Remarks by Counselor Liang Hengzhu at the UN Security Council Briefing on ICC Sudan |
2023-01-25 18:24 |
Mr. President, I thank Prosecutor Karim Khan for his briefing, and welcome the presence of the Permanent Representative of the Sudan at today’s meeting. Recently, the political situation in Sudan has been improving. Earlier this month, the final phase of the political process was launched, which is another important progress since the signing of the Political Framework Agreement by the main parties in Sudan in December last year. We welcome these developments, and sincerely hope that all parties in Sudan will put the interests of the country and the people first, actively participate in the final phase of the negotiations, and bring the political transition back on the right track at an early date. We also expect Sudan to continue to make great achievements on the road to peace, stability, and development. Rebuilding the rule of law and achieving justice in Darfur are common goals of the international community. China appreciates that the Sudanese Government uses justice and accountability as an important means to achieve lasting peace by establishing a transitional justice commission in accordance with the provisions of the Juba Peace Agreement, signing the memorandum on cooperation with the ICC, and receiving the visits of the Prosecutor, among other efforts. It should be obvious that the implementation of the Juba Peace Agreement and the building of the judicial capacity of the Sudanese Government require financial support. The international community should exclude political consideration, provide tangible assistance to Sudan, and respond positively to the lifting of the Security Council sanctions, an issue Sudan is concerned about. In conclusion, I wish to reiterate that China’s position on the ICC involvement in the Sudan situation remains unchanged. We hope that the court will strictly adhere to the principle of complementary jurisdiction, respect in earnest the judicial sovereignty of Sudan, fully heed the relevant opinions of the Sudanese Government, maintain its independence, impartiality, and objectivity in the investigations, prosecutions, and trials, and ensure that the work done is conducive to promoting justice and achieving lasting peace in Sudan. Thank you, Mr. President. |