Botswana wants Assembly of State Parties presidency
Gothataone Moeng | Friday March 14, 2014 17:33
The Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation Phandu Skelemani told Parliament yesterday that the country wants the presidency of the ASP, the court’s management oversight and legislative body. The body is due to elect a new President and two Vice-Presidents for a three-year term later this year
When presenting his ministry’s budget proposals yesterday, Skelemani said Botswana is declaring its candidacy for the presidency as part of its commitment to the protection and promotion of human rights.
“I would like to appeal to honourable members of [Parliament] to assist us in campaigning for this important position, which will enhance our position as a country that has strong faith in the rule of law as well as international law,” he said.
The ASP, which consists of one representative from each state party, is presided over by a president and two vice-presidents, elected by the members. The current President is Tiina Intelmann from Estonia, with vice presidents, Markus Borlin from Switzerland and Ken Kanda from Ghana. The three-year term for the trio comes to an end in December 2014. The promotion of human rights, good governance, respect for the rule of law, sustainable development and the maintenance of international peace and security are of utmost importance to Botswana, the minister said. He said this is the reason the country continues to be actively involved in multi-lateral diplomacy in order to contribute to the causes of humanity.
Botswana has in the past taken a controversial position different from the African Union, an organisation it is a member of, on African heads of states the ICC wants to prosecute. Botswana has constantly declared its position that Sudanese President Omar al-Bashir should appear before the ICC to face charges of genocide, crimes against humanity and war crimes in Sudan. Last year, Skelemani declared that Kenyan President Uhuru Kenyatta would be unwelcome in Botswana if he refused to cooperate with the ICC on his charges on crime against humanity. However, Kenyatta later visited Botswana on an official state visit.