UN Human Rights Treaties

United Nations General Assembly Official Records Forty-ninth Session 94th Meeting Friday, 23 December 1994, 10 a.m. New York President: Mr. Essy . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . (Côte d’Ivoire) The meeting was called to order at 10.35 a.m. Agenda item 154 (continued) United Nations New Agenda for the Development of Africa in the 1990s: draft resolution (A/49/L.44/Rev.2) The President (interpretation from French): Members will recall that the General Assembly concluded its debate on agenda item 154 at its 88th plenary meeting, held on 14 December 1994. As members know, following the recommendations of the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) and of the Secretary-General relating to the need to establish a diversification fund for Africa’s commodities within the framework of the United Nations New Agenda for the Development of Africa in the 1990s, negotiations on this matter began during the forty-eighth session and continued during the present session. They gave rise to intense consultations among experts from Africa and from donor countries. To break the impasse that arose, I myself have conducted the consultations for the past week. After lengthy discussions, representatives of African countries and of donor countries, demonstrating a praiseworthy spirit of cooperation and a determination to find a constructive compromise, approved a consensus text that I had proposed. That text relates particularly to paragraph 12 of draft resolution A/49/L.44/Rev.2. It reads as follows: “Invites State participants in the African Development Fund existing within the African Development Bank to pay particular attention to the diversification of African commodities with a view to accelerating this process, and invites them to consider urgently making an initial adequate special contribution to finance the preparatory phase of commodity diversification projects and programmes in African countries”. (A/49/L.44/Rev.2, para. 12) As members know, the Organization’s medium-term plan for the period 1992-1997 gives high priority to African economic recovery and development —hence the special importance for African economies of the draft resolution now before the Assembly. Its adoption by consensus would certainly confirm the interest of the international community, and particularly of donor countries, in the question of the development of Africa. In that connection, it should be seen as a test of the real chances of success for the implementation of the New Agenda. Finally, I wish sincerely to thank the various parties that during the consultations demonstrated true openmindedness and political will in seeking a compromise acceptable to all, which made it possible for the consultations on paragraph 12 of the draft resolution to succeed. The Assembly will now take a decision on draft resolution A/49/L.44/Rev.2. A/49/PV.94 94-87524 (E) This record contains the original text of speeches delivered in English and interpretations of speeches delivered in the other languages. Corrections should be submitted to original speeches only. They should be incorporated in a copy of the record and be sent under the signature of a member of the delegation concerned, within one month of the date of the meeting, to the Chief of the Verbatim Reporting Section, Room C-178. Corrections will be issued after the end of the session in a consolidated corrigendum. General Assembly 94th meeting Forty-ninth session 23 December 1994 May I take it that the Assembly wishes to adopt draft resolution A/49/L.44/Rev.2? Draft resolution A/49/L.44/Rev.2 was adopted (resolution 49/142). The President (interpretation from French): I shall now call on those representatives who wish to explain their positions. May I remind delegations that explanations of vote are limited to 10 minutes and should be made by delegations from their seats. Mr. Abdellah (Tunisia) (interpretation from French): We are pleased at the adoption today by consensus of draft resolution A/49/L.44/Rev.2, on the implementation of new financing arrangements for the preparatory phase of the diversification of Africa’s commodities. On behalf of the current Chairman of the Organization of African Unity (OAU), I would like to thank you, Mr. President, for your tireless efforts and praiseworthy contribution to the reaching of consensus on this text. We also congratulate our African colleagues and brothers and our partners from the developed countries on their constructive spirit, without which it would not have been possible for us to reach this conclusion on this vital issue which is so close to our hearts and on which negotiations have been dragging on for almost three years. Tunisia, having had the honour this year to continue these long and often difficult negotiations on behalf of the African countries, is particularly pleased at this favourable outcome, which opens up such promising possibilities. The adoption of this text is a first step towards the effective implementation of the United Nations New Agenda for the Development of Africa in the 1990s. We have high hopes that the decision taken today will in the future be translated into concrete action for the implementation of United Nations New Agenda for the Development of Africa in the 1990s, thus proving the international community’s commitment to giving priority to Africa’s economic recovery and development. Such support would make it possible for African countries, in a spirit of solidarity and partnership, to overcome their difficulties and confidently tackle the attainment of their legitimate aspirations to progress, development and well-being. African countries depend on a small number of commodities for their earnings. They must therefore diversify their production and exports so that their economies can withstand without great harm the impact of fluctuations in export