THIRD COMMITTEE TAKES UP ELIMINATION OF RACIAL DISCRIMINATION, RIGHT TO SELF-DETERMINATION
Press Release
GA/SHC/3484
THIRD COMMITTEE TAKES UP ELIMINATION OF RACIAL DISCRIMINATION, RIGHT TO SELF-DETERMINATION
19981023 The end of the millennium was marked by an ideological vacuum and the loss of civilized values, the Third Committee (Social, Humanitarian and Cultural) was told this morning, as it began its consideration of issues related to the elimination of racism and racial discrimination, and the right of peoples to self- determination.In introductory remarks, Maurice Glele-Ahanhanzo, Special Rapporteur of the Commission on Human Rights on measures to combat contemporary forms of racism, racial discrimination, xenophobia, and related intolerance, highlighted the rise of hatred. He said organizations had chosen to target immigrants, ethnic minorities, and indigenous people, often using the Internet to spread their xenophobia and fascist and Nazi propaganda.
Introductory statements were also made by Elsa Stamatopoulou-Robbins, Deputy Director of the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights, and Enrique Bernales-Ballesteros, Special Rapporteur of the Commission on the use of mercenaries to undermine the right of the peoples to self- determination.
The representative of the Russian Federation called for a new creative reading of the right to self-determination. Elevating self-determination to an absolute principle posed a serious danger to international peace and security. The consequences of 2,500-odd national minorities building their own State structures would be disastrous.
The representative of China said the right to self-determination should not be construed as authorizing or encouraging actions which would dismember or impair the territorial integrity of sovereign States that were conducting themselves in compliance with the principle of equal rights and self-determination of peoples.
The representative of Pakistan said the denial of the Kashmiri people's right to self-determination was the root cause of the conflict between the two countries, and it had led to the nuclearization of South Asia. Kashmir had become a flashpoint of serious proportions, he added.
Statements were also made by the representatives of Ukraine, Austria (on behalf of the European Union and associated States), and Norway.
The Third Committee will meet again at 3 p.m., on Monday, 26 October, to continue consideration of elimination of racism and racial discrimination, and the right of peoples to self-determination.
Committee Work Programme
The Third Committee (Social, Humanitarian and Cultural) met this morning to begin consideration of issues relating to the Elimination of Racism and Racial Discrimination and the Right of Peoples to Self-determination. The Committee had before it four reports of the Secretary-General on: the status of the International Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination; the financial situation of the Committee on the Elimination of Racial Discrimination; proposals to supplement the Programme of Action for the Third Decade to Combat Racism and Racial Discrimination and coordination of activities; and the universal realization of the right of peoples to self-determination.
Also before the Committee were notes by the Secretary-General transmitting: the report of the Special Rapporteur of the Commission on Human Rights on measures to combat contemporary forms of racism, racial discrimination, xenophobia and related intolerance; and the report of the Special Rapporteur on the use of mercenaries as a means of violating human rights and impeding the exercise of the right of peoples to self-determination.
The report of the Committee on the Elimination of Racial Discrimination, which was established to monitor the 1969 International Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Racial Discrimination, describes the results of the Committees' two regular sessions, its fifty-second and fifty-third, held at the United Nations Office at Geneva from 2 to 20 March and from 3 to 21 August respectively.
At its fifty-second session, the Committee considered the situation in Bosnia and Herzegovina, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Papua New Guinea and Rwanda. On the Democratic Republic of the Congo, the Committee recommended the extension of the mandate of the International Criminal Tribunal in Arusha to include jurisdiction over war crimes and crimes against humanity committed during the war. It also recommend that the Government be assisted in creating an independent Congolese judiciary.
At its fifty-third session, the Committee examined the situation in Bosnia and Herzegovina, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Federal Republic of Yugoslavia and Rwanda. It also made requests for additional information from Australia, regarding the 1993 Native Title Act, and the Czech Republic, on reports of measures contemplated for the physical segregation of housing for Roma families. On the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia, the Committee called on the Government of that country and the leadership of the Albanian community in Kosovo and Metohija to stop immediately all military and paramilitary activities and to enter into negotiations for a lasting solution to the conflict.
