human rights council Index

High-level plenary meeting
60th Session of the UN General Assembly

The Human Rights Council Index includes all references to the Human Rights Council made
in statements delivered during the High-Level Plenary Meeting held on 14-16 September 2005.

All statements are available on the UN Website in the order in which they were delivered
Excerpts from statements are listed alphabetically below, following selected statements from the opening session including those on behalf of groups


(Note: some transcripts were not available in English. Some excerpts are therefore unofficial translations by the PeaceWomen staff.)

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Opening Session

UNITED NATIONS,
H.E. Mr. Kofi A. ANNAN, Secretary-General

You will agree to double the budget of the Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights and strengthen her office.

You will also agree that the failures of the Human Rights Commission must be remedied by establishing a new Human Rights Council,
the details of which must now be worked out during the 60th General Assembly.

We must get the ... Human Rights Council up and running....[t]hese are the tests that really matter.

UNITED STATES OF AMERICA,
H.E. Mr. George W. BUSH, President of the United States of America

No Specific Reference to Peace-Building Commission

JAMAICA on behalf of group of 77 and china
H.E. The Most Hon James PATTERSON, ON, PC, QC, MP,
Prime Minister & Minister for Defence

No Specific Reference to Human Rights Council

NIGERIA,on behalf of african union
President H.E. Mr. Olusegun OBSANJO, President

No Specific Reference to Human Rights Council

UNITED KINGDOM of great britain and northern ireland,
on behalf of european union
H.E. Mr. Hilary BENN, Secretary of State for International Development

No Specific Reference to Human Rights Council

BENIN, Coordinating Bureau of the Least Developed Countries
as Chairman - H.E. Mr. Mathieu KÉRÉKOU, President

No Specific Reference to Human Rights Council

ARGENTINA rio group
as Chairman -H.E. Mr. Néstor Carlos KIRCHNER, President

No Specific Reference to Human Rights Council

MAURITIUS
on behalf of the Alliance of the Small Islands Developing States
H.E. The Honourable Navinchandra Ram GOOLAM, Prime Minister

We support the reform of a Human Rights Council to promote universal respect for the
protection of all human rights and fundamental freedoms.

The proposed Human Rights Council should serve as a forum for constructive engagement
on human rights and enhance the promotion of the highest standards of human rights through
peer reviews and exchange of good practices.

ST KITTS AND NEVIS, on behalf of the Caribbean Community
H.E. The Honourable Dr. Denzil DOUGLAS, Prime Minister and
Minister for Finance, Development, Planning and National Security

No Specific Reference to Human Rights Council

LAO People's democratic republic, on behalf of the Landlocked Developing Countries
H.E. Mr. Somsavat LENGSAVAD, Deputy-Prime Minister and Minister for Foreign Affairs

No Specific Reference to Human Rights Council

NICARAGUA, on behalf of the Central American Integration System
H.E. Mr. Norman José CALDERA

CARDENAL, Minister for Foreign Affairs

No Specific Reference to Human Rights Council

AFGHANISTAN
H.E. Mr. Ahmad Zia MASSOUD, Vice-President

No specific reference to Human Rights Council

ALBANIA
H.E. Mr. Alfred MOISIU, President

Albania believes that the creation of the Council for Human Rights represents a core
reform proposal in this Summit. This Council, as a substitute of the Commission
for Human Rights and as a action-oriented body will have the mandate to address the
most flagrant human rights abuses, to provide technical support for countries in need and
assure human rights as a global priority.

ALGERIA
H.E. Mr. Abdelaziz BOUTEFLIKA , President

No Specific Reference to Human Rights Council

ANDORRA
H.E. Mr. Albert PINTAT SANTOLÀRIA, Prime Minister

No Specific Reference to Human Rights Council

ANGOLA
H.E. Mr. Roberto de ALMEIDA, President of the National Assembly

Furthermore, the Angolan Delegation is pleased to notice that there is a broadening of,
and hopefully a continuing debate on such sensitive issues as the use of force in international
relations; the responsibility to protect; and the Human Rights Council;

ANTIGUA AND BARBUDA
H.E. The Honourable Winston Baldwin SPENCER, Prime Minister and Minister for Foreign Affairs

No Specific Reference to Human Rights Council

ARGENTINA
H.E. Mr. Néstor Carlos KIRCHNER, President

No Specific Reference to Human Rights Council

ARMENIA
H.E. Mr. Andranik MARGARYAN, Prime Minister

Armenia supports the efforts aimed at reforming the United Nations and, in particular,
at enhancement of the role of the General Assembly, creation of the Human Rights Council,
and especially at working methods of the Security Council

AUSTRALIA
The Honourable John HOWARD, MP,Prime Minister

On human rights and the rule of law, leaders’ endorsement of the concept
of a ‘Responsibility to Protect’ is a significant step forward.

But we are concerned at the limited outcome on the Human Rights Council.

Australia supports a strong Council that is capable of responding to serious human rights
abuses effectively and with credibility. Member states must work assiduously during this
session to inject substance into the agreed negotiations on the Council’s modalities.

AUSTRIA
H.E. Mr. Heinz FISCHER, Federal President

Austria welcomes the agreement on a Human Rights Council.

The new body should improve the efficiency and credibility of the United Nations in the field of human rights.
We must now find the perfect structures and procedures for this Council. Austria deems it important that the
Council is a standing body, which must have the ability to address serious human rights violations and ensure
opportunities for the participation of observer states and civil society.

