FCO STATEMENT ON PRESIDENT BASHIR'S VISIT TO MALAWI

The United Kingdom's Minister for Africa, Henry Bellingham, MP, has issued the following statement following the visit to Malawi by President al-Bashir of Sudan on 14 October.

"I am disappointed that Malawi hosted President Bashir of Sudan today (14th October) in defiance of International Criminal Court arrest warrants for war crimes, crimes against humanity and genocide.

The British government expects the Government of Malawi to stand by its obligations under the Rome Statute, and as a UN member state. The Government of Malawi has committed itself to full cooperation with the ICC, and I reiterate the importance that the British government places on such commitments.

We support the work of the ICC as an independent judicial body. All countries should cooperate with the ICC investigations in accordance with UN Security Council Resolutions, and the particular legal obligations of States Party to the ICC."

British High Commission Lilongwe

14 October 2011