The U.S. State Department, responding to Wednesday's International Criminal Court arrest warrant for Sudanese President Omar el-Bashir, said those who have committed atrocities in Sudan should be held accountable for their crimes. The United States is not a party to the ICC but is understood to have provided some support for its Darfur war crimes inquiry.
美国国务院在回应国际刑事法院星期三对苏丹总统巴希尔发出的逮捕令时表示，那些在苏丹犯下暴行的人应该要为他们所犯下的罪行负责。虽然美国不是国际刑事法院的成员，不过众所周知美国为该法院在达尔富尔战争罪的调查中提供了协助。
U.S official say the prosecution of the Sudanese leader could be a "helpful step" in bringing peace to war-torn Darfur, and it is urging all parties to the conflict to exercise restraint in responding to the long-anticipated arrest warrant.
即便美国不是国际刑事法院的成员，不过美国认为起诉苏丹领导人在为饱受战争蹂躏的达尔富尔带来和平方面，是“有帮助的一步”。美国并敦促与这个冲突有关的各方对这预期已久的逮捕令能够作出自我克制的反应。
The Bush administration opposed the ICC on grounds that it lacked accountability and could be turned against American forces operating abroad, and in 2002 it withdrew former President Bill Clinton's signature on the Rome Statute that set up the court.
布什政府反对国际刑事法院，因为它不能为自己的行为承担责任并可能对派驻国外的美军产生不利影响。布什政府在2002年撤回了前总统克林顿在设立国际刑事法院的罗马规约上的签名。
Nonetheless, in a statement responding to the ICC warrant against President Bashir, State Department Deputy Spokesman Gordon Duguid stressed that the United States supports accountability for crimes in Darfur, which it has termed genocide:
即便如此，美国国务院发言人杜吉德在针对国际刑事法院向巴希尔总统发出逮捕令的一份声明中强调，美国支持必须有人对达尔富尔的暴行承担罪责，美国称这种暴行为种族灭绝。
"The United States is strongly committed to the pursuit of peace in Sudan, and believes that those who have committed atrocities should be held accountable for their crimes," said Duguid. "We urge the government of Sudan, armed rebel groups, and all other concerned parties to exercise restraint in responding to the ICC arrest warrant that was issued today, and to assure the safety and security of vulnerable Sudanese populations, international civilians, and peacekeepers on the ground. The United States will continue to support efforts to ease the suffering of the Sudanese people and to promote a just and durable peace."
杜吉德说：“美国坚决致力于苏丹和平，并认为那些犯下暴行的人应该被绳之以法。我们敦促苏丹政府，反政府武装组织，以及其他所有相关各方在面对今天国际刑事法院发出的逮捕令时，能够作出自我克制的反应，并且确保脆弱的苏丹人民、国际平民以及地面维和部队的安全。美国将继续协助缓解苏丹人民所受的痛苦，并促成公正及持久的和平。”
Duguid said the United States remains committed to the full implementation of the Comprehensive Peace Agreement on Sudan's north-south civil war, and also continues to support the Darfur peace mission of United Nations and African Union mediator Djibril Bassole.
杜吉德说，美国仍然致力于充分贯彻苏丹南北内战的全面和平协议，并继续支持联合国达尔富尔和平使命及非盟调解人员巴索雷。
Pressed by reporters if the U.S. call for accountability meant it welcomes the arrest warrant for Mr. Bashir, Duguid said the ICC action "can be a helpful step," and that the United States will monitor how the case against the Sudanese leader proceeds.
当记者追问杜吉德美国是否欢迎对巴希尔发出逮捕令，杜吉德说，国际刑事法院的行动“可能是有助的一步”，美国将会继续密切注视这个针对苏丹领导人的案件的进展状况。
As to U.S. diplomatic contacts with Mr. Bashir, Duguid noted that the United States does not have full diplomatic relations with the Sudanese government and that the U.S. embassy in Khartoum is headed by a charge d'affaires.
杜吉德在谈到美国和巴希尔的外交接触时指出，美国和苏丹没有全面外交关系，美国驻喀土穆的大使馆现在是由一名临时代办在负责。
He said because the United States takes the ICC action very seriously, any official U.S. contacts with Mr. Bashir would have to be carefully reviewed on a case-by-case basis, being very mindful of the charges against him.
杜吉德说，由于美国认真看待国际刑事法院的行动，因此任何美国与巴希尔之间的接触必须在关注巴希尔所受到指控的前提下，以个案方式逐一加以谨慎复审。
After an intensive State Department investigation, including interviews with Darfur refugees, former Secretary of State Colin Powell in 2004 described government-led attacks in Darfur as genocide. Despite not being a Rome Statute signatory, the United States has provided some support to the ICC in its Darfur inquiry, reportedly including aerial photos of the aftermath of attacks on villages.
Asked about that support Thursday, spokesman Duguid said he was not at liberty to discuss communication the United States may have had with the court. As to whether U.S. officials believe Mr. Bashir committed war crimes, Duguid said he would refrain from making statements that might influence court decisions.
A senior official who spoke to reporters here said the Obama administration is reviewing the issue of American membership in the ICC but that U.S. concerns about potential reckless prosecution of American troops abroad remain. |