The European Union (EU) threatened on Monday to punish individuals in Sudan who refused to cooperate with the International Criminal Court (ICC) by handing over war crime suspects.
The EU "stands ready to consider measures against individuals responsible for not cooperating with the ICC", foreign ministers from the 27-nation bloc said at a monthly meeting here Monday.
It is the first time that the EU has warned of specific punishment against individuals rather than sanctions on the government concerned.
The EU foreign ministers said they deeply deplored the continued failure of the Sudanese government to cooperate with the Hague-based ICC.
"Any arrest warrant issued by the ICC should be respected," they said.
The ICC has issued arrest warrants against former Sudanese Interior Minister Ahmad Harun and Ali Kushayb, a former militia leader, for their alleged commitment of war crimes and crimes against humanity in Darfur.
Meanwhile, the foreign ministers warned of new measures against any party in Sudan which impedes the peace process in Darfur.
The EU "remains concerned by the continued violence against civilians, peacekeepers and humanitarian personnel, as well as the evidence of continued high levels of gender violence and sexual crimes," they said.
They also reiterated their readiness to take further measures, notably in the UN framework, against any party failing to engage constructively in the peace process in Darfur.
Source:Xinhua
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