IRAQ CALLED ON TO ENSURE EQUITABLE DISTRIBUTION OF HUMANITARIAN SUPPLIES BY TEXT APPROVED (102-2-51) IN THIRD COMMITTEE

27 November 1996

Press Release
GA/SHC/3407

IRAQ CALLED ON TO ENSURE EQUITABLE DISTRIBUTION OF HUMANITARIAN SUPPLIES BY TEXT APPROVED (102-2-51) IN THIRD COMMITTEE

19961127 Also Approves Draft on Sudan by 93-16-45 Vote

The General Assembly would urge the Iraqi Government to cooperate with the United Nations to ensure medicines, food and other humanitarian supplies, purchased with Iraqi oil proceeds, were distributed equitably and on a non- discriminatory basis, according to the terms of a draft resolution approved this afternoon by the Third Committee (Social, Humanitarian and Cultural). Security Council resolution 986 (1995) and the May 1996 agreement between Iraq and the Secretary-General authorized the sale of up to $2 billion worth of oil over a six-month period to purchase essential food and medical supplies.

By a vote of 102 in favour to 2 against (Libya and Sudan), with 51 abstentions, the Committee approved the text, as orally revised, which demands that the Iraqi Government restore the independence of the judiciary, abrogate decrees prescribing cruel and unusual punishment or treatment, and take every step necessary to ensure that the practice of torture and cruel and unusual punishment no longer occur. (See Annex II).

The Committee this afternoon also approved draft resolutions on the human rights situations in Rwanda and Sudan, as well as texts on the rape and abuse of women during conflict in the former Yugoslavia, and on the United Nations Decade for Human Rights Education and public information on human rights activities. A draft decision read out by the Chairperson on the situation in Estonia and Latvia was approved by consensus.

The draft resolution on the human rights situation in the Sudan was approved by a vote of 93 in favour to 16 against, with 45 abstentions. The text calls on the Sudanese Government to comply with international human rights instruments to which it is a party, and to ensure all individuals, including members of religious and ethnic groups, enjoy the rights recognized in those instruments. (See Annex I.)

Sudan would also be called on to halt the use of weapons against the civilian population and protect all civilians, including women, children and members of ethnic and religious minorities, from forcible displacement, arbitrary detention, ill-treatment, torture and summary executions.

Third Committee - 1a - Press Release GA/SHC/3407 55th Meeting (PM) 27 November 1996

According to the terms of the three-part draft resolution on Rwanda, which was approved without a vote, the Assembly would urge all parties to cooperate with the International Criminal Tribunal for Rwanda. The text expresses grave concern at reports of the killings of civilians during attacks on survivors and witnesses of genocide, apparently by militias and insurgents opposed to the Government, and at reports that civilians have been killed during military search operations by the Rwandese Patriotic Army.

Also by the text States would be called on to respond to the appeal by the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights, contribute urgently to the Human Rights Field Operation in Rwanda and work for lasting solutions to its financing problems through the regular United Nations budget.

The Assembly would express outrage at the use of rape as a deliberate and systematic weapon of war and an instrument of ethnic cleansing against women and children in Bosnia and Herzegovina, according to the terms of another draft resolution approved without a vote. By the terms of the text, States would be called on to put experts, as well as adequate resources and services, at the disposal of the International Criminal Tribunal for the Former Yugoslavia.

According to the terms of the draft decision read out by the Chairperson, the Assembly would welcome and encourage efforts on the human rights situation in Latvia and Estonia by regional organizations, including the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE) and by the Governments of Latvia and Estonia.

By the terms of the draft resolution on the United Nations Decade for Human Rights Education and public information activities in the field of human rights, the Assembly would ask the Secretary-General to bring the resolution to the attention of the international community and intergovernmental and non- governmental organizations concerned with human rights education and public information.

The Committee will meet again at 10 a.m. Friday, 29 November, to conclude its action on remaining draft resolutions.

Committee Work Programme

The Third Committee (Social, Humanitarian and Cultural) met this afternoon to take action on a number of human rights draft resolutions.

A draft resolution on the situation of human rights in Iraq (document A/C.3/51/L.40) would have the Assembly urge the Government of Iraq to cooperate with the United Nations to ensure the implementation of Security Council resolution 986 (1995), in accordance with the agreement reached in May, that medicines, health supplies, food and other humanitarian supplies, purchased with the proceeds of the sale of Iraqi oil, are distributed to the Iraqi population equitably and on a non-discriminatory basis.