prices and terms of trade. In this context, the diversification of African economies is regarded as one of the priorities of the United Nations New Agenda for the Development of Africa in the 1990s. Accordingly, I wish to express once again our appreciation for the interest shown by our partners from the developed countries in contributing to the success of this African development endeavour. A developed Africa with the means to participate actively in international economic cooperation will be of great benefit to its trading partners. For those reasons we appeal to the donor countries to see to it that the adoption of this resolution leads to generous contributions and clear support during the African Development Bank’s consideration of this question, so that we can all honour our commitments and thus support the development efforts of the African countries. Mr. Runge (Germany): I have the honour to speak on behalf of the European Union, Austria, Finland and Sweden. Let me first thank you, Mr. President, for your vigorous personal involvement in this complex issue. We joined the consensus on the resolution just adopted by the Assembly. The text has been discussed very intensively, and in many aspects it reflects a consensus we can support. We regret, however, that the text of operative paragraph 12 was presented to us at such a late date and that there was a lack of willingness to negotiate on it. It presents a number of difficulties for us. The negotiations on the seventh replenishment of the African Development Bank have not yet been concluded; indeed, they have reached a difficult phase. The text we adopt here must not be interpreted in a manner that prejudges the outcome of these negotiations. We believe that it is, in the first place, a matter of setting the right priorities at the African Development Bank to promote the financing of the preparatory phase of diversification projects. The European Union has made it clear in all discussions that existing mechanisms and financing should be relied upon to support diversification efforts and that the sense of urgency prevailing in this forum on this matter should be 2 General Assembly 94th meeting Forty-ninth session 23 December 1994 reflected in the setting of priorities within the relevant body: the African Development Bank. Our Governments will continue to approach the question of financing for diversification in the light of whether efforts are made by all concerned to use the existing resources. Our view on this issue also takes account of the fact that diversification of the commodity sector in African countries may not be primarily a question of providing financing for studies. Viable projects for diversification depend on an economic and administrative environment favourable to market-oriented initiatives from the private sector. Contributions to a bank will not in themselves elicit such projects. We also believe that it is not wise to set up new financing mechanisms or to make contributions to existing ones solely for political reasons. We understand the African countries’ appeal for support for their efforts, particularly in the field of diversification, and we support these efforts in a number of ways. We will continue to have special regard for African interests and needs in our efforts to facilitate access to existing resources and mechanisms. Mr. Marrero (United States of America): The United States of America was pleased to join the consensus on the resolution on the implementation of the United Nations New Agenda for the Development of Africa in the 1990s. We especially appreciate the tireless efforts made by the delegation of Tunisia, in its representation of the chairmanship of the Organization of African Unity, to draw out the prime concerns of the African States and other delegations in order to design a resolution holding meaning, clear objectives and broad-based support. The United States is a leading supporter of international efforts to assist the troubled economies of Africa. We regard this resolution as containing many positive elements. For example, we strongly support the resolution’s call upon African countries to continue to take measures to improve the investment climate domestically in order to attract foreign investment. Similarly, we welcome the resolution’s invitation to relevant multilateral institutions to give high priority to assistance for commodity diversification in Africa. Additionally, the United States looks forward to the Secretary-General’s report, to be produced next year, on the implementation of this resolution, especially in regard to the activities of the Inter-agency Task Force for the Implementation of the United Nations New Agenda for the Development of Africa in the 1990s. However, in joining the consensus on this text, we wish to underline our position on two important points: the idea of a diversification fund for Africa’s commodities and the notion of convening a conference on African debt. The United States believes that it is important to note that our understanding of operative paragraph 12 of the resolution we have before us acknowledges two important principles: first, that the States participants in the African Development Fund existing within the African Development Bank are uniquely competent to make the important decisions regarding the financial focus and the priorities of the Fund; and, secondly, that it is our understanding that the invitation to participant States to consider making an initial adequate special contribution to the Fund for Africa’s commodity diversification is not intended to suggest that a separate fund should be established for this purpose. During the negotiation of this resolution, the United States expressed the view repeatedly that we consider it ill-advised to set up a new commodity diversification fund or its equivalent when suitable funding sources already