information – I think we’ve spoken to this before – to the ICC, we’ve done that when appropriate. But I’m sorry, Sue, I’m just not an international lawyer. I can’t answer those types of questions for you. QUESTION: Could you take that as a question as to what the U.S. responsibility would be? MR. WOOD: Sure, sure. QUESTION: Okay. QUESTION: On the same subject, in addition to calling on Bashir to reverse this decision with regard to the aid organizations, does the U.S. Government also call on him to surrender to the relevant authorities? MR. WOOD: Look, we’ve made no link between that ICC indictment and this decision of President Bashir. QUESTION: Nor did my question. MR. WOOD: What was your question again? That was my understanding of it. QUESTION: In addition to calling on him to reverse this decision about the aid organizations, does the U.S., and for the purposes of our question, independently of the aid groups decision, call on Bashir to surrender to the relevant authorities? Should he turn himself in? MR. WOOD: Well, I’ve said, and I’m not going to – try not to repeat myself very often on this. We’ve said those people who commit those atrocities need to be held accountable, James. QUESTION: Well, why -- QUESTION: I’m not – excuse me, excuse me. I’m not asking whether or not he should be – or if steps should be taken to hold him accountable. I’m asking whether – you are in the habit of urging him to do certain things. Is one of the things that you are urging him to do to turn himself in? MR. WOOD: Look, that is a decision he has to make for himself. There is an -- QUESTION: So, he -- MR. WOOD: Let me finish. There is an indictment out from the ICC on this. You know, he, in the end, is going to do what he feels is in his best interest. Frankly, as I’ve said, those who are responsible for committing these types of atrocities have got to be held accountable. But I – you know, sure, he should turn himself in. There’s no question about that. But what I say from the podium here doesn’t really matter. And what I’m dealing with -- QUESTION: Okay, turn off the lights. MR. WOOD: No, no, with regard to this particular -- QUESTION: Then let’s – just go on up and turn off the lights. MR. WOOD: No, no, let me finish. You didn’t let me finish what I was saying. What I was saying is it doesn’t matter to him what I say from this podium. But what he’s doing and the impact he’s having on his people is what’s of – is what is the most of concern to us. And that’s all I can say on it. I think I’ve spoken to all of those questions already. Another issue? Dave. QUESTION: A different subject. I mean, just sort of a return to another subject. I just wondered if you had any response to the rather cool reaction by the Iranian supreme leader to the Obama message. MR. WOOD: I’ve seen some news reports on his response. I don’t have much I can offer on that except to say that our hand, you know, is still outreached to the Iranian Government and people. It’s a question of whether Iran will reciprocate. I can only go by actions and not so much in the way of words. http://www.state.gov/r/pa/prs/dpb/2009/03/120774.htm