The Assembly would demand that the Government restore the independence of the judiciary and abrogate all laws granting impunity to specified forces or persons killing or injuring individuals for any purpose beyond the administration of justice under the rule of law as prescribed by international standards. It would also demand the abrogation of any decrees that prescribe cruel and unusual punishment or treatment, and implement steps to ensure torture and cruel and unusual treatment no longer occur. The Assembly would urge the Iraqi Government to improve its cooperation within the framework of the Tripartite Commission and its technical subcommittees to establish the whereabouts or resolve the fate of several hundred missing persons and prisoners of war, Kuwaitis and third-country nationals who were victims of the illegal Iraqi occupation of Kuwait.

The draft resolution is sponsored by Andorra, Argentina, Australia, Austria, Belgium, Canada, Czech Republic, Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Iceland, Ireland, Italy, Japan, Kuwait, Liechtenstein, Luxembourg, Monaco, Netherlands, Norway, Portugal, Slovakia, Spain, Sweden and the United Kingdom.

A draft resolution on the situation of human rights in the Sudan (document A/C.3/51/L.61) would have the Assembly call on the Sudanese Government to comply with applicable international human rights instruments to which the country is a party, particularly the International Covenants on Human Rights, the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Racial Discrimination, the Convention on the Rights of the Child, the Slavery Convention of 1926, as amended, and the Supplementary Convention on the Abolition of Slavery, the Slave Trade and Institutions and Practices Similar to Slavery of 1956. It would call on the Sudan to ensure all individuals in its territory and those subject to its jurisdiction, including members of all religious and ethnic groups, enjoy fully the rights recognized in those instruments.

Third Committee - 3 - Press Release GA/SHC/3407 55th Meeting (PM) 27 November 1996

The Sudan would also be called on to halt the use of weapons against the civilian population and protect all civilians, including women, children and members of ethnic and religious minorities, from such violations as forcible displacement, arbitrary detention, ill-treatment, torture and summary executions. It would deplore the consequences for innocent civilians of the use of land-mines by the Government and rebel forces alike.

The draft resolution is sponsored by Andorra, Argentina, Australia, Austria, Belgium, Bulgaria, Canada, Czech Republic, Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Iceland, Ireland, Israel, Italy, Japan, Liechtenstein, Luxembourg, Monaco, Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Spain, Sweden, The former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, United Kingdom and the United States.

According to the terms of a three-part draft resolution on the situation of human rights in Rwanda (document A/C.3/51/L.64/Rev.1), in Part I, the Assembly would urge all parties to cooperate with the International Criminal Tribunal for Rwanda; by the terms of Part II, it would express grave concern at reports of the killings of civilians during attacks on survivors and witnesses of genocide, apparently by militias and insurgents opposed to the Government, and at reports that civilians have been killed during military search operations by the Rwandese Patriotic Army. In Part III, it would call on States to respond to the appeal by the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights and contribute urgently to the costs of the Human Rights Field Operation in Rwanda and work for lasting solutions to its financing problems through the regular United Nations budget.

The draft resolution is sponsored by Albania, Australia, Bulgaria, Canada, Chile, Czech Republic, Hungary, Iceland, Liechtenstein, Malta, Monaco, New Zealand, Norway, Poland, Romania and Slovenia.

A draft resolution on the rape and abuse of women in the areas of armed conflict in the former Yugoslavia (document A/C.3/51/L.66) would have the Assembly express outrage that the deliberate and systematic practice of rape has been used as a weapon of war and an instrument of ethnic cleansing against women and children in Bosnia and Herzegovina. It would call on States to put experts, as well as adequate resources and services, at the disposal of the International Criminal Tribunal for the Former Yugoslavia.

The Assembly would demand that the parties cooperate fully with the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC), the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights, the Special Rapporteur, the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) and monitoring and other missions of the European Union and the Organization of the Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE) by providing full access.

Third Committee - 4 - Press Release GA/SHC/3407 55th Meeting (PM) 27 November 1996

The draft resolution is sponsored by Afghanistan, Albania, Algeria, Andorra, Australia, Bangladesh, Bolivia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Brunei Darussalam, Burundi, Chile, Costa Rica, Czech Republic, Costa Rica, Djibouti, Guyana, Iceland, Japan, Jordan, Liechtenstein, Malaysia, Malta, Mauritania, Monaco, Morocco, Nepal, New Zealand, Oman, Pakistan, Panama, Qatar, Republic of Korea, San Marino, Saudi Arabia, Senegal, Singapore, Slovenia, Solomon Islands, The former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, Tunisia, Turkey, United Arab Emirates, United States, Uruguay and Yemen.