exist that could be used for this purpose. On the question of considering the convening of a conference on African debt, as mentioned in paragraph 9, the United States continues to oppose convening such a gathering. It is our view that international debt matters are best handled on a case-by-case basis through the international financial institutions and through the Paris Club. Many African countries have benefited substantially from this approach and will continue to do so, especially in the light of the recent Paris Club decision to seek to increase even further the response of creditor countries to the indebtedness of the poorest countries. The United States will continue to work with other creditors and international financial institutions on strategies to reduce the debt burdens of African countries in the context of their economic and structural reforms. However, we do not believe that a United Nations conference on the subject would be at all helpful in this regard. Indeed, the Paris Club’s recent deliberations have addressed precisely the concerns that any additional forum on debt issues might hope to take up. We feel that it is important also to reiterate our position on the notion of “agreed international targets of devoting 0.7 per cent of gross national product to official development 3 General Assembly 94th meeting Forty-ninth session 23 December 1994 assistance and 0.15 per cent to least-developed countries”. (A/49/L.44/Rev.2, para. 10) The United States is not among the States that have accepted such targets nor have we made commitments to reach them. Finally, Mr. President, my delegation would like to take this opportunity to recognize your helpful, constructive involvement in the negotiation of this resolution. Through your timely intervention, you have exemplified again the spirit and benefit of patient dialogue and collective partnership. We thank you for affording us all one more opportunity to celebrate mutual agreement. The President (interpretation from French): We have heard the last speaker in explanation of position. May I take it that it is the wish of the General Assembly to conclude its consideration of agenda item 154? It was so decided. Agenda item 8 (continued) Adoption of the agenda and organization of work: Request for the inclusion of an additional item submitted by the Secretary-General (A/49/240) The President (interpretation from French): In his note in document A/49/240, the Secretary-General, pursuant to rule 15 of the rules of procedure of the General Assembly, requests that an additional item, entitled “Financing of the United Nations Mission of Observers in Tajikistan”, be placed on the agenda of the forty-ninth session. Owing to the nature of this item, the Secretary- General further requests that the item be allocated to the Fifth Committee. If there is no objection, I shall take it that the General Assembly agrees that, under the circumstances described in the note by the Secretary-General, the provision of rule 40 of the rules of procedure that would require a meeting of the General Committee on the question of the inclusion and allocation of an additional item should be waived. It was so decided. The President (interpretation from French): May I take it that the General Assembly, on the proposal of the Secretary-General, wishes to include in the agenda of its forty-ninth session an item entitled “Financing of the United Nations Mission of Observers in Tajikistan” and to allocate it to the Fifth Committee? It was so decided. The President (interpretation from French): The Chairman of the Fifth Committee will be informed of the decision just taken. I should like to inform members that this new item becomes item 162 of the agenda of the forty-ninth session of the General Assembly and that the documents reflecting its inclusion and allocation will be issued tomorrow. Agenda item 10 (continued) Report of the Secretary-General on the work of the Organization: draft resolution (A/49/L.63) The President (interpretation from French): Members will recall that, at its 85th and 86th plenary meetings, on 12 December 1994, the Assembly held a debate on the financial situation of the United Nations. Members will also recall that in the statement which I made at the conclusion of the debate on the report of the Secretary-General on the work of the Organization under item 10 of the General Assembly’s agenda for its forty-ninth session, I indicated that I would continue my consultations on the question of the financial situation of the United Nations and would keep the Assembly fully informed of their outcome. After intensive consultations, and in order to assist the Assembly on this important question, I have been able, in my capacity as President of the General Assembly, to submit the draft resolution which is now before the Assembly in document A/49/L.63. However, before the Assembly takes a decision on this draft resolution, which would establish a high-level open-ended working group, I should like to make the following comments concerning this working group. On the basis of the informal consultations which I have undertaken with delegations on the financial situation of the Organization, we are all agreed that the high-level working group to be established will consider the questions raised both in the report of the Secretary-General on the work of the Organization and in the statement made by the Secretary-General to the General Assembly on 12 October 1994, as well as the 4 General Assembly 94th meeting Forty-ninth session 23 December 1994 views expressed by Member States in the general debate during the forty-ninth session of the General Assembly and the views expressed by delegations during the debate on the financial situation of the United Nations that was held on an exceptional basis in plenary meetings of the Assembly on 12 December 1994. In this connection, it