Sunday, March 10, 2013 - 7.39 GMT

US resolution clearly contravenes UNHRC principles – Ambassador Ariyasinha

http://www.priu.gov.lk/news_update/Current_Affairs/ca201303/20130310us_resolution_clearly_contravenes_unhcr_principles.htm

The US sponsored draft resolution that is currently being circulated among members, is clearly contravenes the accepted principles of conduct in the Human Rights Council, Sri Lanka’s Permanent Representative to UN in Geneva Ravinatha Aryasinha said. At an informal meeting called by the US on Friday to discuss the draft resolution on Sri Lanka which is to be tabled towards the end of the session, Ambassador Aryasinha said that this action was precedent setting, and could in the medium-to-long term have an adverse effect on all developing countries. “I express hope, that the US government and possible co-sponsors of the resolution, would do nothing to endanger the delicate reconciliation process ongoing in Sri Lanka, as well as the constructive engagement Sri Lanka is presently pursuing with the United Nations, the Human Rights Council, the High Commissioner and the Office of the High Commissioner of Human Rights (OHCHR), as well as our bilateral partners,” he said in a statement. He said Sri Lanka took part in the informal meeting since it valued the interest taken by member states and other stakeholders in the HRC on Sri Lanka, but what is being perpetrated there is a political process contrary to the principles of cooperation. Referring to the report of the OHCHR sanctioned by the US resolution of March 2012, the Ambassador said the High Commissioner has gone beyond her mandate in making recommendations which are arbitrary, highly intrusive and of a politicised nature. In support of his stance he pointed out that she has not given due recognition to the ongoing reconciliation process, implementation of the LLRC action plan, the end of a 30 year long terrorism and averting a human catastrophe. He said contrary to what was made to believe by the US the draft was far from a procedural resolution and did not have nexus to the earlier resolution. He said it was intent on singling out countries for naming and shaming. Earlier Ambassador Aryasinha met the US Ambassador Donahoe and conveyed to him that Sri Lanka rejected entirely the premise the resolution is based on. The Sri Lankan Permanent Representative stressed that his country was open for constructive engagement with parties seeking respectful dialogue’ on reconciliation.