By the terms of a draft resolution on the situation of human rights in Bosnia and Herzegovina, Croatia and the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia (document A/C.3/51/L.68), the Assembly would urgently call on all States and parties to the Dayton Peace Agreement to cooperate fully with the International Criminal Tribunal for the Former Yugoslavia, particularly by ensuring that persons it indicts stand trial. It would call for the full and consistent implementation of the Dayton accords and for the parties to determine the fate of missing persons, particularly near Srebrenica, Zepa, Prijedor, Sanski Most and Vukovar. The Assembly would also call on the Peace Implementation Meeting, to be held in London on 6 December, to ensure human rights promotion was a central element in the new civilian structure implementing the Peace Agreement.

The Croatia Government would be called on to fully respect human rights and fundamental freedoms, including the rights of persons belonging to any national, ethnic, religious or linguistic minority; to allow the expeditious return of all refugees and displaced persons; to secure their safety and human rights; and to investigate and arrest those responsible for violence and intimidation aimed at driving people away.

It would call on the Government of the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia (Serbia and Montenegro) to immediately allow all residents in Kosovo to participate fully in the political, economic, social and cultural life of the region; to guarantee them equal treatment and protection regardless of ethnic affiliation; to take greater efforts to institute democratic norms; to revoke all discriminatory legislation; to apply other legislation without discrimination; and to prevent the arbitrary evictions and dismissals and discrimination against any ethnic or national, religious and linguistic group.

The draft resolution is sponsored by Albania, Andorra, Australia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Bulgaria, Canada, Chile, Costa Rica, Czech Republic, Hungary, Israel, Kuwait, Liechtenstein, Malaysia, Monaco, Morocco, New Zealand, Pakistan, San Marino, Saudi Arabia, Senegal, Slovenia, Tunisia, Turkey and the United States.

A draft resolution on the United Nations Decade for Human Rights Education and public information activities in the field of human rights

Third Committee - 5 - Press Release GA/SHC/3407 55th Meeting (PM) 27 November 1996

(document A/C.3/51/L.70/Rev.1) would have the Assembly request the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights/Centre for Human Rights to continue to coordinate the implementation of the Plan of Action for the Decade for Human Rights Education, to ensure maximum effectiveness and efficiency in the use, processing, management and distribution of information and educational materials, and to continue to coordinate and harmonize human rights information strategies within the United Nations System. It would also request the Secretary-General to bring the resolution to the attention of all members of the international community, as well as intergovernmental and non- governmental organizations concerned with human rights education and public information, and to submit a comprehensive report on the implementation to the General Assembly at its fifty-second session.

The draft resolution is sponsored by Andorra, Australia, Austria, Benin, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Botswana, Burkina Faso, Chile, Costa Rica, Cote d'Ivoire, Cuba, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, El Salvador, Ethiopia, Fiji, Guatemala, Guinea-Bissau, Italy, Republic of Korea, Lesotho, Morocco, Mozambique, Namibia, Nepal, Niger, Nigeria, Pakistan, Peru, Philippines, Portugal, Samoa, Senegal, Sierra Leone, Slovenia, Solomon Islands, South Africa, Suriname, Swaziland, The former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, Uganda, Ukraine, United Republic of Tanzania, Tunisia, Venezuela, Zambia and Zimbabwe.

Action on Draft Resolutions

As the Committee began action on the draft resolution on the United Nations Decade for Human Rights Education and public information activities in the field of human rights, the representative of Namibia read the following amendments:

-- eighth preambular paragraph, line 2, insert the world "all" between "of" and "their" and delete the word "full";

-- operative paragraph 3, line 3, insert "in accordance with national conditions" between "particular" and "by"; line 6, replace "as agents for" with "to work towards";

-- operative paragraph 5(bis) should be inserted as follows: "Welcomes the efforts made by the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights with the Department of Public Information of the United Nations office to increase cooperation with the media, including by the provision of timely and relative information on human rights issues";

-- operative paragraph 9, lines 1 and 2, delete the word "existing", and replace the phrase "monitoring bodies and general rapporteurs" with the word "mechanisms".

