Thursday, February 20, 2003
Chirac: Days of impunity are over in Africa
Agence France-Presse Paris, February 20
French President Jacques Chirac on Thursday urged African leaders attending a summit in Paris to embrace democracy and shun violence, warning that the "days of impunity" were over.
"Violence must be denounced wherever it comes from. Those who perpetrate it now risk punishment at the hands of the International Criminal Court which extends its protection to all citizens worldwide," Chirac said.
"The days of impunity, or when people were able to justify the use of force, are over," the French leader told some 45 heads of state and government attending the 22nd Franco-African summit.
"Now we must work to strengthen justice," he added.
The International Criminal Court set up by the United Nations is due to be officially inaugurated next month in the Dutch capital, The Hague.
Its international panel of eminent judges has already been appointed and its secretariat has begun to receive suits from a range of parties.
Among those in attendance at the Franco-African summit is Zimbabwe's President Robert Mugabe, whose presence in Paris has been met with protests targeting his dodgy human rights record.
British gay and human rights activist Peter Tatchell filed a complaint with Paris prosecutors on Wednesday, demanding a warrant for Mugabe's arrest on charges of torture.
Chirac also underlined France's "unswerving condemnation of the illegal seizure of power, in whatever form," urging African leaders to opt for dialogue instead of conflict.
"It is equally important to shun attempts by parties to conflicts to outdo each other in terms of violence, favouring dialogue instead. Political dialogue disarms violence, whereas a riposte would exacerbate it," he told delegates.
© Hindustan Times Ltd. 2002. Reproduction in any form is prohibited without prior permission To send your feedback, via web click here or email feedback at hindustantimes.com