Source: http://www.usunnewyork.usmission.gov/press_releases/20080731_210.html http://www.usunnewyork.usmission.gov/press_releases/20080731_210.html
Date: July 31, 2008

USUN PRESS RELEASE #210                                                                       July 31, 2008
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
 
Remarks by Ambassador Alejandro Wolff, U.S. Deputy Permanent Representative, on the renewal of the UNAMID mandate, at the Security Council Stakeout, July 31, 2008
 
Ambassador Wolff: You saw and heard from our statement the United States abstained from the resolution.  I want to make one thing clear in advance. This was not an abstention related to the extension of UNAMID itself.  The United States supports UNAMID, backs UNAMID, wants to do everything possible to ensure that UNAMID is fully and effectively deployed as rapidly as possible so we can do what the Council has long sought to do, is help the people of Darfur.
 
The reason for our abstention, I made clear in our statement, had to do with one paragraph that would send the wrong signal at a very important time when we are trying to eliminate the climate of impunity, to deal with justice, and to address crimes in Darfur, by suggesting that there might be a way out.  There is no compromise on the issue of justice.  The crime of impunity has gone on too long and the United States felt that it was time to stand up on this point of moral clarity and make clear that this Permanent Member of the Security Council will not compromise on the issue of justice.
 
Reporter: Mr. Ambassador why did you come up with this at the last minute?  Why didn’t you raise it at UN consultations and not wait until today?
 
Ambassador Wolff: I’m not sure why you concluded we came up with this decision at the last minute.  There was no agreement on any resolution draft.  There was a resolution draft circulated late last evening with new language that had not been seen by members - the British delegation trying to identify language that members could rally around.  That language was looked at today by many delegations, those who had the ability overnight to take advantage of the time difference had instructions early in the morning. We dealt with it early this morning, weighed the issues before us and decided the matter at stake was too important to compromise.
 
Reporter: Ambassador Wolff? Resolutions are framed with all kinds of baggage and the United States has not exactly been a strong supporter of the ICC over the years so why single out this paragraph in this resolution?
 
Ambassador Wolff: Well let’s be clear.  I think the reasons for lack of support by the United States of the ICC have nothing to do with impunity, have nothing to do with the pursuit of justice, have nothing to do with opposition to any acts on crimes against humanity and in the case of Darfur, genocide.  The issue here has to do with the effort to bring those indicted and those whose arrest is being sought to justice and end the climate of impunity.  That’s why we feel so strongly about this paragraph.
 
Reporter: Before Mr. Ocampo announced his decision to seek this arrest warrant Richard Williamson had indicated that you should think twice or that it might somehow implicate in the peace process.  Should we read from your abstention that the U.S. is the most committed to going forward and would never agree to an Article 16 suspension of the indictment?
 
Ambassador Wolff: This issue has not been addressed.  It is not the time to address it.  The issue before us is to make clear to those who are guilty of criminal activity, those who are complicit in the horrors that have befallen the people of Darfur, that there can be no escape, that there must be accountability, that there is no impunity and anything that signals that there is a way out or an easy way to circumvent that we believe needs to be opposed.
 
Reporter: (inaudible)
 
Ambassador Wolff: This resolution, we’ve made very clear, has to do with Sudan and only Sudan.
 
Reporter: Mr. Ambassador, what about the African countries?  The United States has always been in favor of cooperation with the African Union and the Mission in Darfur and the Africans themselves are saying we’d like you to consider this issue so why didn’t you put that into consideration before abstaining sir?
 
Ambassador Wolff: The African Union did more than request that we consider the issue they requested that we suspend under Article 16 of the ICC statute the arrest warrant request.  We disagree respectfully with that point.
 
Reporter: Sir the Chinese Ambassador was here a few minutes ago in your place and he indicated that in the next two weeks they’ll start talking to other interested parties to start the move for the discussion in the Council of Article 16.  Do you think that is a lot of time or do you have to wait maybe, or ask him to wait until after the judges of the ICC make their decision or are you willing to enter into discussion in the Council of Article 16 within the next two weeks?
 
Ambassador Wolff: I think as you heard also from other statements around the Council, the Council is divided on this point and it is not only the United States…
 
Reporter: They are asking for a discussion, they are not asking for you to implement it.
 
Ambassador Wolff: Any member of the Council has the ability to request discussions.  The position that the United States has on this issue was articulated I think very clearly in our statement today and if the Chinese delegation chooses to initiate a discussion on this we will make our views known
 
Reporter: You’ve mentioned in your statement this thing about there needs to be a speeding up, or building the infrastructure to get the peacekeeping force in and you said there’s some hindrance in that.  Are you talking about the private contractor which in fact, the UN has said was slow and didn’t perform its job, PAE, or are you blaming the infrastructure problem entirely on the government of Sudan?
 
Ambassador Wolff: I think everyone shares the blame in the failures of UNAMID to deploy as intended to protect the people of Darfur.  So we all share responsibility, we have not done well by the people of Darfur.  That applies to this Council, that applies to the UN, and it certainly and above all applies to the government of Sudan. Thank you.