At its two sessions, the Committee also considered reports, comments and information from 23 States parties to the Convention. The report also noted that as a result of its 1998 election, its membership no longer included any nationals of States in sub-Saharan Africa, despite a stipulation that consideration should be given to equitable geographical distribution. It also decided that its winter
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session should be held at United Nations Headquarters in New York, as a significant number of States parties to the Convention, virtually all from developing countries, lacked diplomatic representation in Geneva.
A report of the Secretary-General (document A/53/255) provides an update on the financial situation of the Committee on the Elimination of Racial Discrimination. It was originally envisioned that States parties would be responsible for the expenses of the Committee. However, in 1992, the States parties adopted and the General Assembly endorsed an amendment to the Convention by which the Committee financing would be a United Nations responsibility. The Assembly also decided that beginning with the budget for the biennium 1994-1995, the Committee would be financed from the United Nations regular budget until the amendment entered into force. As of 30 July, 24 of the 150 States parties to the Convention had notified the Secretary-General regarding their acceptance of the amendment.
The 1998 Committee sessions were financed from the regular budget, the report states. No State party assessments were made this year, but a number of States parties were still in arrears from the non-payment of previous assessments. As of 31 August, the total outstanding arrears was $180,091.
The report of the Secretary-General on the status of the International Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Racial Discrimination (document A/53/256) noted that the Convention had been adopted by the General Assembly by resolution 2106 A (XX) (1965) and entered into force in January 1969. As of 31 July, it had been ratified or acceded to by 150 States parties. The list of States that had signed, ratified, acceded or succeeded to the Convention is contained in the annex to the report.
Also as of 31 July, 25 of the States parties to the Convention had made the declaration provided for under article 14 of the Convention, recognizing the competence of the Committee on the Elimination of Racial Discrimination to receive and consider communications from individuals within their jurisdiction claiming to be victims of violation by those States parties of any of the rights set forth in the Convention.
A report by the Secretary-General considered the implementation of the Programme of Action for the Third Decade to Combat Racism and Racial Discrimination (document A/53/305). The Third Decade (1993 to 2003), which follows the first and second decades (1973 to 1982 and 1983 to 1992), adopted a programme of action that focuses on five elements: action at the international level; action at the national and regional levels; basic research and studies; coordination and reporting; and regular system-wide consultations.
The report describes activities within the United Nations system undertaken by the Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights, the Committee on the Elimination of Racial Discrimination, as well as a description of activities not carried out because of low level contributions to the Trust Fund for the Programme of Action.
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The preliminary conclusion of a paper submitted to the Committee at its fifty-third session recommended that human rights education, with emphasis on racial discrimination, should not be confined to public and private schools and universities, but include magistrates, senior administration, public and law enforcement officials. States parties should cooperate with United Nations bodies and specialized agencies to develop and implement on a continuous basis specific programmes and strategies involving channels of culture and information, the paper states.
The report also states that the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights would seek to find ways to ensure responsible use of the Internet, with regard to racism, racial discrimination and racist propaganda on the Internet. It established a project team on racism in March to promote liaison and information exchange with other United Nations bodies and Member States.
According to the report, other activities for the Third Decade include: the establishment of a focal point with the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights to coordinate all activities; the organization of symposia, seminars and worldwide consultations on racism, racial discrimination, xenophobia and related intolerance from 1998 to 20001; and concrete proposals on how to ensure the financial and personnel resources required to implement the activities of the programme of Action for the Third Decade.
The report expresses concern that government contributions to the Trust Fund have dropped from $34,500 in 1985 to $16,000 in 1998. As a result, it states, few of the projects planned for 1994 to 1998 were carried out.
A note by the Secretary-General transmits the report of the Special Rapporteur of the Commission on Human Rights on measures to combat contemporary forms of racism, racial discrimination, xenophobia and related intolerance (document A/53/269). The report describes the activities of the Rapporteur, Maurice Glele-Ahanhanzo, since his last report, describes contemporary manifestations of racism and racial discrimination and outlines measures taken or envisaged by the Governments of France, Brazil, Colombia, United Kingdom, Unites States and Europe.
