*EPF308 04/18/01
Text: U.S. Statement on Human Rights in Parts of Southeast Europe
(Wagenseil at U.N. Human Rights Commission in Geneva) (740)
The human rights situation in southeastern Europe is much improved from recent years, the United States said in a statement to the U.N. Commission on Human Rights in Geneva April 18.
Steven Wagenseil, a member of the U.S. delegation to the U.N. Commission, noted that when Secretary of State Colin Powell met with eleven foreign ministers from the region April 12 in Skopje, all of them came "as representatives of democratically-elected governments," and "all of them now speak with one voice on the imperative of respecting fully the rights of their citizens and their neighbors."
Wagenseil said "work remains, and some old problems clearly persist throughout the region, but this year we look forward to a renewed commitment to democratic principles and the increased integration of this region into Europe."
He said the United States was introducing a resolution that reflects the current situation.
Following is Wagenseil's statement as prepared for delivery:
(begin text)
Steven Wagenseil
U.S. Delegation, U.N. Commission on Human Rights
Introductory Remarks: Human Rights in Parts of Southeast Europe
April 18, 2001
Mr. Chairman:
The Commission on Human Rights has considered the situation in southeastern Europe ten times in the past eight years, beginning with its first and second Special Sessions on the subject, in August and December 1992.
At the forty-ninth session of this Commission, in 1993, the situation in the region was so serious, with conflict on several fronts, that it even had its own agenda item. I had the burden that year, and in subsequent years, of helping prepare the draft resolutions on the situation. It was not a pleasant responsibility.
While the people of the region and the international community are still dealing with the results of that conflict, the situation there is quite different this year from what it has been, with positive changes virtually everywhere you look. When Secretary of State Colin Powell met April 12 with eleven foreign ministers of the region, all of them came as representatives of democratically-elected governments. Indeed, all of them now speak with one voice on the imperative of respecting fully the rights of their citizens and their neighbors.
The United States is pleased, therefore, to introduce a resolution, L.17, that reflects a very different human rights picture from the one in that first special session.
We have been fortunate witnesses to the events of the past year. Dramatic and much sought-after changes in Yugoslavia, made possible by Milosevic's fall from power, illustrate the possibilities that exist for democratic change in southeast Europe. Work remains, and some old problems clearly persist throughout the region, but this year we look forward to a renewed commitment to democratic principles and the increased integration of this region into Europe.
In light of the progress that has been made, this resolution requests the Chairman of the Commission appoint a Special Representative -- a new position -- to monitor and report on such issues as identification of missing persons, protection of minorities, trafficking of persons, right of return of refugees and internally displaced persons in Bosnia and Herzegovina and the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia, release of Kosovo Albanian prisoners, and cooperation with International Criminal Tribunal on the Former Yugoslavia.
Reflecting the significant progress made there since its change of government, Croatia is no longer included in the operative portion of this resolution. But progress is not perfection, and we note our continued concern over the slow progress that is being made in returning refugees and internally displaced persons, and restoring their property. We encourage Croatia to support the continued presence of the OSCE mission to promote further needed progress on these important issues.
We also watch with concern the attempts of Albanian extremists to disrupt the fragile peace the region has attained. We condemn their violent actions in Macedonia, Kosovo, and southern Serbia, and we urge those political leaders who are in a position to influence their behavior to do all they can to stop this violence.
Another area we are watching with concern is Herzegovina, where extremist Croat leaders have sought to separate a sub-region from the Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina, an unconstitutional maneuver that would undo years of progress in implementing the Dayton Accords.
Mr. Chairman, the United States hopes the democratic momentum that has emerged in southeast Europe will continue. We look forward to the day when a resolution on this region is no longer needed.
I believe the Commission now has before it a text which can be adopted by consensus. I encourage all delegations to join in welcoming these positive changes by supporting this resolution.
Thank you.
(end text)
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