AZERBAIJAN
H.E. Mr. Elmar Maharram oglu MAMMADYAROV, Minister for Foreign Affairs

No specific reference to Human Rights Council

BAHAMAS
H.E. The Honourable Frederick MITCHELL, MP,
Minister for Foreign Affairs and The Public Service of the Commonwealth of the Bahamas

The Bahamas supports efforts to reform the United Nations human rights machinery to bring greater credibility
and efficacy to this pivotal area of the UN and we have been following the proposal to establish a Peacebuilding Commission
with keen and positive interest. We hope that the Assembly would be able to complete negotiations in order to bring these
two new bodies into being before the end of this sixtieth session.

BAHRAIN
His Highness Sheikh Salmman bin Hamd BAHRAIN AL-KHALIFA,
Crown Prince and Commander-in-Chief of the Bahrain Defence Force

No specific reference to Human Rights Council

BANGLADESH
H.E. Mr. M. Saifur RAHMAN, Minister of Finance and Planning &
Her Excellency Begum Khaleda ZIA, Prime Minister

No Specific Reference to Human Rights Council

BARBADOS
H.E. The Right Honourable Owen Seymour ARTHUR, MP,
Prime Minister and Minister for Finance and Economic Affairs

No Specific Reference to Human Rights Council

BELARUS
H.E. Mr. Alyaksandr LUKASHENKA, President

No specific reference to Human Rights Council

BELGIUM
H.E. Mr. Guy VERHOFSTADT, Prime Minister

My country wishes to grant its full support to the immediate establishment of the Human Rights Council.
We are pleased that the concept of "responsibility to protect" has finally been integrated in the document.
This should enable us to avoid tragedies like the one in Rwanda in 1994.

BELIZE
H.E. The Honourable Said Wilbert MUSA, Prime Minister,
Minister for Finance, National Development and Public Service

No specific reference to Human Rights Council

BENIN
H.E. Mr. Mathieu KÉRÉKOU, President

The Secretary General has made interesting proposals with regard to the transformation
of the Human Rights Commission to a Human Rights Council (translation)

BHUTAN
H.E. Lyonpo Khandu WANGCHUK, Minister for Foreign Affairs

No specific reference to Human Rights Council

BOLIVIA
H.E. Mr. Eduardo Rodríguez VELTZÉ, President

Spanish Translation not yet available

BOSNIA AND HERZEGOVINA
H.E. Mr. Ivo Miro JOVIC, President of the Presidency

We are committed to support any and all solutions that stand a chance to get the consensus
from the majority of the member countries. That goes for the Peace Building Committee,
Human Rights Council and the enlargement of the Security Council.

botswana
H.E. Mr. Festus Gontebanye MOGAE, President

Botswana has, over the years, demonstrated commitment to the
principles of democracy, social justice, human rights and the rule of law. These
very principles continue to motivate our commitment in ensuring that human
rights issues receive prominence in our global agenda. We therefore support
measures that are intended to strengthen the focus on human rights issues,
including the creation of a new Human Rights Council.

BRAZIL
H.E. Mr. Luiz Inácio Lula DA SILVA, President

No Specific Reference to Human Rights Council

BRUNEI DARUSSALAM
His Majesty Sultan Haji HASSANAL BOLKIAH MU’IZZADDIN WADDAULAH,
Sultan and Yang Di Pertuan of Negara

BULGARIA
H.E. Mr. Georgi PARVANOV, President

The people of our countries should have the right to be protected by the international community
in the event their own government is denying or unable to give them this protection.

This is where we see a role for a new Council on Human Rights and subscribe to the concept of "responsibility to protect.

BURKINA FASO
H.E. Mr. Youssouf OUÉDRAOGO, Minister for Foreign Affairs

No specific reference to Human Rights Council

BURUNDI
H.E. Mr. Pierre NKURUNZIZA, President

No specific reference to Human Rights Council

CAMBODIA
H.E. Mr. Samdech HUN SEN, Prime Minister of the Royal Government of Cambodia

No specific reference to Human Rights Council

CAMEROON
H.E. Mr. Paul BIYA, President

No Specific Reference to Human Rights Council

CANADA
H.E. The Right Honourable Paul MARTIN, Prime Minister

The UN’s Commission on Human Rights has a serious credibility problem.
Its membership, its increasing politicization and its overall lack of effectiveness at tackling human rights
violations around the world have overwhelmed its achievements. We need a standing body at a higher level
in the UN system, commensurate with the importance of human rights. That is why we support the proposal
for an effective Human Rights Council. I cannot disguise our profound disappointment that we were not able
to agree at this Summit on all of the elements required to make it operational. Canada will not cease to
promote actively, bringing a standing council into being, with credible membership criteria.

CAPE VERDE
H.E. Mr. Pedro Verona RODRIGUES PIRES, President

No specific reference to Human Rights Council

CENTRAL AFRICAN REPUBLIC
H.E. Army General François BOZIZÉ

No specific reference to Human Rights Council

CHAD
Mr. Allam-Mi AHMAD, Minister for Foreign Affairs and African Integration

No specific reference to Human Rights Council

CHILE
H.E. Mr. Ricardo Lagos ESCOBAR, President

No Specific Reference to Peace-Building Commission

CHINA
H.E. Mr. HU Jintao, President

No Specific Reference to Human Rights Council

COLOMBIA
H.E. Mr. Alvaro URIBE VÉLEZ, President

Regarding the proposal to create a Human Rights Council, we believe it must be directed with a view
to cooperating with States and building national capacity in each country. In this new Council, the punitive
approach and finger pointing, that have politicized the matter and weakened the capacity of the United
Nations to contribute and support States in the promotion and protection of human rights, must not prevail.