Third Committee - 6 - Press Release GA/SHC/3407 55th Meeting (PM) 27 November 1996

She also said Guyana, Burundi, Canada, Netherlands, France, Bangladesh, Colombia, Kenya, Bolivia, Mongolia, Belarus and Cambodia should be added to the list of co-sponsors.

The Committee approved the draft resolution, as orally amended, without a vote.

The representative of Japan said her Government had joined the draft resolution's adoption by consensus but had done so with reservations. First, her Government attached great importance to the Decade and public information activities in the field. While the two subjects were related, the idea of merging them should have been considered more extensively. Japan had established a headquarters for the Decade, which was chaired by the Prime Minister, and it believed that in order for the Decade to be successful, it should be the subject of a separate resolution. Her Government appreciated the co-sponsors' intentions, but the matter should be discussed more thoroughly before further measures are taken.

The Committee then took action on the draft resolution on the situation of human rights in the Sudan.

The representative of Sudan said her Government had exerted all possible efforts to reach a consensus on the draft resolution and regretted that it had not been possible. The Sudan would have preferred to avoid putting other Member States in the embarrassing situation of pronouncing themselves on the situation in an individual country. However, the Government found itself forced to call for a vote because its concerns were not duly accommodated in the draft. The Sudan strongly believed that cooperation and coordination, not confrontation and predetermined condemnation, should be the only viable path to be followed if genuine, concrete results in the field of human rights were to be achieved.

The representative of Iraq, speaking in explanation of vote, said his Government had been denied its vote in the General Assembly for reasons relating to payment of its contributions. Iraq's continued attempts to arrive at a satisfactory solution to exempt itself from the procedures of Article 19 of the United Nations Charter were rejected. Had the Government the right to vote, it would have voted against the draft resolution, because it was of a political nature and in no way served the question of human rights.

The representative of Egypt, in explanation of vote, said he would like to reserve the right to make a general statement in the plenary. His Government deplored the trend of using double standards and new criteria in citing human rights violations which did not fall within the application or competence of the mandate of the Commission on Human Rights. Egypt rejected the deployment of staff in the field or human right monitors in the territory

Third Committee - 7 - Press Release GA/SHC/3407 55th Meeting (PM) 27 November 1996

of the Sudan, as stated in operative paragraph 7 of the draft resolution. The matter should not be considered until after consultations were held with the State concerned. In addition, Egypt rejected the interference in the internal affairs of any State and anything which could jeopardize the union and integrity of the territory of the Sudan. Egypt intended to abstain from voting on the draft resolution.

The representative of the United States said Slovakia should be added as a co-sponsor.

The representative of Sudan said it would like to reserve the right to make an explanation of vote in the plenary.

The Committee approved the draft resolution by a vote of 93 in favour to 16 against, with 45 abstentions (see Annex I).

The representative of Afghanistan said his vote should have been recorded as against the resolution instead of an abstention.

The representative of Togo said his vote had not been recorded. If he had voted, he would have abstained.

The representative of Canada stated that the following countries had been added as co-sponsors to the draft resolution on the situation of human rights in Rwanda: Austria, Belgium, Benin, Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Ireland, Israel, Italy, Netherlands, Portugal, Slovakia, Spain, Sweden, Tunisia, United Kingdom and the United States.

Andorra, Cambodia, Republic of Moldova, San Marino and The former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia also asked to be listed as co-sponsors.

The Committee approved the draft resolution without a vote.

The representative of Pakistan read the following amendments to a draft resolution on the rape and abuse of women in the areas of armed conflict in the former Yugoslavia:

-- operative paragraph 12, line 1, delete the words "as appropriate" and the commas that precede and follow them.

He also said the following countries should be listed as co-sponsors of the text: Latvia, Austria, Canada, Germany, Belgium, Hungary, Egypt, Croatia, Azerbaijan, Finland, Portugal, France, Ireland, Norway and Sweden.

The Committee Secretary read out the following revisions to the draft resolution:

Third Committee - 8 - Press Release GA/SHC/3407 55th Meeting (PM) 27 November 1996

-- in the sixth preambular paragraph, line 1, add a comma after the word "rape" and delete "which has been used"; in line 2, add a comma after the word "cleansing";

-- in operative paragraph 10, at the end of the paragraph add the following phrase: "including by providing full access".

