Hon. Minister of External Affairs
Decisions of UN Human Rights Council determined by political likes and dislikes
HRC HAS BECOME A ROGUE GALLERY - US CONGRESSWOMAN:
Ishara MUDUGAMUWA
The government, while reiterating that the decisions of the United Nations Human Rights Council (UNHRC) hinge on political likes and dislikes, yesterday insisted that there is no consistency whatsoever and commitment to principle on the part of the UN Human Rights Council. External Affairs Minister Prof G.L. Peiris exposed the double standards adopted by certain states on HRC decisions. “When UNHRC criticises some states, it is praised. When it criticises other states, it is harshly condemned,” he said.
Prof Peiris was speaking at the inauguration of Expo 2012 exhibition on the second day as the guest of honour at the BMICH yesterday.
The External Affairs Minister explained how US responded to the resolution passed by the UNHRC against Israel at the 19th session of the Council.
“Few hours after the resolution against Sri Lanka was passed at the UNHRC, the Council carried a resolution against Israel”, he said.
He said that the state of Israel in three phrases described the UNHRC and way it functioned as hyprocratical, politicized and one sided.
STATEMENT BY PROFESSOR G.L. PEIRIS, MINISTER OF EXTERNAL AFFAIRS
It is a matter of great satisfaction to us that 15 countries voted with Sri Lanka, despite the intensity of pressure, in a variety of forms, exerted on them all. We convey to them our warm thanks and deep appreciation.
We also thank sincerely the 8 countries which, by abstaining, declined to support the Resolution.
With 15 countries voting with Sri Lanka, and 8 countries abstaining, the final result was that 23 countries, out of a total of 47 members of the Human Rights Council, did not support the Resolution, while 24 supported it. The margin was as narrow as this.
The most distressing feature of this experience is the obvious reality that voting at the Human Rights Council is now determined not by the merits of a particular issue but by strategic alliances and domestic political issues in other countries which have nothing to do with the subject matter of a Resolution or the best interests of the country to which the Resolution relates. This is a cynical negation of the purposes for which the Human Rights Council was established.
Many countries which voted with Sri Lanka were acutely conscious of the danger of setting a precedent which enables ad hoc intervention by powerful countries in the internal affairs of other nations. This is a highly selective and arbitrary process not governed by objective norms or criteria of any kind. The implications of this were not lost on many countries.
As far as Sri Lanka is concerned, our policy in respect of all matters will continue to be guided by the vital interests and wellbeing of the people of our country. It hardly requires emphasis that this cannot yield place to any other consideration.
Permanent Mission of Sri Lanka to the United Nations
Geneva
Sri Lanka - India relations strong and vibrant - Minister Peiris
Welcoming the Indian Minister of External Affairs S.M. Krishna to Sri Lanka, Minister of External Affairs G.L. Peiris emphasized the deep rooted friendship and historical ties which exist between the two countries, and elaborated that Sri Lanka and India are bound to each other geographically and in terms of their economies, which have stood the test of time. Minister Krishna began a four day official visit to Sri Lanka on 16th January 2012, at the invitation of Minister Peiris and called on President Mahinda Rajapaksa and Prime Minister D.M. Jayaratne.
Minister Peiris observed that in times good and bad and those of turbulence, stability and prosperity, the constant factor in Sri Lanka’s foreign relations has been the depth of friendship with India. In this context, he recalled the manner in which India has always stood by Sri Lanka, and provided every possible assistance. Minister Peiris upheld that there could be issues of concern in relations between any two countries, and however the distinguishing feature of Sri Lanka’s relationship with India is the spontaneity of dialogue. He said that no issue however controversial or emotive in connotation has the two countries been unable to resolve, due to close engagement in an open manner culminating in pragmatic conclusions. He was confident that the threshold that has been reached with regard to Indo-Lanka relations was not something fleeting, but to nurture, safeguard and develop throughout the passage of time.
Lofty ideals or political agenda? – Prof. Peiris asks at the launch of report “Humanitarian Operation: Factual Analysis – July 2006-May 2009”
The recent spate of unsubstantiated allegations on the last few days of the conflict levelled at the Government of Sri Lanka, need to be examined in terms of the political agenda behind such propaganda and distinguished from the genuine expressions of concern on humanitarian issues, observed External Affairs Minister Prof. G.L. Peiris in his keynote address at the launch of the publication by the Ministry of Defence entitled “Humanitarian Operation: Factual Analysis – July 2006-May 2009” on 1st August. Elaborating he stated that the task of analysing where the political agendas end and norms of human rights begin has now become more crucial and this issue deserves to be judged dispassionately, without prejudice and bias. The External Affairs Minister recalled an observation made by the former UN High Commissioner for Human Rights, Mary Robinson on the Goldstone Report on the Gaza issue, that it was guided “not by human rights but by politics”.
Minister of External Affairs Prof. G. L. Peiris states that the visit by President Rajapaksa to Russia was a success
Minister of External Affairs Prof. G. L. Peiris stated that all politically motivated campaigns against Sri Lanka would fail as they were based on wrong information and not on objective assessments.
Addressing the media at the Ministry on 21st June 2011, Minister Peiris described the recent visit of President Mahinda Rajapaksa to St. Petersburg, Russia as “unreservedly successful” which brought dividends to Sri Lanka. Addressing the media at the External Affairs Ministry Prof. Peiris briefed on the highlights of the visit which included the bilateral meetings with the Presidents of Russia, China and Kazakhstan and the Prime Minister of Spain.
More Articles...
- Joint Statement issued by the Ministries of External Affairs of Sri Lanka & India
- External Affairs Minister Prof. G.L. Peiris meets with several senior Indian Government personalities during his visit to New Delhi
- External Affairs Minister Prof. G. L. Peiris met his Indian counterpart Mr. S. M. Krishna
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