COMOROS
H.E. Coronel Azali ASSOUMANI, President

No specific reference to Human Rights Council

CONGO
H.E. Mr. Denis SASSOU NGUESSO, President

No specific reference to Human Rights Council

COSTA RICA
Her Excellency Mrs. Lineth SABORIO, Vice-President

No specific reference to Human Rights Council

COTE D IVOIRE
H.E. Laurent DONA-FOLOGO

No Specific Reference to Human Rights Council

CROATIA
H.E. Mr. Stjepan MESIC, President

No Specific Reference to Human Rights Council

CUBA
H.E. Mr. Ricardo Alarcón de QUESADA, President of the National Assembly of People's Power

No specific reference to Human Rights Council

CYPRUS
H.E. Mr. Tassos PAPADOPOULOS, President

We support the upgrading of the Commission on Human Rights to a Human Rights Council and
the enhancement of the leadership role for the High Commissioner for Human Rights.

CZECH REPUBLIC
H.E. Mr. Jiri PAROUBEK, Prime Minister

No specific reference to Human Rights Council

DEMOCRATIC REPUBLIC OF THE CONGO
H.E. Mr. Raymond RAMAZANI BAYA, Minister for Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation

DENMARK
H.E. Mr. Anders Fogh RASMUSSEN, Prime Minister

We owe it to the People of Sudan, Zimbabwe and all other who suffers from oppression and abuse to
agree on the establishment of a Human Rights Council. A Council that has real powers and whose members
will undertake to abide by the highest human rights standards.

DJIBOUTI
H.E. Mr. Ismail Omar GUELLEH, President

We have been looking at important proposals that include: securing a dangerous world; expanding the
Security Council, to make it more representative; creating a new Peace-building Commission to assist
countries emerging from conflict; to establish a new Human Rights Council to replace the Human Rights Commission

DOMINICAn republic
H.E. Mr. Leonel FERNÁDEZ REYNA, President

ECUADOR
H.E. Mr. Alfred PALACIO, President

No specific reference to Human Rights Council

EGYPT
H.E. Mr. Ahmed ABOUL GHEIT, Minister for Foreign Affairs

No Specific Reference to Human Rights Council

EL SALVADOR
H.E. Mr. Elías Antonio SACA GONZÁLEZ, President

No specific reference to Human Rights Council

EQUATORIAL GUINEA
H.E. Mr. Teodoro OBIANG NGUEMA MBASOGO, President
Spanish

ERITREA
Chairman of the Delegation

ESTONIA
H.E. Mr. Arnold RÜÜTEL, President

Considers the UN's capability to ensure the protec tion of human rights to be one of the most significant
premises of the credibility of the United Nations, and supports the speedy creation of a permanent Human Rights Council.

We find that the Council should have the necessary status and competence to efficiently contribute to the protection of human rights.

ETHIOPIA
H.E. Mr. Meles ZENAWI, Prime Minister

FIJI
H.E. The Honourable Laisenia QARASE, Prime Minister

Fiji fully respects the principle of equality of human rights.

We endorse the proposal for a Human Rights Council, directly accountable to the General Assembly.

FINLAND
Her Excellency Ms. Tarja HALONEN, President

Finland welcomes the decision to set up a Peace building Commission. Its work should start by the
given deadline. Moreover, it is particularly important to strengthen the status of human rights issues
within the UN. Our decision to set up a Human Rights Council is excellent but all the modalities
need to be resolved as a matter of urgency. For the real progress, we must ensure that enough
women will participate in the work of these new bodies.

FRANCE
Mr. Dominique de Villepin, Prime Minister

Our peoples also require respect - the best guarantee of this being respect for human rights which is
central to our common goal. And yet these basic rights are still under threat on all continents, as a
result of violence and indifference: we need a new instrument, the Human Rights Council.

GABON
H.E. El Hadj Omar BONGO ONDIMBA, President

No specific reference to Human Rights Council

GAMBIA
H.E. Al Hadji Yahya JAMMEH, President

No specific reference to Human Rights Council

GEORGIA
H.E. Mr. Mikheil SAAKASHVILI, President

No specific reference to Human Rights Council

GERMANY
H.E. Mr. Joschka FISCHER, Deputy Federal Chancellor and Minister for Foreign Affairs

Although I welcome the proposal contained in the summit document to establish a Human Rights Council,
it raises serious questions. Without universal protection of human rights, without promotion of democracy
and the rule of law, we will neither achieve sustainable development nor be able to guarantee lasting peace and stability.

We therefore have to do everything we can to make this new body a powerful instrument. The negotiating body set up
for this purpose should present its proposals as quickly as possible, preferably by the end of the year.

GHANA
H.E. Mr. John Agyekum KUFUOR. President

We also support the proposal to convert the Human Rights Commission into a Human Rights
Council, with the hope that such measures will enhance the effectiveness of its work in
protecting and promoting human rights.