Monaco, Argentina, Italy, Luxembourg, Philippines, Sudan, Greece, United Kingdom, Israel, Ecuador, Dominican Republic, Mozambique, Denmark, Spain and the Gambia also asked to be added as co-sponsors.

The representative of Ireland, speaking on behalf of the European Union, said the Union supported the draft resolution. However, it also believed that various serious matters addressed in the text should have been included in the draft resolution on the human rights situation in the former Yugoslavia, and it looked forward to that being done in the General Assembly's fifty-second session.

The Committee approved the draft resolution, as orally amended, without a vote.

The Committee then proceeded to act on the draft resolution on the situation of human rights in Bosnia and Herzegovina, Croatia and the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia (Serbia and Montenegro)

The Committee Secretary read out the following editorial changes to the text:

-- In the second line of operative paragraph 2, the word "the" should be replaced by "their" and "they have" should be deleted.

-- In the fourth line of operative paragraph 9, "the" should be deleted and the word "and" in the last line should be replaced by "or".

-- The words "the Republic of" which appear before "Bosnia and Herzegovina" in the third, ninth, sixteenth and nineteenth preambular paragraphs and in operative paragraphs 1, 2, 4, 16 and 24 should be deleted.

The United States representative said Austria, Belgium, Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, Iceland, Ireland, Italy, Jordan, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Netherlands, Portugal, Spain, Sweden, United Kingdom, Iran, Norway and Bangladesh wished to become co-sponsors.

He then read out the following revisions to the text:

Third Committee - 9 - Press Release GA/SHC/3407 55th Meeting (PM) 27 November 1996

-- In the first line of the thirteenth preambular paragraph, the words "the relevant successor States of the former Yugoslavia should be replaced with "all Parties to the Peace Agreement...";

-- The fourteenth preambular paragraph should be deleted and two preambular paragraphs taken from last year's text should be inserted to read as follows:

-- "Encouraging the international community, acting through the United Nations and other international organizations as well as bilaterally, to enhance significantly humanitarian support for the people of the region and promote human rights, economic reconstruction, the repatriation of refugees, and the holding of free elections in Bosnia and Herzegovina";

-- "Welcoming the efforts of the European Union to promote respect for human rights and fundamental freedoms, and endorsing the Special Rapporteur's recommendations that economic and other aid must be made conditional on meaningful progress on human rights";

-- The end of the twenty-first preambular paragraph should read "especially resolutions 1009 (1995) of 10 August 1995 and 1079 (1996) of 15 November 1996";

-- In operative paragraph 11, delete "free determination and full participation by..." and after the word "Kosovo" insert "to participate freely and fully...".

The representative of Ireland, speaking on behalf of the European Union, said it supported the draft resolution, but had reservations about the use of the denomination "Federal Republic of Yugoslavia (Serbia and Montenegro)" to designate the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia. The term was not in conformity with the General Framework Agreement for peace in Bosnia and Herzegovina, with relevant Security Council resolutions, and with the conclusions of the Ministerial Steering Board of the Presidency of Bosnia and Herzegovina held on 14 November to which many of the co-sponsors of the current draft resolution were party. Nor was it used by the Special Rapporteur. The use of the denomination could not constitute a precedent.

The representative of Croatia said he reserved his delegation's right to make a statement during the plenary.

The representative of the Russian Federation said, taking into account that the text was constantly changing, he wished to add a new preambular paragraph 2(bis) which would read as follows:

Third Committee - 10 - Press Release GA/SHC/3407 55th Meeting (PM) 27 November 1996

-- "Confirming the territorial integrity of the Republic of Croatia, Bosnia and Herzegovina and the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia";

The representative of the United States said his delegation would vote against the amendment proposed by the Russian Federation. There was nothing in the text which called into question the territorial integrity of any State in the former Yugoslavia. He would ask for other Members to vote against it.

The representative of the Russian Federation said he had not heard any voices against his proposal except that of the United States representative.

The representative of the United States said he wanted to clarify that he would vote against the amendment. But it would vote in favour of the draft resolution.

The representative of Ireland, speaking on behalf of the European Union, said the Committee needed time to consider any proposed amendment and did not wish to take action at this time.

The representative of Albania said, like the United States, he opposed the introduction of the amendment at such a late stage and he did not see why there should be such a reference in a human rights text.

Canada said it would appreciate a little more time to consider the amendment and joined in the European Union's appeal that the amendment not be considered at the present time.

The representative of the United States asked for a brief suspension of the meeting.