appears from the views expressed by delegations that the measures which could ensure a viable financial base for the Organization relate, inter alia, to the following questions: the payment by Member States of their contributions in full and on time; the problem of arrears in the payment of contributions by Member States; the procedure for the approval of peace-keeping budgets and appropriations; the cash-flow situation of the Organization; and methods for calculating the scale of assessments. It should, accordingly, be clearly understood that the mandate of the working group will be to consider any appropriate measure which could be introduced with a view to ensuring a sound and viable financial base for the Organization. To that end, the working group will consider all the elements, without exception, and in particular those that I have just mentioned, which contribute to the difficult financial situation the Organization is experiencing. In addition, any other element which has a bearing on the situation and which is presented by any delegation will also be considered by the working group. It is also understood that the working group will make every effort to reach the broadest possible measure of agreement on the results of its work. With regard to the timetable for the working group, it would be desirable if the report on the progress achieved, which the working group is to submit before the end of the forty-ninth session could enable the General Assembly to take the appropriate measures in time to provide the Organization with a viable financial base commensurate with the challenges it will have to face after its fiftieth anniversary. The Assembly will now take a decision on draft resolution A/49/L.63. I call on the representative of the Secretariat. Mr. Perfiliev (Director of the General Assembly Affairs Division) (interpretation from French): Under the terms of draft resolution A/49/L.63, the General Assembly would establish a high-level open-ended working group on the financial situation of the United Nations. Substantive servicing for the group would be provided by the Department of Administration and Management. Secretariat services would be provided by the Department of Political Affairs. It is not anticipated that additional resources would be required in this connection. As regards conference services, it is understood that the open-ended working group would hold approximately 36 meetings from January to September 1995. The meetings would require the provision of interpretation and documentation — 48 pages pre-session, 200 pages insession, and 24 pages post-session — services in the six official languages of the Organization. The actual schedule of the meetings of the working group will be decided in consultation with the Office of Conference and Support Services. Provision was made in the proposed programme budget not only for meetings programmed at that time but also for meetings that would be authorized subsequently, provided that the number and distribution of meetings were consistent with the pattern in previous years. On that basis, it is assumed that conference-servicing requirements for the meetings of the working group would be met from within resources programmed under sub-section E of section 25, “Office of Conference and Support Services”, of the programme budget for the biennium 1994-1995. Accordingly, should the General Assembly adopt draft resolution A/49/L.63, it is not anticipated that additional requirements would arise under section 25 of the programme budget for 1994-1995. The President (interpretation from French): May I take it that the Assembly decides to adopt draft resolution A/49/L.63? Draft resolution A/49/L.63 was adopted (resolution 49/143). The President (interpretation from French): We have thus concluded this stage of our consideration of agenda item 10. Introduction of reports of the Third Committee 5 General Assembly 94th meeting Forty-ninth session 23 December 1994 The President (interpretation from French): We will now take up the reports of the Third Committee on items 12 and 93 through 103. I invite the Rapporteur of the Third Committee to introduce the reports of the Third Committee in a single statement. Mr. Lepeshko (Belarus), Rapporteur of the Third Committee: I have the honour to present the reports of the Third Committee on agenda items 12 and 93 through 103. Under agenda item 12, “Report of the Economic and Social Council”, the Third Committee recommends, in document A/49/603, paragraph 9, the adoption of two draft decisions. Under agenda item 93, “Elimination of racism and racial discrimination”, the Third Committee recommends, in document A/49/604, paragraph 19, the adoption of three draft resolutions, and in document A/49/604/Add.1, paragraph 8, the adoption of one draft resolution. Under agenda item 94, “Right of peoples to selfdetermination”, the Third Committee recommends, in document A/49/752, paragraph 25, the adoption of four draft resolutions. Under agenda item 95, “Social development, including questions relating to the world social situation and to youth, ageing, disabled persons and the family”, the Third Committee recommends, in document A/49/605, paragraph 20, the adoption of four draft resolutions and, in paragraph 21, the adoption of one draft decision; in document A/49/605/Add.1 the Third Committee recommends, in paragraph 5, the adoption of one draft decision. Under agenda item 96, “Crime prevention and criminal justice”, the Third Committee recommends, in document A/49/606, paragraph 25, the adoption of four draft resolutions and, in paragraph 26, the adoption of one draft decision. Under agenda item 97, “Advancement of women”, the Third Committee recommends in document A/49/607, paragraph 37, the adoption of eight draft resolutions, and in paragraph 38 the adoption of two draft decisions. In paragraph 25 of that report, which