GREECE
H.E. Mr. Kostas KARAMANLIS, Prime Minister

No specific reference to Human Rights Council

GRENADA
H.E. The Right Honourable Dr. Keith Claudius MITCHELL, Prime Minister

No specific reference to Human Rights Council

GUATEMALA
H.E. Mr. Eduardo STEIN, Vice-President

No specific reference to Human Rights Council

GUINEA
H.E. Mr. Cellou Dalein DIALLO, Prime Minister

My country is equally in favour of strengthening the mechanisms for the protection of human rights and
the creation of a peace-building commission charged with helping countries emerging from conflict or those,
which are gravely affected by conflict

GUINEA-BISSAU
H.E. Mr. Carlos GOMES, Jr., Prime Minister

No specific reference to Human Rights Council

GUYANA
H.E. Mr. Bharrat JAGDEO, President

No specific reference to Human Rights Council

HAITI
H.E. Mr. Gérard LATORTUE, Prime Minister

No Specific Reference to Human Rights Council

HOLY SEE
His Eminence Angelo Cardinal SODANO, Secretary of State of the Holy See

No specific reference to Human Rights Council

HONDURAS
H.E. Mr. Ricardo MADURO, President

HUNGARY
H.E. Mr. László SÓLYOM, President

International protection of human rights and fundamental freedoms, strengthening the rule of
law and democratic values are close to our hearts. Human dignity and democracy for all are
noble aims we resolutely have to pursue. Hungary supports the proposals to enhance the cause
of human rights, including the creation of an effective UN Human Rights Council. We also
highly appreciate the move to establish a Democracy Fund.

ICELAND
H.E. Mr. Halldór ÁSGRIMSSON, Prime Minister

With the creation of the Human Rights Council the UN will obtain a powerful tool in persuading states to live
up to their responsibility to protect. It is in line with our decision to increase resources to the human rights
machinery and will equip the UN to fulfill its duties towards its peoples, those individuals whose human rights
need watchful and impartial protection. Work on this project must proceed rapidly.

INDIA
H.E. Mr. Manmohan SINGH, Prime Minister

No specific reference to Human Rights Council

INDONESIA
H.E. Mr. Susilo BamBang YUDHOYONO, President

The projected Human Rights Council should be a subsidiary body to the General Assembly.
It must be free of politicization and double standards.

IRAN (THE ISLAMIC REPUBLIC OF)
H.E. Mr. Mahmoud AHMADINEJAD, President

No Specific Reference to Human Rights Council

IRAQ
H.E. Mr. Ibrahim AL-JAAFARI, Prime Minister

No specific reference to Human Rights Council

IRELAND
H.E. Mr. Bertie AHERN, Prime Minister

Let us quickly make a reality of the new Human Rights Council. Ireland will work to
make it fully effective in the promotion and protection of human rights.

ISRAEL
H.E. Mr. Ariel SHARON, Prime Minister

No specific reference to Human Rights Council

ITALY
H.E. Mr. Silvio BERLUSCONI, Prime Minister

JAMAICA
H.E. The Most Honourable James PATTERSON, ON, PC, QC, MP,
Prime Minister and Minister for Defence

No specific reference to Human Rights Council

JAPAN
H.E. Mr. Junichiro KOIZUMI, Prime Minister

Peace does not prevail automatically when a conflict ends. The new, strong United Nations,
with the proposed Peacebuilding Commission in place, must show initiative in ensuring a
smooth transition from ceasefire to nation-building, and to reconciliation, justice and reconstruction.
Japan is ready to play its part in this challenging but vital undertaking.

JORDAN
His Majesty King Abdullah II Bin Al HUSSEIN, King of the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan

No specific reference to Human Rights Council

KAZAKHSTAN
H.E. Mr. Kassymzhomart Kemelevich TOKAEV, Minister for Foreign Affairs

No specific reference to Human Rights Council

KENYA
H.E. The Honourable Mwai KIBAKI, President

No Specific Reference to Human Rights Council

kiribati
H.E. Mr. Anote TONG, President

We note that a deadline has not been set for the finalisation of negotiations on the Security Council reform
and we urge that the same deadline for other components of the reform, for example the establishment of the
Human Rights Council, be applied to the Security Council reform to maintain the momentum of this process.

KOREA

KUWAIT
His Highness Sheikh Sabah Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber AL-SABAH, Prime Minister

No specific reference to Human Rights Council

KYRGYZSTAN
H.E. Mr. Kurmanbek BAKIEV, President

No specific reference to Human Rights Council

LAO People's democratic republic
H.E. Mr. Bounnhang VORACHITH, Prime Minister

LATVIA
Her Excellency Mrs. Vaira VIKE-FREIBERGA, President

I am also pleased that we have agreed on the establishment of a
Human Rights Council, but wish to stress that such a body must be
endowed with genuine authority. I welcome the decision to strengthen the
office of the High Commissioner on Human Rights.