Following a short suspension, Committee Chairperson PATRICIA ESPINOSA (Mexico) announced that action on the draft resolution would be postponed until Friday, 29 November.

The Secretary read out the following revisions to a draft resolution on the situation of human rights in Iraq:

-- in operative paragraph 4, line 1, the words "in Northern Iraq" should be added after the words "military forces", which should be deleted from the second line;

-- in operative paragraph 12, second line, the word "subcommittees" should be in the singular, "subcommittee".

The representative of Ireland, speaking on behalf of the co-sponsors, read out the following amendment to the text:

Third Committee - 11 - Press Release GA/SHC/3407 55th Meeting (PM) 27 November 1996

-- operative paragraph 4 should be deleted.

Israel and San Marino asked to be added to the list of co-sponsors.

The representative of Iraq, speaking in explanation of position before the vote, said the deletion of operative paragraph 4 was something that he understood. Iraq had requested a recorded vote on the draft because it was a repetition of previous resolutions adopted in the period that followed the so- called Gulf Crisis.

The fifth preambular paragraph referred to Security Council resolution 688 (1991), and the Government would like to make clear that it cooperated with humanitarian organizations, particularly the ICRC, which visited Iraq to extend assistance to its citizens, whether in the northern, middle or southern regions, he said. As to the sixth preambular paragraph, which alluded to Security Council resolution 687 (1991), it was well known that Iraq had met all its obligations under that resolution. The seventh preambular paragraph referred to Security Council resolution 986 (1995), and the Government of Iraq had cooperated fruitfully with the United Nations to arrive at the "oil-for- food" formula and a memoranda had been signed in May. The eighth preambular paragraph referred to a refusal by the Government, but Iraq had cooperated in full with the human rights bodies concerned, including the working groups, and it was trying its best to respond to their queries. Regarding the report of the Special Rapporteur, Iraq had made its assessment of his work to the Committee earlier. The Government of Iraq rejected the idea of human rights monitors because it constituted blatant interference with the affairs of Iraq.

The allegation of "all-pervasive violations" referred to in operative paragraphs 2 and 3 was baseless, he said. It was based on statements made in the Special Rapporteur's report which were mechanically repeated year in and year out. Operative paragraphs 5 and 6 referred to the memoranda of understanding between Iraq and the United Nations. Iraq was keenly interested in implementing the provisions of that memorandum signed six months ago. The reference to the pursuit of discriminatory practices in distributing foodstuffs and medical supplies in operative paragraph 7 were false. If that was the case, reports issued by impartial international organizations would have alluded to it. Those reports on the delivery of rations to all Iraqis and foreigners in Iraq had shown that there had been absolutely no discrimination. Operative paragraph 10 referred to decrees that prescribed cruel punishment or treatment, but these acts of punishment had been halted. The Centre for Human Rights and concerned bodies had been informed. Regarding the Kuwaiti missing persons mentioned in operative paragraph 12, that matter was being treated within the framework of the Tripartite Commission and a technical subcommittee under the supervision of the ICRC, with the full cooperation of the Government of Iraq.

The draft resolution's formulation was unbalanced and reflected a selectivity and partiality which some States applied in addressing human

Third Committee - 12 - Press Release GA/SHC/3407 55th Meeting (PM) 27 November 1996

rights situations in specific countries, he said. The Government of Iraq called upon all States to vote against the draft resolution or abstain, because it was unrelated to human rights. It was a pretext to interfere in the internal affairs of some States.

The representative of Ireland said the Czech Republic, Argentina, Andorra, Poland, Japan and the United States had asked to be added to the list of co-sponsors. He also asked the Chairperson who had requested the recorded vote.

The CHAIRPERSON said the representative of Iraq had requested the recorded vote on the draft resolution.

The representative of Egypt, speaking in explanation of vote, said his Government had abstained from voting on resolutions about human rights situations in individual countries. Egypt categorically insisted on respect for human rights and basic freedoms throughout the world. His Government asked that Iraq respect human rights and basic freedoms, as well as immediately release all Kuwaiti detainees. Egypt rejected interference with the internal affairs of any State and reaffirmed its position of rejecting anything interfering with the territorial integrity of Iraq. His delegation also asked to reserve its right to make a general statement in the plenary.

