Posted on 04/30/2002 11:36:16 AM PDT by TaRaRaBoomDeAyGoreLostToday!
U.S. Rejoins U.N. 'Rights Commission'
NewsMax.com Wires and NewsMax.comUNITED NATIONS – The U.N. Economic and Social Council on Monday returned the United States to the so-called Human Rights Commission, from which it had been unexpectedly dumped last year.
Tuesday, April 30, 2002
The return came, according to the U.S. Ambassador to ECOSOC Sichan Siv, when the Western European and Others Group by acclamation approved Washington along with Austria, Germany and Ireland. They were elected to three-year terms beginning in 2003.
"We are very pleased that we are back on the commission," said Siv. "Human rights is a corner stone of U.S. foreign policy. We have spoken, and we continue to speak, on the issue whether we are a member or not, but now that we are back on the commission we look forward to continue to promote this very important issue."
Siv said Spain and Italy "decided to withdraw their candidacies" for a commission seat, allowing the U.S. return.
"They thought that the collective interest is more important than their national interest, especially on these issues," said Washington's envoy. "We are pleased and we are grateful that Spain and Italy agreed to do so."
Asked what difference U.S. membership would make on the largely ineffective panel, Siv said, "I think the significance is that we are able to introduce resolutions, to sponsor a resolution, which we could not due when we were just an observer.
"We have spoken on human rights issues and continue to do so whether we are on the commission or not," the envoy said. "Last year it was quite difficult because as a non-member, as an observer, we were not able to introduce a resolution, and we, unfortunately, lost a few resolutions on Iran, Chechnya and Zimbabwe, so when we get back we look forward to providing some leadership at the commission."
In all, there are 53 members of the commission, including 15 from African nations, 12 from Asian nations, five from Eastern European nations, 11 from Latin American and Caribbean nations and 10 from WEOG.
ECOSOC's dumping of the United States last year sent shockwaves through Washington, which had a seat on the panel since its inception in 1946.
Many in the U.S. questioned the value of the "rights commission," which includes such notrious abusers of human rights as Sudan.
The United States has almost paid its U.N. dues arrears in its general assessments last year. A spokesman said Washington was awaiting reforms in agencies before clearing up the remaining tab, with the exception of some disputed figures.
Copyright 2002 by United Press International.
All rights reserved.
Read more on this subject in related Hot Topics:
The U.N. Universal Declaration of Human Rights: A Magna Carta for all humanity
The term NWO and now globalization were made out to be a bunch of right wing militia wackos into conspiracy theory.What do they say now that THEIR NWO GOALS are clearly on there web page?
As bad as this is, the duties some of them are performing add an even more repugnant flavor to this.
GAG! We The Peoples! GAG!
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