ID :
181680
Thu, 05/12/2011 - 10:01
Auther :
Shortlink :
https://oananews.org//node/181680
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UN''s Asia Group backs Kuwait''s nomination to HRC membership
UNITED NATIONS, May 11 (KUNA) -- The UN's Asian Group Wednesday overwhelmingly backed nomination of the State of Kuwait to the UN Human Rights Council (HRC), after Syria decided to postpone its candidature to 2013.
-- Kuwait Ambassador to the UN Mansour Al-Otaibi welcomed the Asian Group's support for Kuwait's HRC membership in 2011-14. He noted that elections will be held by the UN General Assembly (UNGA) on May 20 to elect 15 HRC members from regional groups.
Speaking to KUNA after a meeting of the Asian Group, Al-Otaibi explained that "Kuwait did not run instead of Syria or against it, but there was an agreement with Syria to exchange the candidacy periods, so Syria will run in 2013, the date that was originally set for Kuwait, and that Kuwait runs this year." The agreement to swap the candidacy periods took place by capitals of Syria and Kuwait and in close coordination, he said.
The Asian Group's full backing to Kuwait's membership in HRC in such a short period before the May 20 elections "will undoubtedly facilitate gaining the majority of votes," said Al-Otaibi.
The State of Kuwait "has an honorary recored in strengtheing and spreading human rights," said the Kuwai ti top diplomat.
Last May, he noted, Kuwait submitted a report to HRC and was thoroughly examined, "and Kuwait is about to implement a number of recommendations that were agreed upon." Al-Otaibi appreciated Syria's desire to swap the date of candidature with a country from the West Asia region, and Kuwait has been keen on carrying out this role though its nomination was two years from now.
"We appreciate Syria's desire to have an Arab representative inside the HRC, " he said.
Syria's Ambassador to the UN Bashar Al-Ja'afari, addressing the Asia Group meeting, said his country reconsidered the timing of its candidacy in light of "rearranging priorities of its nominations within the UN" and the reforms carried out by the government in Damascus.
Syria, he affirmed, was committed to its right to run for the HRC membership in 2013.
In addition to Kuwait, the Asian Group approved nominations of Indonesia, the Philippines and India.
The Geveva-based HRC was establi shed in 2006 to replace the UN commission of human rights. The HRC reports directly to UNGA and not the economic and social council like the commission used to do.
HRC consists of 47 members, all elected by UNGA. Fifteen new members are elected every year for a three-year term. Every country has the right to run twice for a consecutive membership.
The HRC members are classified according to geographical regions: 13 seats for Africa, 13 for Asia, six for East Europe, eight for Latin America and the Caribbean, and seven seats for West Europe and other countries.
Five Arab countries are current members: Saudi Arabia, Qatar, Bahrain, Jordan and Mauritania.
The UNGA suspended Libya's membership last March.
The HRC spreads respect of human rights and basic freedoms without any kind of discrimination. It monitors human rights violations all over the world and recommends ways to address them.
The HRC meets at least three times a year, each for three weeks. (end) sj .bs KUNA 112209 May 11NNNN
-- Kuwait Ambassador to the UN Mansour Al-Otaibi welcomed the Asian Group's support for Kuwait's HRC membership in 2011-14. He noted that elections will be held by the UN General Assembly (UNGA) on May 20 to elect 15 HRC members from regional groups.
Speaking to KUNA after a meeting of the Asian Group, Al-Otaibi explained that "Kuwait did not run instead of Syria or against it, but there was an agreement with Syria to exchange the candidacy periods, so Syria will run in 2013, the date that was originally set for Kuwait, and that Kuwait runs this year." The agreement to swap the candidacy periods took place by capitals of Syria and Kuwait and in close coordination, he said.
The Asian Group's full backing to Kuwait's membership in HRC in such a short period before the May 20 elections "will undoubtedly facilitate gaining the majority of votes," said Al-Otaibi.
The State of Kuwait "has an honorary recored in strengtheing and spreading human rights," said the Kuwai ti top diplomat.
Last May, he noted, Kuwait submitted a report to HRC and was thoroughly examined, "and Kuwait is about to implement a number of recommendations that were agreed upon." Al-Otaibi appreciated Syria's desire to swap the date of candidature with a country from the West Asia region, and Kuwait has been keen on carrying out this role though its nomination was two years from now.
"We appreciate Syria's desire to have an Arab representative inside the HRC, " he said.
Syria's Ambassador to the UN Bashar Al-Ja'afari, addressing the Asia Group meeting, said his country reconsidered the timing of its candidacy in light of "rearranging priorities of its nominations within the UN" and the reforms carried out by the government in Damascus.
Syria, he affirmed, was committed to its right to run for the HRC membership in 2013.
In addition to Kuwait, the Asian Group approved nominations of Indonesia, the Philippines and India.
The Geveva-based HRC was establi shed in 2006 to replace the UN commission of human rights. The HRC reports directly to UNGA and not the economic and social council like the commission used to do.
HRC consists of 47 members, all elected by UNGA. Fifteen new members are elected every year for a three-year term. Every country has the right to run twice for a consecutive membership.
The HRC members are classified according to geographical regions: 13 seats for Africa, 13 for Asia, six for East Europe, eight for Latin America and the Caribbean, and seven seats for West Europe and other countries.
Five Arab countries are current members: Saudi Arabia, Qatar, Bahrain, Jordan and Mauritania.
The UNGA suspended Libya's membership last March.
The HRC spreads respect of human rights and basic freedoms without any kind of discrimination. It monitors human rights violations all over the world and recommends ways to address them.
The HRC meets at least three times a year, each for three weeks. (end) sj .bs KUNA 112209 May 11NNNN