In its section on contemporary manifestations, the report notes that neo- fascism and neo-Nazism are gaining ground in many countries, especially in Europe, reflected by the electoral victories of extreme right parties that advocate xenophobia, attacks on ethnic, national and religious minorities, and racial or ethnic purity in the countries in which they are active. The report also notes that while violent manifestations of anti-Semitism have recently declined, the phenomenon continues to develop on the Internet.
The report goes on to say that discrimination against immigrants and migrant workers was found to exist not only in the Americas, Asia and Europe, but also in Africa, where some countries have organized charters for the large-scale deportation of undocumented aliens or have detained such aliens in holding camps
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prior to their repatriation.
The report concludes that the most alarming trends in the manifestations of racism, racial discrimination, xenophobia and related intolerance concern the resurgence of neo-fascism and neo-Nazism, the continued use of the Internet for the purpose of disseminating racist ideology and the exacerbation of ethno- nationalism. It recommends that the General Assembly devote particular attention to the consideration of those phenomena.
The Special Rapporteur recommends that as part of the preparations for the World Conference against Racism and Racial Discrimination, Xenophobia and Related Intolerance, regional and subregional meetings of experts, such as the one held in Cotonou in 1997, should be encouraged and promoted with the assistance of the specialized agencies in the United Nations system. He also recommends that a body on neo-fascism, neo-Nazism and ethno-nationalism should be established to study such phenomena in close cooperation with the Special Rapporteur.
The report of the Secretary-General on the right of peoples to self- determination (document A/53/280) notes that in resolution 52/113 (1997), the General Assembly requested the Commission on Human Rights to continue to give special attention to the violation of human rights, especially the right to self- determination, resulting from foreign military intervention, aggression and occupation.
In March, the Commission adopted pertinent resolutions on the situation in occupied Palestine, the question of Western Sahara and on the use of mercenaries as means of violating human rights and impeding the exercise of the rights of peoples to self-determination. In May, the Secretary-General addressed a note verbale to all governments requesting them to submit information relating to General Assembly resolution 52/113. To date, the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights has received two replies, from Jordan and Portugal, which are contained in the report.
A note by the Secretary-General transmits the report of the Special Rapporteur of the Commission on Human Rights on the use of mercenaries as a means of violating human rights and impeding the exercise of the right of peoples to self-determination (document A/53/338). The report states that, at its fifty- second session, the General Assembly adopted resolution 52/112 of 12 December 1997, reaffirming that the use of mercenaries and their recruitment, financing and training were causes for grave concern to all States and violated the purposes and principles enshrined in the Charter of the United Nations.
The General Assembly requested the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights to publicize the adverse effects of mercenary activity and requested the report of the Special Rapporteur. For its part, the Commission on Human Rights, at its fifty-fourth session, in March, decided to extend the mandate of the Special Rapporteur for three years. The report describes the activities of the Rapporteur, Enrique Bernales Ballesteros, in the
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general areas of, among others, mercenary activities against Cuba, mercenary activities in Africa, the evolution of such activities, terrorism and private security companies.
The report states that since it began in 1988, the mandate has been linked to the defence of the right of self-determination of the peoples of Africa who, set up as independent States after decolonization, had to contend with the illegal actions of mercenaries who, serving the interests of third States or economic groups, devoted themselves to sabotaging their political and economic stability. Mercenaries have been involved in the majority of cases where violence has affected the right of African peoples to peace, security and political stability. In that context, having recourse to mercenaries, whether through individual recruitment or through the more sophisticated methods of contracting with private military advice and training and security firms, has been one of the methods used to undermine the self-determination of those peoples.
The report describes, in particular, the cases of Sierra Leone, a country which had been affected by an internal armed conflict in which there was mercenary intervention, and the Democratic Republic of the Congo, where, the Special Rapporteur had been informed, there were mercenaries belonging to the London-registered firm Defence Systems Limited, responsible for guarding various mines and petroleum installations, as well as several embassies in Kinshasa.