The representative of Cuba, speaking in explanation of vote, said that this year the circumstances surrounding Iraq had changed, and a greater unilateral aggressiveness by the United States against Iraq had been perceived. The United States, with its desire to strengthen its position as international policeman, had acted against the Charter. The independence and sovereignty of all States should be respected and protected. The draft resolution did not help the cause of promoting human rights in the region or international peace and security. Cuba would consider all these elements when it voted on the resolution.

The representative of Ireland asked if Iraq could request a recorded vote if it did not have a vote in the Committee.

The CHAIRPERSON said Iraq was still a member of the United Nations and had a right to request a vote.

The representative of Iraq said some delegations had mentioned that there were Kuwaiti detainees in Iraq. There were no Kuwaiti detainees. There were only persons who were missing or who disappeared after the aggression, and Iraq was cooperating in the matter.

The Committee approved the draft resolution, as orally amended, by a vote of 102 in favour to 2 against (Libya and Sudan), with 51 abstentions. (See Annex II.)

Third Committee - 13 - Press Release GA/SHC/3407 55th Meeting (PM) 27 November 1996

The representative of Syria, speaking in explanation of vote, said it had abstained in the vote because regrettably the draft resolution addressed human rights questions selectively. It was against the resubmission of drafts requesting the overseeing of human rights inside Member States through the deployment of a team of monitors. That constituted interference in the affairs of a Member State and ran counter to the Charter and in this case, was a flagrant interference in the internal affairs of Iraq under the guise of human rights.

The representative of Portugal, speaking in explanation of vote, asked that it be reported that it voted in favour of the resolution.

The representative of Sudan, speaking in explanation of vote, said her Government had voted against the resolution because the resolution was motivated by political interests. It gave full support to the unity and territorial integrity of both Kuwait and Iraq and hoped that the problem between the two Arab countries could be resolved.

The representative of Kuwait, speaking in explanation of vote, said the Secretary-General's report referred to the United Nations interest in Kuwait. The Secretary-General expressed concern that Iraq had not implemented Security Council resolutions to free detainees of all nationalities. The Secretary- General also said it was disturbing that 600 Kuwaitis and third-party nationals were still missing. He expressed regret that Iraq continued noncompliance in the seventh year of sanctions and impeded the lifting of the sanctions. No tangible results were achieved in Tripartite Commission meetings, and the Director of the ICRC had stated that it was increasingly frustrated by the lack of progress made by the Commission.

The CHAIRPERSON read out the following draft decision.

"The General Assembly, having concluded the consideration of the question on the basis of the information provided by the High Commissioner for Human Rights, on behalf of the Secretary-General, pursuant to its resolution 48/155, 'Situation of human rights in Estonia and Latvia', welcomes and encourages the activities undertaken and being undertaken in this regard by relevant regional and international organizations, including the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE), as well as the measures by the Governments of Estonia and Latvia in implementation of the recommendations of these organizations.

The CHAIRPERSON said the text had the support of all delegations.

The Committee then approved the draft decision without a vote, and the CHAIRPERSON said the two draft resolutions on the human rights situations in Latvia and Estonia would be withdrawn.

(annexes follow)

Third Committee - 14 - Press Release GA/SHC/3407 55th Meeting (PM) 27 November 1996

ANNEX I

Vote on situation of human rights in Sudan

The draft resolution on the situation of human rights in the Sudan (document A/C.3/51/L.61) was approved by a recorded vote of 93 in favour to 16 against, with 45 abstentions, as follows:

In favour: Albania, Andorra, Angola, Antigua and Barbuda, Argentina, Armenia, Australia, Austria, Bahamas, Barbados, Belarus, Belgium, Belize, Bolivia, Botswana, Brazil, Bulgaria, Canada, Chile, Costa Rica, Croatia, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, El Salvador, Eritrea, Estonia, Ethiopia, Federated States of Micronesia, Finland, France, Georgia, Germany, Greece, Guatemala, Guyana, Haiti, Honduras, Hungary, Iceland, Ireland, Israel, Italy, Jamaica, Japan, Kazakstan, Latvia, Lesotho, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, Marshall Islands, Mexico, Monaco, Mongolia, Namibia, Netherlands, New Zealand, Nicaragua, Norway, Paraguay, Peru, Poland, Portugal, Republic of Moldova, Romania, Russian Federation, Samoa, San Marino, Singapore, Slovakia, Slovenia, Solomon Islands, South Africa, Spain, Suriname, Sweden, The former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, Trinidad and Tobago, Turkey, Uganda, Ukraine, United Kingdom, United Republic of Tanzania, United States, Uruguay, Uzbekistan, Venezuela, Zambia, Zimbabwe.