relates to draft resolution A/C.3/49/L.70, entitled “Violence against women migrant workers”, Belgium should be included among the additional sponsors of the draft resolution. Under agenda item 98, “International drug control”, the Third Committee recommends in document A/49/608, paragraph 9, the adoption of one draft resolution. Under agenda item 99, “Report of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees, questions relating to refugees, returnees and displaced persons and humanitarian questions”, the Third Committee recommends in document A/49/609, paragraph 30, the adoption of six draft resolutions, and in paragraph 31 the adoption of one draft decision. I turn next to agenda item 100, “Human rights questions: (a) Implementation of human rights instruments; (b) Human rights questions, including alternative approaches for improving the effective enjoyment of human rights and fundamental freedoms; (c) Human rights situations and reports of special rapporteurs and representatives; (d) human rights questions: comprehensive implementation of and followup to the Vienna Declaration and Programme of Action” and (e) “Capital punishment”. On sub-item (a) of item 100, in document A/49/610/Add.1, paragraph 23, the Third Committee recommends the adoption of four draft resolutions, and in paragraph 24 the adoption of one draft decision. There are two corrections to document A/49/610/Add.2, concerning sub-item (b) of item 100. Paragraphs 36 and 37 should both relate to draft resolution A/C.3/49/L.41, not to draft resolution A/C.3/49/L.42: the reference to draft resolution A/C.3/49/L.42 at the end of paragraph 36 and in paragraph 37 should be replaced by a reference to draft resolution A/C.3/49/L.41. In paragraph 17 (a) and in the text of operative paragraph 3 of draft resolution IV, the oral revision should read: “in conformity with national legislation”. In document A/49/610/Add.2, paragraph 68, the Third Committee recommends the adoption of 17 draft resolutions, and in paragraph 69 the adoption of one draft decision. On sub-item (c) of item 100, in document A/49/610/Add.3, paragraph 61, the Committee recommends the adoption of 12 draft resolutions, and in paragraph 62 the adoption of one draft decision. In paragraph 52, relating to draft resolution A/C.3/49/L.62, “Situation of human rights in Rwanda”, Argentina should 6 General Assembly 94th meeting Forty-ninth session 23 December 1994 be listed among the additional sponsors of the draft resolution. With respect to sub-item (d) of item 100, in document A/49/610/Add.4, paragraph 14, the Third Committee recommends the adoption of one draft resolution, and in paragraph 15 the adoption of two draft decisions. Document A/49/610/Add.5 contains an account of the Third Committee’s consideration of agenda sub-item (e) of item 100, “Capital punishment”. There are no recommendations contained in the report to the General Assembly under that sub-item. Under agenda item 101, “Promotion and protection of the rights of children”, the Third Committee recommends, in document A/49/611, paragraph 26, the adoption of four draft resolutions. In paragraph 20 of the report, which relates to draft resolution A/C.3/49/L.23, entitled “Implementation of the Convention on the Rights of the Child”, the following countries should be listed among the additional sponsors: Belgium, Bhutan, Cambodia, Guinea, Jordan and Suriname. Under agenda item 102, “Preparation for and organization of the United Nations Year for Tolerance”, the Third Committee recommends, in document A/49/612, paragraph 8, the adoption of one draft resolution. Under agenda item 103, “Programme of activities of the International Decade of the World’s Indigenous People”, the Third Committee recommends in document A/49/613, paragraph 5, the adoption of one draft decision; in document A/49/613/Add.1, paragraph 10, the Committee recommends the adoption of one draft resolution, and in paragraph 11 the adoption of one draft decision. In connection with the dates and numbers of the meetings at which the Third Committee considered agenda item 100 and its sub-items, it was not always possible at each meeting to separate statements made under the various sub-items. Therefore, for the sake of consistency, in each report of the Committee relating to item 100 — documents A/49/610/Addenda 1 to 5 — paragraphs where dates and numbers of meetings are indicated should be revised as follows: The relevant paragraphs of documents A/49/610/Addenda 1 to 5 should be replaced with the following text: “The Committee considered item 100 and its subitems at its 33rd, 34th, 36th to 48th, 50th, 53rd, 55th to 57th and 59th to 67th meetings, on 16, 17, 21 to 23, 25, 28 to 30 November and 1, 5 to 10 and 12 to 14 December 1994. An account of the Committee’s discussions is contained in the relevant summary records: A/C.3/49/SR.33, 34, 36 to 48, 50, 53, 55 to 57, and 59 to 67”. In paragraph 7 of document A/49/610/Add.1, the word “existed” should be replaced by the word “revised”. The President (interpretation from French): If there is no proposal under rule 66 of the rules of procedure, I shall take it that the General Assembly decides not to discuss the reports of the Third Committee that are before it today. It was so decided. The President (interpretation from French): Statements will therefore be limited to explanations of vote. The positions of delegations regarding the recommendations of the Third Committee have been made in the Committee and are reflected in the relevant official records. May I remind members that under paragraph 7 of decision 34/401 the General Assembly agreed that “When the same draft resolution is considered in a Main Committee and in plenary meeting, a delegation should, as far as possible, explain its vote only once, i.e., either in the Committee or in plenary meeting unless that delegation’s vote in plenary meeting