According to the information provided directly to the Special Rapporteur by governments, the laws of most countries do not punish mercenary activity as a criminal offence. Although it has been nine years since the International Convention against the Recruitment, Use, Financing and Training of Mercenaries was adopted by the General Assembly, it still has not entered into force, as only 16 countries have ratified or acceded to it. Moreover, legislation in that area has been inadequate, with loopholes and legal ambiguities that had facilitated the use of mercenaries and of companies engaged in mercenary activities.
The Special Rapporteur concludes that mercenary activity had not abated. On the contrary, it had diversified and its operating methods had been modernized. Although the African continent still suffered the most from mercenary activities, mercenaries had also been active in other continents, where they have been involved in, among other things, terrorist attacks and illicit trafficking. For that reason, the present report, therefore, includes a discussion of the complaint brought by the Government of Cuba, currently under investigation, regarding attacks carried out by mercenaries, acting for third parties, to cause chaos and political destabilization in that country.
The international norms relating to mercenaries are not sufficient to combat the growth of the phenomenon and contain gaps and ambiguities which detract from their legal efficacy when they come to be applied, the report states. A systematic review should be conducted to clarify the scope of the definition of mercenary, elaborate on the concept and take into account new forms of mercenary activity.
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The Special Rapporteur also recommends, among others, that the General Assembly: request all Member States to include in their domestic criminal legislation express provisions characterizing mercenarism as a criminal offence; look into the links that may exist between terrorism and mercenarism and recommend to Member States that they investigate the possibility of mercenary involvement whenever criminal acts of a terrorist nature occur; and provide for increased scrutiny, monitoring and evaluation of private companies that offer security and military advice and assistance services on the international market.
The Committee also had before it the report the Economic and Social Council for 1998 (document A/53/3). Under the item on the Implementation of the Programme of Action for the Third Decade to Combat Racism and Racial Discrimination, no proposals had been submitted.
Introduction of Report
MAURICE GLELE-AHANHANZO, Special Rapporteur of the Commission on Human Rights on measures to combat forms of racism, racial discrimination, xenophobia and related intolerance, in his introductory remarks, said the end of the millennium was marked by an ideological vacuum, the loss of civilized values and by hatred of the other. Organizations had chosen to target immigrants, ethnic minorities, or indigenous people, often using the Internet to spread their xenophobia, fascist and Nazi propaganda. In 1997-1998, many extreme parties had gained seats in parliaments. There had also been a rise of extremist groups, such as the "skinheads", reminding the world of its darkest period of human history. Several demonstrations of such hatred had occurred in the last few years.
That trend was a serious matter which called for greater vigilance, he said. Other aspects of the his report had focused on the exploitation of ethnic minorities, as in Afghanistan and Kosovo, among others. In Africa, the political arena was characterized by ethnic infighting. It took one ethnic group to deprive others for war to arise, as in the Great Lakes region. Liberal democracy was founded on individual dignity and the rule of law. That was not easily taking root in Africa. He had undertaken various field visits to get a concrete experience of those countries. To have a complete picture, he needed to visit Asia too. Indonesia had faced an upheaval that had affected Chinese minorities.
Certain countries had implemented recommendations of the Special Rapporteur, but other countries had held their constitutions did not allow their implementation, he said. All Member States were urged to be conscious of the rise of ideology and discriminatory practices which targeted certain people because they belonged to one or another ethnic or racial group. A United Nations conference should examine the deep spring in the human psyche which made individuals receptive to racism and to practice racism. That kind of understanding was necessary to enter the next millennium.
ELSA STAMATOPOULOU-ROBBINS, Deputy Director of the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights, said a total of 21 reports had been submitted in the past year. The debate showed racial discrimination and ethnic
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divisions existed in far too many countries. In the past year, the Committee had adopted substantive positions on Bosnia and Herzegovina, Kosovo, Papua New Guinea, Rwanda, Australia and the Czech Republic, among others. The non-compliance of reporting had created difficulties and was a serious matter.
