NON-GOVERNMENTAL ORGANIZATION COMMITTEE RECOMMENDS STATUS SUSPENSION FOR COUNCIL OF THE ASSOCIATION FOR PEACE IN THE CONTINENTS

Press Release
NGO/367

NON-GOVERNMENTAL ORGANIZATION COMMITTEE RECOMMENDS STATUS SUSPENSION FOR COUNCIL OF THE ASSOCIATION FOR PEACE IN THE CONTINENTS

The Committee on Non-Governmental Organizations (NGOs) this morning recommended a three-year suspension by the Economic and Social Council of the consultative status of the International Council of the Association for Peace in the Continents (ASOPAZCO).

As it met to continue its review of special reports on non-governmental organizations with consultative status with the Economic and Social Council, the Committee, acting on a proposal by the Cuban delegation, took that action by a recorded vote of 11 in favour to 5 against, with 2 abstentions.

It had earlier rejected a German proposal to adjourn action on the Cuban proposal by a roll-call vote of 5 in favour to 12 against, with 1 abstention. One delegation did not participate in the vote.

The Government of Cuba had lodged the complaint against ASOPAZCO because of alleged misconduct by the inter-governmental organization at the fifty-sixth session of the Commission on Human Rights held in Geneva from 20 March to 27 April. (For further details, see Press Release NGO/363 issued on 21 June.)

Cuba’s representative, urging suspension, said there was no way that the United Nations should allow non-governmental organizations to retain their consultative status if there were doubts about their activities, particularly if those were political. Cuba would not allow the organization to participate in any United Nations event.

Calling for adjournment of action on the Cuban proposal, the representative of Germany said while the complaint was legitimate, ASOPAZCO should be given more time to defend itself.

Statements were also made by the representatives of Algeria, Bolivia, Chile, China, Colombia, France, India, Lebanon, Pakistan, Russian Federation, Sudan, Tunisia, Turkey and United States.

The Committee will meet again at 3 p.m. today to conclude its current session.

Statements

Addressing its complaint against ASOPAZCO, the representative of Cuba said that her delegation had carefully studied the responses and noted that one had been signed by the President of another agency. That person was not an official representative of ASOPAZCO, but was the Chairman of an associated one –- the

Committee on NGOs - 2 - Press Release NGO/367 762nd Meeting (AM) 23 June 2000

United Towns for North/South Cooperation. She emphasized that the letter was irrelevant and did not respond to the very serious accusations her Government had made against the organization.

The letter had indicated that the organization intended to place a complaint at its trial against certain persons who had been publishing and distributing destructive material against that organization, she pointed out. The letter also stated that the Government of Cuba was a declared enemy of human rights. In addition, the United Towns for North/South Cooperation was requesting a postponement of the matter, but the Cuban delegation was requesting that that organization should present a special report at its next session, while the matter of ASOPAZCO be decided on during the current session of the Committee.

The representative of Germany reminded the Committee that the formal request by Cuba for action against ASOPAZCO was made on Wednesday, 21 June, and the time was too short for the Committee to take that action. The matter had now become much more serious and the NGO needed more time to respond to the allegations.

The representative of France said that the letter was indeed unacceptable, as the Chairman of the United Towns for North/South Cooperation was no longer a member of the organization under consideration. He had been referred to as a founding President of ASOPAZCO, but did that mean he was still a member of the NGO?

The representative of Chile said there were many elements that remained unclear and it would be difficult to make a wise and fair decision. The NGO should be allowed to appear before the Committee to defend itself.

The representative of Cuba proposed that she read another letter -- written in Spanish and sent by a representative of ASOPAZCO, Mari Paz Martinez -- for the Committee.

The representative of France said, although the letter was being read, its contents still needed to be examined before a decision could be taken to suspend ASOPAZCO.

Another representative of Cuba said there was no way that the United Nations should allow non-governmental organizations to retain their consultative status if there were doubts about their activities. The ASOPAZCO had accredited Silvia Eliondo, who was in the plane that violated the territorial integrity of Cuba. She was also involved in terrorist activities against the Government and its tourist industry, in addition to being guilty of other subversive actions. Cuba could not allow the organization to participate in any event of the United Nations. The Committee must take action immediately.

The organization had been called on to give a response to the allegations since March, the representative of Lebanon said. Yet, it had not done that.

The representative of Cuba proposed that the organization’s status be suspended for three years. That was an expression of flexibility and the minimum that her delegation could offer, she stressed

She then read the contents of the letter which stated that the writer was fed up with the machinations of Cuba. It also pointed out that the organization was based at Madrid, not Geneva or the United States. The activities of the organization were aimed at ensuring respect for human rights around the world, including Cuba. It had also defended and helped restore human rights in Chile and Nicaragua. The organization verified allegations of human rights violations and worked to have them improved. It is also working on various humanitarian programmes on behalf of children, particularly those from Cuba.

The representative of Cuba noted afterwards that the letter had used disrespectful terms when referring to the United Nations, as well as to Cuba and its President. The letter had also stated that the organization worked in the area of human rights, yet made references to terrorists -- persons who were violating international law and the United Nations Charter.

After a short suspension, the representative of Cuba said if the German proposal was approved, ASOPAZCO would have the opportunity to continue its actions.

The representatives of France and the United States expressed support for the German proposal.

The representatives of Algeria and Cuba said their delegations would vote against it.

The Committee then rejected the proposal by a roll-call vote of 5 in favour to 12 against, with 1 abstention. One delegation did not participate in the voting.

Vote on Proposal to Adjourn Action on ASOPAZCO

The vote was as follows:

In favour: Chile, France, Germany, Romania, United States.

Against: Algeria, Bolivia, China, Colombia, Cuba, Ethiopia, India, Lebanon, Pakistan, Russian Federation, Sudan, Tunisia.

Abstain: Senegal, United States.

Explanation of Vote

Speaking after the vote, the representative of Germany reiterated that his delegation took the Cuban complaint seriously, but still thought the NGO should have been given time to respond to the allegations made against it.

The representative of the United States also said that adequate time had not been given to the organization.

Vote to Suspend ASOPAZCO

Speaking before the vote, the representative of Cuba reminded Committee members that her delegation had also proposed that the United Towns for North/South Cooperation present a special report to the Committee at its next session.

The representative of Pakistan said his delegation hoped a consensus would be achieved to send a strong message.

The Committee, by a roll-call vote of 11 in favour to 5 against, with 2 abstentions, recommended that the Economic and Social Council suspend for three years the consultative status of ASOPAZCO.

The vote was as follows:

In favour: Algeria, Bolivia, China, Colombia, Cuba, Ethiopia, Lebanon, Pakistan, Russian Federation, Sudan, Tunisia.

Against: Chile, France, Germany, Romania, United States.

Abstain: India, Turkey.

Explanation of Vote

Speaking after the action, the representative of Chile wished the NGO had been given enough time to respond. She also wished that the Committee had not acted under pressure.

The representative of France reiterated that the Committee, as was customary, should have heard from the organization concerned. It preferred action by consensus.

The representative of Turkey said it had abstained in the vote although his delegation shared the concerns expressed by Cuba. The NGO should have been given more time to explain its position.

The organization had been informed last May that the complaint against it would be considered during the current session, the representative of Lebanon said. It had not responded to the allegations and had abused its status through involvement in some politically motivated actions against a Member State.

The representative of Cuba said her delegation would have liked action to be taken by consensus; that was why it had tried to be flexible. The NGO had failed to answer any of the questions raised and that demonstrated disrespect not only to Cuba, but to other Member States.

The representatives of Japan, Algeria and the Russian Federation also spoke in explanation of vote.

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