is different from its vote in the Committee”. May I remind delegations that, also in accordance with General Assembly decision 34/401, explanations of vote are limited to 10 minutes and should be made by delegations from their seats. Before we begin to take action on the recommendations contained in the reports of the Third Committee, I should like to advise representatives that we are going to proceed to take decisions in the same manner as in the Committee, except in those cases where delegations have already notified the Secretariat that they wish to do otherwise. This means that where recorded or separate votes were taken, we will do the same. I also hope that we may proceed to adopt without a vote those 7 General Assembly 94th meeting Forty-ninth session 23 December 1994 recommendations that were adopted without a vote in the Third Committee. Agenda item 93 Elimination of racism and racial discrimination: report of the Third Committee (Parts I and II) (A/49/604 and Add.1) The President (interpretation from French): The Assembly will now take a decision on the three draft resolutions recommended by the Third Committee in paragraph 19 of part I of its report (A/49/604). Draft resolution I is entitled “Status of the International Convention on the Elimination of all Forms of Racial Discrimination”. The Third Committee adopted draft resolution I without a vote. May I take it that the General Assembly wishes to do the same? Draft resolution I was adopted (resolution 49/144). The President (interpretation from French): Draft resolution II is entitled “Report of the Committee on the Elimination of Racial Discrimination”. Draft resolution II was adopted by the Third Committee without a vote. May I take it that the Assembly wishes to do likewise? Draft resolution II was adopted (resolution 49/145). The President (interpretation from French): Draft resolution III is entitled “Third Decade to Combat Racism and Racial Discrimination”. The Third Committee adopted draft resolution III without a vote. May I take it that the Assembly wishes to do the same? Draft resolution III was adopted (resolution 49/146). The President (interpretation from French): The Assembly will now take a decision on the draft resolution recommended by the Third Committee in paragraph 8 of part II of its report (A/49/604/Add.1). The draft resolution, entitled “Measures to combat contemporary forms of racism, racial discrimination, xenophobia and related intolerance”, was adopted by the Third Committee without a vote. May I consider that the Assembly wishes to do the same? The draft resolution was adopted (resolution 49/147). The President (interpretation from French): May I take it that it is the wish of the General Assembly to conclude its consideration of agenda item 93? It was so decided. Agenda item 94 Right of peoples to self-determination: report of the Third Committee (A/49/752) The President (interpretation from French): The Assembly will now take a decision on the four draft resolutions recommended by the Third Committee in paragraph 25 of its report. Draft resolution I is entitled “Universal realization of the right of peoples to self-determination”. The Third Committee adopted draft resolution I without a vote. May I take it that the Assembly wishes to do the same? Draft resolution I was adopted (resolution 49/148). The President (interpretation from French): Draft resolution II is entitled “The right of the Palestinian people to self-determination”. A recorded vote has been requested. A recorded vote was taken. In favour: Afghanistan, Albania, Algeria, Andorra, Angola, Antigua and Barbuda, Armenia, Australia, Austria, Azerbaijan, Bahamas, Bahrain, Bangladesh, Barbados, Belarus, Belgium, Belize, Benin, Bhutan, Bolivia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Botswana, Brazil, Brunei Darussalam, Bulgaria, Burkina Faso, Burundi, Cambodia, Cameroon, Canada, Cape Verde, Chile, China, Colombia, Comoros, Congo, Côte d’Ivoire, Croatia, Cuba, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Democratic People’s Republic of Korea, Denmark, Djibouti, Ecuador, Egypt, El Salvador, Ethiopia, Finland, France, Gabon, Gambia, Germany, Ghana, Greece, Grenada, Guinea, Guyana, Haiti, Honduras, Hungary, India, Indonesia, Iran (Islamic 8 General Assembly 94th meeting Forty-ninth session 23 December 1994 Republic of), Iraq, Ireland, Italy, Jamaica, Japan, Jordan, Kazakhstan, Kenya, Kuwait, Kyrgyzstan, Lao People’s Democratic Republic, Lebanon, Lesotho, Libyan Arab Jamahiriya, Liechtenstein, Luxembourg, Malawi, Malaysia, Maldives, Mali, Malta, Mauritania, Mauritius, Mexico, Monaco, Mongolia, Morocco, Mozambique, Myanmar, Namibia, Nepal, Netherlands, New Zealand, Niger, Nigeria, Oman, Pakistan, Panama, Papua New Guinea, Paraguay, Philippines, Poland, Portugal, Qatar, Republic of Korea, Romania, Rwanda, Saint Kitts and Nevis, Saint Lucia, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, Samoa, Saudi Arabia, Senegal, Sierra Leone, Singapore, Slovakia, Slovenia, South Africa, Spain, Sri Lanka, Sudan, Suriname, Sweden, Syrian Arab Republic, Tajikistan, Thailand, The Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, Togo, Trinidad and Tobago, Tunisia, Turkey, Turkmenistan, Uganda, Ukraine, United Arab Emirates, United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, United Republic of Tanzania, Uzbekistan, Venezuela, Viet Nam, Yemen, Zambia, Zimbabwe Against: Israel, United States of America Abstaining: Argentina, Costa Rica, Estonia, Fiji, Georgia, Guatemala, Iceland, Latvia, Lithuania, Marshall Islands, Micronesia (Federated States of), Nicaragua, Norway, Peru, Republic of Moldova, Russian Federation, Solomon Islands, Swaziland, Uruguay Draft resolution II was adopted by 147 votes to 2, with 19 abstentions (resolution 49/149). The President (interpretation from French): Draft resolution III is entitled “Use of mercenaries