The Committee on the Elimination of Racial Discrimination had adopted an agenda over current realities on the treatment of refugees, migrants, prevention of racial discrimination, prevention through education, and remedial actions on racial discrimination, and to combat hatred, especially in this digital age, she said. The Committee had adopted two decisions, to hold the winter session at the United Nations Headquarters, and to extend the summer session by five working days. Though widely ratified, major efforts for adherence to the Convention should be made. Much needed to be done for individuals to be able to submit complaints; that was limited to 25 States presently. In accordance with the treaty, the Secretary-General had, since 1994, ensured commitment to maintain financing of the Committee by the regular budget of the United Nations.
The world conference on racism and racial discrimination would be held no later than the year 2001, she said. At its fifty-fourth session, the Commission on Human Rights, the preparatory body for the Conference, had invited agencies and bodies of the United Nations system as well as non-governmental organizations, among others, to participate and make proposals within the framework of that conference. The Commission recommended that the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights should serve as the secretariat for the conference. At a preliminary phase, the Office would implement measures to sensitize world public opinion regarding the objective of the conference.
Discussion
The representative of Austria asked the Special Rapporteur what priority actions should be taken to sensitize public opinion on the dangers of ethnic racism.
The representative of the United States asked Ms. Stamatopoulou-Robbins about provisions for regular budget funding for the Third Decade to Combat Racism and Racial Discrimination and the proposed world conference on racism.
The representative of Fiji addressed Ms. Stamatopoulou-Robbins, noting difficulties in getting the administrative Powers to be actively involved in the process towards self-determination. He asked what measures could be implemented to ensure that self-determination could be achieved by the year 2000.
Mr. GLELE-AHANHANZO said he had recommended programmes and involvement of the mass media in denouncing racism and racial discrimination. In Benin, such programmes had been undertaken to teach people in their own languages about their rights, and to increase awareness of racism and xenophobia. Nobody recognized that they were racist. Racism existed everywhere. In Africa, it existed in the relationships between various groups of people, between north and south, east and
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west, and English and French-speaking countries. People practised racial discrimination without even realizing it. He recommended the holding of meetings to increase awareness of the problem and its inherent dangers in other regions, so that all people, and institutions such as schools and the mass media, could all become more aware of racism. That was essential to halt, in the future, the explosiveness of the problem.
He also said the world conference on racism should be both scientific and technical, and he strongly recommended that countries where the Internet was used concern themselves with the issues raised by its use. While respecting the freedom of speech, they should also remember that human rights must be respected.
Ms. STAMATOPOULOU-ROBBINS, replying to the representative of the United States, said that budget proposals were being prepared, and that delegates would be informed when the proposals were finalized. In response to the representative of Fiji, she said she was not aware of any statements of the High Commissioner in that regard, but that she would find out and inform the delegation.
Statements
YU WENZHE (China) said that though the broad masses of Asia, Africa and Latin America had freed themselves from colonial rule, racism and racial discrimination plagued the world in various new forms, and ethnic exclusion, neo- Fascism and Nazi extremism were becoming increasingly rampant. For the convening of a world conference on racism and racial discrimination no later than in 2001, as decided at the fifty-second session of the Assembly, his Government suggested that great importance be attached to new forms of racism, and that relevant United Nations agencies undertake comprehensive investigation and research. Effective work on the Third Anti-Racism Decade should continue, with the United Nations providing necessary resources and conditions. Countries should earnestly resolve those problems by political, economic, legal and educational means, without distinction as to race or ethnicity. He called for attention to preventing the incitement of racist activities through high-tech instruments such as the Internet.
No country should impose its ideology or social system on other countries, he said. Relevant provisions of the United Nations Charter on the right to self- determination should be correctly understood and implemented. That right should not be construed as authorizing or encouraging any action which would dismember or impair, totally or in part, the territorial integrity or political unity of sovereign and independent States. He called for the restoration of all rights to the Palestinian people, including the right of self-determination, and called for the early settlement of the Palestinian question in a just and reasonable manner. That was the key to a lasting peace and stability in the Middle East. Israel and the Arab States should hold earnest and practical negotiations to achieve that.
OKSANA BOYKO (Ukraine) said the eradication of all contemporary forms of racism and racial discrimination needed the elaboration of new theoretical and conceptual approaches. The exchange of experience as well as the dissemination of
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information on good practices and effective strategies undertaken at local, national and international levels to combat racism, xenophobia and anti-Semitism were of great importance.