Against: China, Comoros, Cuba, India, Indonesia, Iran, Jordan, Libya, Myanmar, Nigeria, Pakistan, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Sudan, Syria, Viet Nam.

Abstaining: Afghanistan, Algeria, Bahrain, Bangladesh, Benin, Bhutan, Brunei Darussalam, Burkina Faso, Burundi, Cambodia, Cameroon, Cape Verde, Côte d'Ivoire, Democratic People's Republic of Korea, Egypt, Fiji, Gabon, Ghana, Guinea, Guinea-Bissau, Kenya, Kuwait, Kyrgyz Republic, Lao People's Democratic Republic, Lebanon, Malaysia, Maldives, Mali, Mauritania, Morocco, Mozambique, Nepal, Niger, Oman, Papua New Guinea, Philippines, Republic of Korea, Saint Lucia, Senegal, Sierra Leone, Sri Lanka, Swaziland, Thailand, Tunisia, United Arab Emirates.

Absent: Azerbaijan, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Chad, Colombia, Congo, Djibouti, Dominica, Equatorial Guinea, Gambia, Grenada, Liberia, Madagascar, Malawi, Mauritius, Palau, Panama, Rwanda, Saint Kitts and Nevis, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, Sao Tome and Principe, Seychelles, Tajikistan, Togo, Turkmenistan, Vanuatu, Yemen, Zaire.

(END OF ANNEX I)

Third Committee 15 Press Release GA/SHC/3407 55th Meeting (PM) 27 November 1996

ANNEX II

Vote on situation of human rights in Iraq

The draft resolution on the situation of human rights in Iraq (document A/C.3/51/L.40) was approved, as orally revised, by a recorded vote of 102 in favour to 2 against, with 51 abstentions, as follows:

In favour: Albania, Andorra, Angola, Antigua and Barbuda, Argentina, Armenia, Australia, Austria, Azerbaijan, Bahamas, Barbados, Belarus, Belgium, Belize, Bhutan, Bolivia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Botswana, Brazil, Bulgaria, Cambodia, Canada, Chile, Colombia, Costa Rica, Croatia, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, El Salvador, Estonia, Federated States of Micronesia, Fiji, Finland, France, Gambia, Georgia, Germany, Greece, Guatemala, Guyana, Haiti, Honduras, Hungary, Iceland, Iran, Ireland, Israel, Italy, Jamaica, Japan, Kazakstan, Kuwait, Latvia, Lesotho, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malawi, Maldives, Malta, Marshall Islands, Mexico, Monaco, Mongolia, Mozambique, Netherlands, New Zealand, Nicaragua, Norway, Paraguay, Peru, Poland, Republic of Korea, Republic of Moldova, Romania, Russian Federation, Saint Lucia, Samoa, San Marino, Saudi Arabia, Senegal, Slovakia, Slovenia, Solomon Islands, South Africa, Spain, Suriname, Swaziland, Sweden, The former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, Trinidad and Tobago, Turkey, Ukraine, United Kingdom, United States, Uruguay, Uzbekistan, Venezuela, Zambia.

Against: Libya, Sudan.

Abstaining: Afghanistan, Algeria, Bahrain, Bangladesh, Benin, Brunei Darussalam, Burkina Faso, Burundi, Cape Verde, China, Cote d'Ivoire, Cuba, Democratic Republic of Korea, Egypt, Eritrea, Ethiopia, Gabon, Ghana, Guinea, Guinea-Bissau, India, Indonesia, Jordan, Kenya, Kyrgyz Republic, Lao People's Democratic Republic, Lebanon, Malaysia, Mali, Mauritania, Morocco, Myanmar, Namibia, Nepal, Niger, Nigeria, Pakistan, Papua New Guinea, Philippines, Sierra Leone, Singapore, Sri Lanka, Syria, Thailand, Togo, Tunisia, Uganda, United Arab Emirates, United Republic of Tanzania, Viet Nam, Zimbabwe.

Absent: Cameroon, Chad, Comoros, Congo, Djibouti, Dominica, Equatorial Guinea, Grenada, Liberia, Madagascar, Mauritius, Oman, Palau, Panama, Portugal, Qatar, Rwanda, Saint Kitts and Nevis, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, Sao Tome and Principe, Seychelles, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, Vanuatu, Yemen, Zaire.

* *** *