as a means to violate human rights and to impede the exercise of the right of peoples to self-determination”. A recorded vote has been requested. A recorded vote was taken. In favour: Afghanistan, Algeria, Angola, Antigua and Barbuda, Azerbaijan, Bahamas, Bahrain, Bangladesh, Barbados, Belarus, Belize, Benin, Bhutan, Bolivia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Botswana, Brazil, Brunei Darussalam, Burkina Faso, Burundi, Cambodia, Cameroon, Cape Verde, Chile, China, Colombia, Comoros, Congo, Costa Rica, Côte d’Ivoire, Cuba, Democratic People’s Republic of Korea, Djibouti, Dominica, Ecuador, Egypt, El Salvador, Eritrea, Ethiopia, Fiji, Gabon, Gambia, Ghana, Grenada, Guatemala, Guinea, Guyana, Haiti, Honduras, India, Indonesia, Iran (Islamic Republic of), Iraq, Jamaica, Jordan, Kenya, Kuwait, Lao People’s Democratic Republic, Lebanon, Lesotho, Libyan Arab Jamahiriya, Madagascar, Malawi, Malaysia, Maldives, Mali, Mauritania, Mauritius, Mexico, Mongolia, Morocco, Mozambique, Myanmar, Namibia, Nepal, Nicaragua, Niger, Nigeria, Oman, Pakistan, Panama, Paraguay, Peru, Philippines, Qatar, Republic of Moldova, Russian Federation, Rwanda, Saint Kitts and Nevis, Saint Lucia, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, Saudi Arabia, Senegal, Sierra Leone, Singapore, South Africa, Sri Lanka, Sudan, Suriname, Swaziland, Syrian Arab Republic, Tajikistan, Thailand, Togo, Trinidad and Tobago, Tunisia, Turkmenistan, Uganda, Ukraine, United Arab Emirates, United Republic of Tanzania, Uruguay, Uzbekistan, Venezuela, Viet Nam, Yemen, Zambia, Zimbabwe Against: Austria, Belgium, Canada, Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, Hungary, Iceland, Italy, Japan, Luxembourg, Monaco, Netherlands, Norway, Portugal, Sweden, United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, United States of America Abstaining: Albania, Andorra, Argentina, Armenia, Australia, Bulgaria, Croatia, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Estonia, Georgia, Greece, Ireland, Israel, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Latvia, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Malta, Marshall Islands, Micronesia (Federated States of), New Zealand, Poland, Republic of Korea, Romania, Samoa, Slovakia, Slovenia, Solomon Islands, Spain, The Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, Turkey Draft resolution III was adopted by 118 votes to 19, with 33 abstentions (resolution 49/150). The President (interpretation from French): Draft resolution IV is entitled “Importance of the universal realization of the right of peoples to self-determination and of the speedy granting of independence to colonial countries and peoples for the effective guarantee and observance of human rights”. A recorded vote has been requested. A recorded vote was taken. In favour: Afghanistan, Algeria, Angola, Antigua and Barbuda, Armenia, Bahamas, Bahrain, Bangladesh, Barbados, Belize, Benin, Bhutan, Bolivia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Botswana, Brazil, Brunei Darussalam, Burkina Faso, Burundi, Cambodia, Cameroon, Cape Verde, Chile, China, Colombia, Comoros, Congo, Costa Rica, Côte d’Ivoire, Croatia, Cuba, Cyprus, Democratic People’s Republic of Korea, Djibouti, Dominica, Ecuador, 9 General Assembly 94th meeting Forty-ninth session 23 December 1994 Egypt, El Salvador, Eritrea, Ethiopia, Fiji, Gabon, Gambia, Ghana, Grenada, Guatemala, Guinea, Guyana, Haiti, Honduras, India, Indonesia, Iran (Islamic Republic of), Iraq, Jamaica, Jordan, Kenya, Kuwait, Kyrgyzstan, Lao People’s Democratic Republic, Lebanon, Lesotho, Libyan Arab Jamahiriya, Madagascar, Malawi, Malaysia, Maldives, Mali, Mauritania, Mauritius, Mexico, Mongolia, Mozambique, Myanmar, Namibia, Nepal, Nicaragua, Niger, Nigeria, Oman, Pakistan, Panama, Papua New Guinea, Paraguay, Peru, Philippines, Qatar, Rwanda, Saint Kitts and Nevis, Saint Lucia, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, Saudi Arabia, Senegal, Sierra Leone, Singapore, South Africa, Sri Lanka, Sudan, Suriname, Swaziland, Syrian Arab Republic, Thailand, Togo, Trinidad and Tobago, Tunisia, Uganda, United Arab Emirates, United Republic of Tanzania, Venezuela, Viet Nam, Yemen, Zambia, Zimbabwe Against: France, Israel, Monaco, United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, United States of America Abstaining: Albania, Andorra, Argentina, Australia, Austria, Azerbaijan, Belarus, Belgium, Bulgaria, Canada, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, Georgia, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Iceland, Ireland, Italy, Japan, Kazakhstan, Latvia, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, Marshall Islands, Micronesia (Federated States of), Netherlands, New Zealand, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Republic of Korea, Republic of Moldova, Romania, Russian Federation, Slovakia, Slovenia, Solomon Islands, Spain, Sweden, Tajikistan, The Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, Turkey, Turkmenistan, Ukraine, Uruguay, Uzbekistan Draft resolution IV was adopted by 113 votes to 5, with 51 abstentions (resolution 49/151). The President (interpretation from French): I now call on the representative of the Republic of Korea, who wishes to speak in explanation of vote. Mr. Kwang Jae Lee (Republic of Korea): After careful reconsideration, the Republic of Korea delegation voted in favour of draft resolution II. Our policy of principle with respect to the situation in the Middle East is that a just and lasting peace should be achieved in the region. To attain such a necessary goal, the current peace process must proceed with the full participation of the parties concerned and with the support of the international community, and we must ensure that nothing — no words or actions — interrupts or hampers this peace process. It was for this reason that my delegation abstained in the voting during