*EPF307 04/18/01
Text: U.S. Opposes Human Rights Commission Resolution on Middle East
(Not a balanced assessment of the complex situation in area) (410)

Geneva -- The United States urged members of the Commission to vote against a resolution put forward at the Commission on Human Rights April 18 which focused exclusively on the role of Israel in the Middle East conflict.

"United Nations texts -- such as the one before us -- do not improve the prospects for peace in the Middle East," said Ambassador Shirin Tahir-Kheli in a statement to explain why the U.S. would vote against the text.

Tahir-Kheli said resolutions like L-30 "Question of the Violation of Human Rights in the Occupied Arab Territories including Palestine" are brought before the Commission year after year and simply do not reflect the complexities of the situation."

The resolution was adopted later April 18 by a roll call vote of the Commission. The United States and Israel were the only members of the Commission to vote against adoption of the text. The final vote tally by the 53-member Commission was 30 in favor, 21 abstentions and 2 opposed.

The following is the text of the statement by Ambassador Tahir-Kheli:

(begin text)

Ambassador Shirin Tahir-Kheli
U.S. Delegation, U.N. Commission on Human Rights
Explanation of Vote: L. 30, Violation of Human Rights in the Occupied Territories

April 18, 2001

Mr. Chairman:

United Nations texts -- such as the one before us - do not improve the prospects for peace in the Middle East. Repeated year after year, they simply do not reflect the complexities of the situation. Nor do they present a balanced assessment. The Commission should be urging the parties to fulfill their commitments and end the cycle of violence. By adopting this resolution, the Commission would fail to fulfill its potential to contribute to the protection of human rights in the Middle East. On that basis alone, this resolution should be opposed.

L.30 also calls for a further internationalization of the conflict. Let us be clear. The issues that divide the Palestinians and Israelis need to be resolved between them in the region. They cannot be resolved by us here in Geneva.

For these reasons, the United States urges members, in the strongest terms, to vote against this resolution.

Thank you.

(end text)

(Distributed by the Office of International Information Programs, U.S. Department of State. Web site: http://usinfo.state.gov)
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