LEBANON
H.E. Mr. Emile LAHOUD, President

No specific reference to Human Rights Council

LESOTHO
H.E. The Right Honourable Pakhalitha Bethuel MOSISILI,
Prime Minister and Minister for Defence and Public Service

No specific reference to Human Rights Council

LIBERIA
H.E. Mr. Charles Gyude BRYANT,
Chairman of the National Transitional Government

No specific reference to Human Rights Council

LIBYAN ARAB JAMAHIRIYA
Mr. Shukri Mohammad GHANEM, Secretary of the General People's Committee

No specific reference to Human Rights Council

LIECHTENSTEIN
H.E. Mr. Otmar HASLER, Head of Government, Minister for General Government Affairs,
Finance, Public Construction, and Family Affairs and Equality Between Men and Women

We support the early conclusion of the work to design a Human Rights Council that reflects the
central position of human rights among the core activities of the organization.

LITHUANIA
H.E. Mr. Valdas ADAMKUS, President

Mainstreaming of human rights into all areas of activities of the United Nations, promoting democracy
and the rule of law, as well as responsibility to protect must be part and parcel of the United Nations of the XXI century.

We therefore call on all nations to take expeditious decisions enabling the creation of an effective Human Rights
Council with a robust mandate. A Council that would be fully operational without delay

LUXEMBOURG
H.E. Mr. Jean ASSELBORN, Deputy Prime Minister, Minister for Foreign Affairs and Immigration

The rapid establishment of a Human Rights Council that we are now ready to create must reinforce United Nations
action in this area and permit permanent and effective follow-up of the human rights situation everywhere in the world (translation)

MACEDONIA
H.E. Mr. Branko CRVENKOVSKI, President

We welcome the proposal for enhancing the UN peace-building capacity by establishing the
Peace Building Commission to bridge the institutional gap between the end of conflict and resumption
of sustainable development, as well as the proposal to enhance the organization's capacity for promotion
and protection of human rights by establishing of a standing Human Rights Council

MADAGASCAR
H.E. Mr. Marc RAVALOMANANA, President

No Specific Reference to Human Rights Council

MALAWI
H.E. M r. Bingu Wa MUTHARIKA, President

No specific reference to Human Rights Council

MALAYSIA
H.E. The Honourable Dato' Seri Abdullah Ahmad BADAWI, Prime Minister

No Specific Reference to Human Rights Council

MALDIVES
H.E. Mr. Maumoon ABDUL GAYOOM, President

No specific reference to Human Rights Council

MALI
H.E. Mr. Amadou Toumani TOURÉ, President

In addition, Mali in its capacity as president of the Community of Democracies,
is delighted in the secretary general’s proposal to create a Human Rights Council. (translation)

MALTA
H.E. The Honourable Lawrence GONZI, Prime Minister

Enunciation of principles and adherence to values have a necessary counterpart in
the collective responsibility to undertake concrete and action-oriented measures.

Our outcome document has identified a number of such measures. Discussion on
many of them will continue through this Sixtieth Session of the General Assembly.
Among other things we are defining long-term targets and objectives for
development cooperation; we are laying the institutional foundations for two new
organs within the United Nations - the Peace building Commission and the Human
Rights Council - and we are breaking new ground in the areas of terrorism and of
collective responsibility.

I would today like to affirm Malta's readiness to engage itself with vigour and
determination in the implementation of these measures.

THE MARSHALL ISLANDS
H.E. Mr. Kessai NOTE, President

I wish to emphasize my support in the reform of: UN Secretariat; Security Council and in
particular, the inclusion of Japan for Permanent Membership; the establishment of the
Peace-building Commission, Human Rights Council, Democracy Initiatives and the UN Democracy Fund.

MAURITANIA
H.E. Mr. Mohamed Ould EL ABED, Minister for Economic Affairs and Development

No specific reference to Human Rights Council

MAURITIUS
H.E. The Honourable Navinchandra Ram GOOLAM, Prime Minister

We support the reform of a Human Rights Council to promote universal respect for the protection
of all human rights and fundamental freedoms. The proposed Human Rights Council should serve
as a forum for constructive engagement on human rights and enhance the promotion of the highest
standards of human rights through peer reviews and exchange of good practices.

MEXICO
H.E. Mr. Vicente FOX, President

We must advance in the creation of the Human Rights Council as a standing body that
should consider all the situations of human rights violations and guarantee an evaluation
of the pe rformance of its members.

MICRONESIA (FEDERATED STATES OF)
H.E. Mr. Joseph URUSEMAL, President

MONACO
His Serene Highness Prince Albert II, Sovereign Prince of Monaco

No specific reference to Human Rights Council

MONGOLIA
H.E. Mr. Nambar ENKHBAYAR, President

No specific reference to Human Rights Council

MOROCCO
H.E. Mr. Driss JETTOU, Prime Minister

We hope the celebration of the United Nations' sixtieth anniversary will be an occasion
to revive the sagacious political vision and creative inspiration which contributed
to the establishment of this prestigious institution.

Thus, through collective, consensual will. we shall manage to introduce the structural and
operational reforms needed, including ....the upgrading of the Commission on Human Rights,
so that it may djscharge its noble mission in a more effective, democratic way.

We sincerely hope our meeting will achieve results that meet the expectations
of our peoples for a new human partnership, based on constructive co-operation. The
ultimate objectives are to achieve peace, stability and development for all nations, to
foster coexistence and interaction between cultures, and to build an alliance between
civilizations, with a view to consolidating the perennial human values of freedom,
equality, fraternity, solidarity, global security, justice and equity.

In this connection. we want you to know how keen the Kingdom of Morocco is to
work with you to uphold these ideals within the framework of a renovated UN system.

