Text: U.S. Decries China's Use of "No Action" Motion
(Statement of Ambassador Shirin Tahir-Kheli in Geneva)China's use of a "no action" motion to derail an American effort to bring the Beijing regime's human rights abuses before the United Nations (UN) Commission on Human Rights meeting in Geneva drew a sharp rejoinder from the U.S. ambassador April 18.
"This is the United Nations Commission on Human Rights and its unique and fundamental purpose is to discuss the promotion and protection of universal human rights," Ambassador Shirin Tahir-Kheli said as Beijing sought to shield itself from scrutiny over its human rights record.
"To support this 'no action' motion, therefore, is to ignore the purpose for which the Commission stands," Tahir-Kheli told the representatives of the other 52 countries on the UN Commission on Human Rights.
China should be held to the same standards as every other nation, Tahir-Kheli said. Furthermore, the U.S. diplomat said, discussion about human rights conditions in China was not interference in that country's internal affairs.
The issue before the commission was "whether the members of this Commission will choose to honor the principles of open debate or turn a blind eye to contravention of those principles," the U.S. ambassador said
Despite Tahir-Kheli's admonishment, Beijing was able to use the procedural maneuver to prevent the U.S-backed resolution from being considered by the commission.
The final vote on Beijing's "no action" motion was: 23 votes in favor, 17 against, with 12 abstentions and one delegation absent.
Following is the text of Ambassador Tahir-Kheli's April 18 statement; she made the statement after China introduced a "No Action Motion":
(begin text)
Amb. Shirin Tahir-Kheli
U.S. Delegation, UN Commission on Human Rights
Statement on China's "No Action Motion"
April 18, 2001Mr. Chairman:
Once again the government of China is seeking to bypass the normal procedures of this Commission by submitting a "no action motion." No other nation here resorts to such maneuvers.
The question the Chinese motion asks of us is this: is the case of China so special that it deserves exceptional treatment?
The United States can see no reason for such special treatment. This is the United Nations Commission on Human Rights and its unique and fundamental purpose is to discuss the promotion and protection of universal human rights. To support this "no action" motion, therefore, is to ignore the purpose for which the Commission stands.
The essential principle of universal human rights is that they apply to every country at every moment. By custom, law, and common understanding, no nation is at liberty to disregard these norms. China should follow the same international standards that every other country does. Discussion of China's human rights record is not interference in its internal affairs.
The issue before us, therefore, is whether the members of this Commission will choose to honor the principles of open debate or turn a blind eye to contravention of those principles.
We urge every member here to do what is right. Vote "no" in China's "no action" motion, and let Resolution L. 13 be decided on its merits.
Thank you.
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(Distributed by the Office of International Information Programs, U.S. Department of State. Web site: http://usinfo.state.gov)
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