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Annan frustrated over US rejection of rights body
(Reuters)
Updated: 2006-03-03 09:16 Secretary-General Kofi Annan
voiced frustration at the United States on Thursday and urged it to join other
nations in hammering out a plan for a new, more credible U.N. Human Rights
Council.
"I'm chagrined about the U.S. position," Annan told reporters. He praised the
United States for a "leadership and moral position" on human rights" but hoped
it would "find some way of associating itself with the other member states."
"It is important that the decision be taken as soon as possible. And I think
the member states should find a way of bringing this issue to closure," Annan
added.
U.S. Ambassador John Bolton on Monday announced Washington's opposition to
the draft resolution and said he would vote "no" if a vote was called.
At the same time Britain distanced itself from a European position on a new
rights council, saying that U.S. opposition had to be taken into consideration
before a draft resolution, drawn up by U.N. General Assembly President Jan
Eliasson, was adopted.
The 25-member European Union late on Wednesday said they considered that the
draft met "the basic requirements for the establishment of a Human Rights
Council."
"The EU could therefore accept this text as a compromise," it said, adding
that it supported efforts by Eliasson.
But British Ambassador Emyr Jones Parry said that for the council to be
effective "it will need the support of the United States." He said Eliasson's
draft was acceptable but urged discussions "with the U.S. administration in
order to identify a basis for the widest possible support."
Republican members of the U.S. Congress want to make formation of the council
a condition for paying the full U.S. dues to the United Nations.
The new rights council is to replace the discredited Geneva-based Human
Rights Commission, where rights violators on the commission have protected
condemnation of each other's and other nations' abuses.
Supporters of the draft say more talks would not improve the resolution but
open up line-by-line negotiations to all countries. Cuba has already submitted
its own amendments.
Bolton said he wants stiffer conditions to prevent rights violators from
getting a seat on the council and to make it easier for the United States to get
a seat.
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