MOZAMBIQUE
H.E. Mr. Armando Emílio GUEBUZA, President

No specific reference to Human Rights Council

MYANMAR
H.E. Mr. Nyan WIN, Minister for Foreign Affairs

No specific reference to Human Rights Council

NAMIBIA
H.E. Mr. Hifikepunye POHAMBA, President

No specific reference to Human Rights Council

NAURU
H.E. The Honourable Ludwig SCOTTY, MP, President

We need to strengthen the United Nations so that it can meet the full range of challenges
of our time. In this respect, we welcome the creation of a human rights council

NEPAL
H.E. Mr. Ramesh Nath PANDEY, Minister for Foreign Affairs

No specific reference to Human Rights Council

NETHERLANDS
H.E. Mr. Jan Peter BALKENENDE, Prime Minister
(also on behalf of Denmark, Luxembourg, Norway and Sweden)

But we can and should do more to enhance our capacity to deal with human rights violations.
The Human Rights Council should be up and running by early 2006. We need to take the
appropriate steps to make the Council a truly effective tool to promote and protect human
rights.

NEW ZEALAND
Her Excellency Ms. Rosemary BANKS, Chairperson of the Delegation

Undoubtedly it is an achievement that agreement in principle has been reached on a new Human Rights Council.

But I shall not hide New Zealand disappointment that in this part of our document we did not go further.
Over the next weeks and months, we must maintain the momentum and meet our commitment to establish a
Council during the sixtieth UNGA.

NICARAGUA
H.E. Mr. Norman José CALDERA CARDENAL, Minister for Foreign Affairs

niger
H.E. Mr. Hama AMADOU, Prime Minister

No specific reference to Human Rights Council

NIGERIA
President H.E. Mr. Olusegun OBSANJO, President

No Specific Reference to Human Rights Council

NORWAY
H.E. Mr. Kjell Magne BONDEVIK, Prime Minister

No specific reference to Human Rights Council

OMAN
His Highness Sayyid Haitham Bin Tariq AL-SAID,
Minister of National Heritage and Culture, Special Envoy of His Majesty the Sultan of Oman

No specific reference to Human Rights Council

PAKISTAN
H.E. General Pervez MUSHARRAF, President

Respect for human rights is an integral element of both peace and
development. Economic rights are as important as political and civil rights.
A hungry man is not a free man. The new human rights architecture we will
create — such as the proposed Human Rights Council — should advance
human rights, through cooperation and mutual support. Genocide, ethnic
cleansing and similar grave violations must be prevented. As a first step, the
United Nations should be given a standing authority to send a fact-finding
mission to the area where a conflict has broken out.

PALAU
H.E. Mr. Tommy REMENGESAU, Jr., President

No Specific Reference to Human Rights Council

PALESTINE
H.E. Mr. Nasser AL-KIDWA, Minister for Foreign Affairs

No specific reference to Human Rights Council

PANAMA
H.E. Mr. Martín TORRIJOS, President

Spanish Translation not yet Available

PAPUA NEW GUINEA
H.E. The Right Honourable Sir Rabbie Langanai NAMALIU, KCMG, MP,
Minister for Foreign Affairs and Immigration

No specific reference to Human Rights Council

PARAGUAY
H.E. Mr. Nicanor DUARTE FRUTOS, President

Spanish Translation not yet Available

PERU
H.E. Mr. Alejandro TOLEDO MANRIQUE, President

Peru supports the integral reform of the Human Rights Commission and accentuates the
importance of substituting it for a Human Rights Council. Likewise, we p ropose the
creation of a Tutelage Commission, composed by independent experts, to be in charge of
early warning, adoption of protective measures in cases of flagrant, massive and
systematic violations to human rights.

PHILIPPINES
Her Excellency Mrs. Gloria MACAPAGAL- ARROYO, President

POLAND
H.E. Mr. Aleksander KWASNIEWSKI, President

No specific reference to Human Rights Council

PORTUGAL
H.E. Mr. Jorge Fernando Branco de SAMPAIO, President

Our profound belief is that respect for Human Rights is now a universal aspiration.
Portugal has long devoted special attention to this matter within the framework of the
United Nations and it considers that the Human Rights Council, the creation of which will
be decided during this Summit, should reflect with courage and ambition a growing demand
regarding this issue by the International Community.

QATAR
His Highness Sheikh Hamad bin Khalifa AL-THANI, Emir

We appreciate the attention accorded by Secretary General to the question of human rights,
which was reflected in his proposal to upgrade the Commission on Human Rights into
a full-fledged, but smaller standing council. Members of this council are to be
directly elected by a two-thirds majority of the members of the GA.

This procedure would exclude member states whose record in compliance with acceptable
norms of human rights is less than satisfactory. While we value this proposal, we nevertheless
fear that the limited smaller standing council is not representative of the wider membership of
the international organization and as such may not be able to provide the required solutions to
human rights questions. We therefore believe that the proposal should be further studied through
intergovernmental negotiations that could ultimately lead to a consensus decision on establishing
a subsidiary organ of the GA with an open membership in order to dispel any suspicion of exclusivist
approaches, and allow its subsidiary organs to function efficiently.

REPUBLIC OF KOREA
H.E. Mr. ROH Moo-hyun, President

No Specific Reference to Human Rights Council

REPUBLIC OF MOLDOVA
H.E. Mr. Vladimir VORONIN, President

The Republic of Moldova supports the adoption of necessary decisions by the Member States, including
within the framework of this meeting, which shall lead to revitalization of the General Assembly, reform
and expansion of the Security Council; increase of effectiveness of the ECOSOC and the UN Secretariat,
creation of the Council for Human Rights and Peace-building Commission.