Ukraine had always condemned all forms of racism and racial discrimination, she said. She underscored that the United Nations world conference on racism should focus on all forms of racial intolerance, including discrimination based on race, colour, descent, or national or ethnic origin. The Conference should tackle the problems in a practicable and results-oriented way. It should be backed by a proper preparation process, particularly at national and regional levels.
In Ukraine, a system of legal guarantees expressly forbade racism and racial discrimination, she said. Special importance was attached to the rights of national minorities, which constituted a quarter of the country's population. All citizens of Ukraine were guaranteed the rights to profess their religion and observe national traditions.
Introduction of Report
ENRIQUE BERNALES-BALLESTEROS, Special Rapporteur on the use of mercenaries to undermine the right of the peoples to self-determination, said that, given the persistence of mercenaries, it was indispensable to consider that issue in the context of human rights. He would visit the United Kingdom in 1999 to investigate security firms there, visit Cuba, which had also been subjected to attacks, and Africa, particularly Sierra Leone. There the rebels had been overthrown, but a security firm was active, with its expertise in equipment and strategic and tactical attacks or in providing advice on those. He would look into the use of security services in mercenary activities.
There were also linkages between terrorism and mercenary activities, between terrorist attacks and the contract of mercenaries, he said. His report had advised the study of those issues. Mercenaries were technical experts and they acted efficiently to cause deaths. The possibility that some extremist organization was involved in mercenary activity had to be examined with care.
Discussion
The representative of Austria said the Special Rapporteur had raised issue with the current definition of who was a mercenary. Was there any work on such consideration being taken up by any other expert body? Also, could the Special Rapporteur elaborate on his remarks regarding the linkages between terrorism and mercenary activities and provide some examples of the same?
Mr. BERNALES-BALLESTEROS said United Nations resolutions had condemned mercenaries and mercenary activities in their various stages, but the only existing instrument was a protocol to one of the Geneva Conventions, which stipulated that mercenaries were excluded from the benefits of war prisoners. The International Convention against the Recruitment, Use, Financing and Training of Mercenaries adopted in 1989 had arrived at a definition of mercenaries, but only
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14 countries had acceded to it.
Mercenaries had become modern and global too, with huge contracts, he said, adding that there was no international instrument covering that. Thus, various countries had lodged complaints that there was a gap in international law, and that topic needed updating. In Geneva and in Belgium there was research being done on the matter. All those should be made available to
accelerate accession to the Convention, as it is was an indispensable instrument that could be eventually perfected. Right now, there was a gap.
As to linkages between terrorism and mercenaries, it was a topic of great concern, he said. They wished to cause terror, hatred or fanaticism, and thus adopted fanatical positions. Sometimes, terrorists took those actions. But over the years, he noted, there was a contracting of mercenaries by those organizations. As for specific names, clearly, there was the case of the Venezuelan, now in prison, who acted for terrorist organizations. There was recent information from Cuba, about people of Salvadoran or Guatemalan nationality, who had become mercenaries and carried out terrorist acts in tourist areas in Havana. That linkage must not be disregarded.
Further Statements
HANS PETER MANZ (Austria), speaking on behalf of the European Union and Bulgaria, Czech Republic, Estonia, Hungary, Latvia, Lithuania, Poland, Romania, Slovakia, Slovenia, Cyprus and Iceland, said all avenues must be pursued in combating racism and intolerance. It was particularly important to raise the awareness of young people, drawing them closer to the value of tolerance and bringing to their attention the dangers of racism and xenophobia.
The contribution of the United Nations in the field would remain crucial, he said. All relevant components of the United Nations system should strengthen their contribution. Enhanced participation in the Programme of Action for the Third Decade to Combat Racism and Racial Discrimination was an important tool to achieve improved results at the global level. He also welcomed the establishment of a Racism Project Team in the Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights to promote liaison with other United Nations departments, programmes and agencies.
Regional organizations played an important role, he said. The European Union was based on the principles of tolerance and respect for other people. The creation of an order based on non-discrimination and human rights was the underlying concern of the European movement that led to the establishment of what today was the European Union.