ROMANIA
H.E. Mr. Traian BASESCU, President

Six decades after the U.N. was created as a bulwark against abuse and terror, basic
human rights and liberties are still baffled around the world as a not so uncommon
occurrence. Many regimes still get the shivers at the mere utterance of the word
"democracy". In Romania's own proximity, there still are separatist areas of non-law,
where people are protected by no applicable law or principle. Often, the most
affected are children, women and persons belonging to various minorities.

The U.N.should not hesitate to activate available mechanisms suited for addressing such
threats, and take appropriate measures, including by action at Security Council level.

We have high hopes that the new Council for Human Rights will take up more
effectively and credibly these grievances.

RUSSIAN FEDERATION
H.E. Mr. Vladimir Vladimirovich PUTIN, President

No specific reference to Human Rights Council

RWANDA
H.E. Mr. Paul KAGAME, President

No Specific Reference to Human Rights Council

SAMOA
H.E. The Honourable Tuileapa Sailele MALIELEGAOI,
Prime Minister, Minister for Foreign Affairs and Minister for Finance

Recognizing that development, security and human rights constitute the 3 pillars
of the United Nations, Samoa supports the creation of a Human Rights Council.

It is hoped that elevating the status of human rights within the UN hierarchy will give
the Council greater visibility and status to enhance the promotion and protection of human rights.

SAN MARINO
H.E. Mr. Cesare Antonio GASPERONI,
Captain Regent on behalf of the Most Excellent Captains Regent

No specific reference to Human Rights Council

SAO TOME AND PRINCIPE
H.E. Mr. Fradique Bandeira Melo DE MENEZES, President

The Security Council, ECOSOC, the human rights
commission and the secretariat must be reformed to respond to the
new challenges that are facing the world.

No Specific Reference to Human Rights Council

SAUDI ARABIA
His Royal Highness Prince Sultan Bin Abdulaziz Al-Saud, Crown Prince

No specific reference to Human Rights Council

SENEGAL
H.E. Mr. Abdoulaye WADE, President

No Specific Reference to Human Rights Council

SERBIA and montenegra
H.E. Mr. Vuk DRA·KOVIC, Minister for Foreign Affairs

Serbia and Montenegro fully support the concept of a new collective security, ban on
WMD proliferation, production, trade and use and the establishment of a Peace-building
Commission, Human Rights Council and Natural Disaster Relief and Environment Protection Funds.

SEYCHELLES
H.E. Mr. James MICHEL, President

No Specific Reference to Human Rights Council

SIERRA LEONE
H.E. Alhaji Ahmad Tejan KABBAH, President

We welcome the agreements reached on several elements of the reform process, including
the establishment of a peace building commission and a Human rights Council as well as
the conclusion of an international instrument against terrorism.

SINGAPORE
H.E. Prof. JAYAKUMAR, Deputy Prime Minister

My delegation has an open mind on the proposal to transform the Commission on Human Rights
into Human Rights Council. But are the essential problems really only structural? The fact of the
matter is that all but a handful of what are asserted to be rights are still essentially contested concepts.
Is the basic function of the UN to enforce agreed norms or to expand the consensus on what constitutes
agreed norms? The answer of course must be both. But the penchant of some states to present their views
as universal norms inevitably provokes resistance, unnecessarily politicizes the process and is ultimately unhelpful
to the cause of human rights. Unless this deeper issue is squarely addressed, any change will be only superficial.

SLOVAKIA
H.E. Mr. Ivan GA `PAROVIC, President

No Specific Reference to Human Rights Council

SLOVENIA
H.E. Mr. Janez DRNOV·EK, President

No Specific Reference to Human Rights Council

SOLOMON ISLANDS
H.E. The Honourable Sir Allan KEMAKEZA, Prime Minister

No Specific Reference to Human Rights Council

No Specific Reference to Human Rights Council

SOUTH AFRICA
H.E. Mr. Thabo MBEKI, President

SPAIN
His Majesty Don Juan Carlos I, King of Spain

The reform of the United Nations bodies is necessary to adapt the Organisation to its new challenges.
The promotion and protection of human rights is central to Spain's foreign policy priorities and we therefore support
the creation of a Human Rights Council which would assume more effectively the m andate of the Commission on
Human Rights, perfecting and incorporating into its work the various existing protection mechanisms.......
are all objectives Spain shares and hopes actively to contribute to
achieve them.

SRI LANKA
Her Excellency The Honourable Chandrika Bandaranaike KUMARATONGA, President

No Specific Reference to Human Rights Council

ST KITTS AND NEVIS
H.E. The Honourable Dr. Denzil DOUGLAS,
Prime Minister and Minister for Finance, Development, Planning and National Security

No specific reference to Human Rights Council

st lucia
H.E. The Honourable Petrus COMPTON, Minister for External Affairs,
International Trade and Civil Aviation

No specific reference to Human Rights Council

ST VINCENT AND THE GRENADINES
H.E. The Honourable Ralph Everada GONSALVES, Prime Minister, Minister for Finance,
Planning Economic Development, Labour, Information, Grenadines and Legal Affairs

No Specific Reference to Human Rights Council

SUDAN
H.E. Dr. Mustafa Osman ISMAIL, Minister for Foreign Affairs

The Sudan inspired by its values and beliefs is committed to respect human dignity and
promote human rights. It closely follows and supports all proposals which aim to reform
human rights institutions; including the proposal to set up a human rights council.

SURINAME
H.E. Mr. Runaldo Ronald VENETIAAN, President

The Government of Suriname can generally accept the creation of Human Rights Council.
We support the view that the open-ended working group, which will be set up, should embark
on an elaborate discussion on modalities, mandate, review process and composition of such a Council.

SWAZILAND
His Majesty King MSWATI III, Head of State

SWEDEN
H.E. Mr. Göran PERSSON, Prime Minister

Tomorrow night, we will agree a common agenda. It has many strengths …. It paves the way
for important concrete measures, such as the establishment of a peace-building commission, the
creation of a human rights council and the conclusion of a convention on terrorism.

SWITZERLAND
H.E. Mr. Samuel SCHMID, President

My country expresses its satisfaction with regard to the creation of the Human Rights Council.
In establishing this Council, we should succeed in adapting the UN's architecture in order to make
human rights as much a priority as development, peace, and security. In Switzerland's view, this
new body will have to be both more legitimate and more efficient, hold a higher place in the United
Nations' hierarchy than the current Human Rights Commission, and should hold its sessions in Geneva.

SYRIAN ARAB REPUBLIC

TAJIKISTAN
H.E. Mr. Emomali RAKHMONOV, President

No Specific Reference to Human Rights Council

THAILAND
H.E. Mr. Thaksin SHINAWATRA, Prime Minister

The revitalization of the General Assembly, the strengthening of the Economic
and Social Council to play a more assertive role in development, as well as the
establishment of the Peace-building Commission, the Human Rights Council
and the Democracy Fund may be acceptable key reform proposals, but reform
of this magnitude must be accompanied by a major overhaul of the management system.

TIMOR-LESTE
H.E. Mari Bin Almude ALKATIRI, Prime Minister

No Specific Reference to Human Rights Council

TOGO
H.E. Mr. Faure Essozimna GNASSINGBÉ, President

No Specific Reference to Human Rights Council

TONGA
H.E. The Honourable Siosiua ‘UTOIKAMANU, Minister of Finance

No Specific Reference to Human Rights Council

TRINIDAD AND TOBAGO
H.E. The Honourable Knowlson GIFT, Minister for Foreign Affairs

No Specific Reference to Human Rights Council

TUNISIA
H.E. Mr. Abdelwaheb ABDALLAH, Minister for Foreign Affairs

No Specific Reference to Human Rights Council

TURKEY
H.E. Mr. Recep Tayyip ERDOGAN, Prime Minister

No Specific Reference to Human Rights Council

TURKMENISTAN
H.E. Mr. Rashid MEREDOV, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Foreign Affairs

No Specific Reference to Human Rights Council

TUVALU
H.E. The Honourable Maatia TOAFA, Prime Minister, Minister for Foreign Affairs and Labour

No Specific Reference to Human Rights Council

UGANDA
Mr. Yoweri Kaguta MUSEVENI, President

No Specific Reference to Human Rights Council

UKRAINE
H.E. Mr. Viktor YUSHCHENKO, President

No Specific Reference to Human Rights Council

UNITED ARAB EMIRATES
His Highness Sheikh Abdullah Bin Zayed AL NAHYAN,
Minister of Information and Culture, Personal Representative of the President

No Specific Reference to Human Rights Council

UNITED KINGDOM of great britain and northern ireland
H.E. The Right Honourable Tony BLAIR, Prime Minister

The new Human Rights Council must earn the world's respect not its contempt.

UNITED REPUBLIC OF TANZANIA
H.E. Mr. Benjamin William MKAPA, President

No Specific Reference to Human Rights Council

UNITED STATES OF AMERICA
Mr. Andrew NATSIOS, Administrator of the United States Agency for International Development

No Specific Reference to Human Rights Council

URUGUAY
H.E. Mr. Tabaré VÁZQUEZ, President

Spanish Translation not yet Available

UZBEKISTAN
H.E. Mr. Elyor GANIEV, Minister for Foreign Affairs

We do not see a need for transformation of the UN Commission on Human Rights into a Council,
which might be used for selective purposes of certain influential powers and groups as a tool to advance the
interests of certain countries at the expense of the others.

VANUATU
H.E. The Honourable Sato KILMAN, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Foreign Affairs

No Specific Reference to Human Rights Council

VENEZUELA (THE BOLIVARIAN REPUBLIC OF )
H.E. Mr. Hugo CHÁVEZ FRÍAS, President, H.E. Mr. Ali RODRIGUEZ ARAQUE, Minister for Foreign Affairs

No Specific Reference to Human Rights Council

VIET NAM
Her Excellency Ms. Truong My Hoa, Vice-President

No Specific Reference to Human Rights Council

YEMEN
H.E. Mr. Abubakr AL-QIRBI, Minister for Foreign Affairs

ZAMBIA
H.E. Mr. Levy Patrick MWANAWASA, President and Minister for Defense

No specific reference to Human Rights Council

ZIMBABWE
H.E. Mr. Robert Gabriel MUGABE, President

No Specific Reference to Human Rights Council