He said the right of peoples to self-determination was of continuing importance as part of the framework of international human rights. The right of everybody to take part in the public affairs of his or her country -- directly or through freely chosen representatives -- was central in that regard. Moreover, effective popular participation was an essential component of successful and
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lasting development. Participation of all, including persons belonging to minorities and indigenous populations, required full respect of the principle of non-discrimination, as well as of the right to freedom of expression and freedom of peaceful assembly and association.
OLE PETER KOLBY (Norway) said that while the international community had shown considerable resolve to combat racism, it was far from eliminating it. From being traditionally based on biological differences like race and the colour of people's skin, racism had more recently found expression in new and equally repulsive forms where cultural differences were construed as insurmountable barriers, impeding individuals from different origins from living together in peace and harmony. That had resulted in ethnic cleansing and mass killings of innocent people in several parts of the world in the recent past.
While the world conference would offer a unique occasion to strengthen the international commitment to combating racism, lasting results could only be achieved by involving a broad range of representatives from civil society in the preparation of such meetings, he said. Norway would facilitate, in particular, the involvement of human rights non-governmental organizations -- from Norway, and also from developing countries. Racism and discrimination were global problems, and no country was immune. Even in Norway, where everybody enjoyed equal rights regardless of national or ethnic background, the unemployment rate for immigrants from third world countries was much higher than for the rest of the population, for which discriminatory practices were partly to blame. The Norwegian Government was acutely aware of such cases of racial discrimination and the need to address them with adequate measures.
ALEXANDRE V. ZMEEVSKI (Russian Federation) said the prevention of racism and racial discrimination was difficult. The racism conference should find a genuinely comprehensive approach to end all forms of racism. Minorities, especially, were targeted in racist attacks. Surveys should be prepared by the High Commissioner for Human Rights and by other bodies concerned with minorities. His Government, on the advice of the Committee, had made provisions to prevent nationality discrimination. Guaranteeing equality to minorities was necessary for the existence of the multicultural State of Russia.
There was a need for a creative reading of the right to self-determination, with respect for the territorial and sovereign integrity of States, he said. Elevating the principle of self-determination to an absolute harboured a serious danger to international peace and security. In the modern world, if the some- 2,500 national minorities each built their own State structures, there would be disastrous consequences. Those who advocated separatism should consider that. The principles of international law, on the right to self-determination, did not include sanctioning or encouraging the dismantling of the territorial unity of sovereignty of independent States.
Each principle must be construed in relation to all other principles, and the solution to self-determination must be sought through real self-government by national minorities without jeopardizing the territorial integrity of States in
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which they lived, he said. In the democratic process within a constitutional State, people could thus succeed in shaping their own destiny.
MUHAMMAD SIDDIQUE KHAN KANJU (Pakistan) said that in Jammu and Kashmir, which was the oldest dispute on the agenda of the United Nations Security Council, the Kashmiri people had been denied their right to self-determination by India since 1947. In numerous resolutions, the Security Council had reaffirmed the Kashmiri people's right to self-determination. Both India and Pakistan had agreed to those resolutions, but India had reneged on its commitments.
While India argued that the people of Jammu and Kashmir had exercised their right to self-determination through elections in 1951 and decisions of the Constituent Assembly, he said, it was widely accepted that those elections had been rigged. The Security Council had rejected the farcical elections, and the International Commission of Jurists, in a 1995 report, had confirmed that the right of the people of Jammu and Kashmir to self-determination had not been exercised.
India had sent a large army to Kashmir to keep the State under its illegal occupation, he said. To date, more than 60,000 Kashmiris had been killed in cold blood. The denial of the Kashmiri people's right to self-determination was the root cause of the conflict between India and Pakistan over the last 50 years, and had led to the nuclearization of South Asia. The frequently unprovoked firing by Indian troops across the Line of Control had made Kashmir a flashpoint of serious proportions. Pakistan was committed to resolving all outstanding issues with India peacefully though dialogue. The ongoing tragedy also warranted an urgent proactive role by the United Nations.
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