the Third Committee’s session. Understanding that the resolution reaffirms what must be ensured as a matter of principle — the right of the Palestinian people to self-determination—and hoping that recognition of that right will have a positive effect on the current peace process, the Republic of Korea delegation voted in favour of draft resolution II. The President (interpretation from French): We have heard the only speaker in explanation of vote. May I take it that it is the wish of the General Assembly to conclude its consideration of agenda item 94? It was so decided. Agenda item 95 (continued) Social development, including questions relating to the world social situation and to youth, ageing, disabled persons and the family: report of the Third Committee (Parts I and II) (A/49/605 and Add.1) The President (interpretation from French): We shall first consider part I of the report of the Third Committee (A/49/605). The Assembly will now take a decision on the four draft resolutions recommended by the Third Committee in paragraph 20 of part I of its report and the draft decision recommended by the Third Committee in paragraph 21. We turn first to draft resolution I, entitled “International Youth Year”. The Third Committee adopted draft resolution I without a vote. May I take it that the Assembly wishes to do the same? Draft resolution I was adopted (resolution 49/152). The President (interpretation from French): Draft resolution II is entitled “Towards full integration of persons with disabilities in society: implementation of the Standard Rules on the Equalization of Opportunities for Persons with Disabilities, and of the Long-Term Strategy to Implement the World Programme of Action concerning Disabled Persons to the Year 2000 and Beyond”. 10 General Assembly 94th meeting Forty-ninth session 23 December 1994 The Third Committee adopted draft resolution II without a vote. May I take it that the Assembly wishes to do the same? Draft resolution II was adopted (resolution 49/153). The President (interpretation from French): Draft resolution III is entitled “Policies and programmes involving youth”. The Third Committee adopted draft resolution III without a vote. May I take it that the Assembly wishes to do the same? Draft resolution III was adopted (resolution 49/154). The President (interpretation from French): Draft resolution IV is entitled “The role of cooperatives in the light of new economic and social trends”. The Third Committee adopted draft resolution IV without a vote. May I take it that the Assembly wishes to do the same? Draft resolution IV was adopted (resolution 49/155). The President (interpretation from French): The Assembly will now take a decision on the draft decision recommended by the Third Committee in paragraph 21 of part I of its report. The draft decision, entitled “Document considered by the General Assembly in connection with the question of social development, including questions relating to the world social situation and to youth, ageing, disabled persons and the family”, was adopted by the Third Committee. May I take it that the Assembly wishes to do the same? The draft decision was adopted. The President (interpretation from French): We shall now consider part II of the report of the Third Committee (A/49/605/Add.1). The Assembly has before it the draft decision recommended by the Third Committee in paragraph 5 of part II of its report. The draft decision is entitled “Provisional rules of procedure for the World Summit for Social Development”. May I take it that the Assembly wishes to adopt the draft decision? The draft decision was adopted. The President (interpretation from French): May I take it that it is the wish of the General Assembly to conclude its consideration of agenda item 95? It was so decided. Agenda item 96 Crime prevention and criminal justice: report of the Third Committee (A/49/606) The President (interpretation from French): The Assembly will now take a decision on the four draft resolutions recommended by the Third Committee in paragraph 25 of its report and the draft decision recommended by the Third Committee in paragraph 26. We turn first to draft resolution I, entitled “United Nations African Institute for the Prevention of Crime and the Treatment of Offenders”. The Third Committee adopted draft resolution I without a vote. May I take it that the Assembly wishes to do the same? Draft resolution I was adopted (resolution 49/156). The President (interpretation from French): Draft resolution II is entitled “Ninth United Nations Congress on the Prevention of Crime and the Treatment of Offenders”. I call on the representative of Bahrain on a point of order. Mr. Al-Dosari (Bahrain): I wish to inform the General Assembly that my delegation has become a sponsor of draft resolution II, entitled “Ninth United Nations Congress on the Prevention of Crime and the Treatment of Offenders” and contained in document A/49/606. The President (interpretation from French): I should like to inform delegations that corrections to lists of sponsors in reports should be given to the Rapporteur of the Committee or to the Secretariat. They will see that those corrections are made. 11 General Assembly 94th meeting Forty-ninth session 23 December 1994 Draft resolution II was adopted by the Third Committee without a vote. May I take it that the Assembly wishes to do the same? Draft resolution II was adopted (resolution 49/157). The President (interpretation from French): Draft resolution III is entitled “Strengthening the United Nations crime prevention and criminal justice programme, particularly its technical cooperation capacity”. The Third Committee adopted draft resolution III without a vote. May I take it that the Assembly wishes to do likewise? Draft resolution III was adopted (resolution 49/158). The President (interpretation from French): Draft resolution IV is entitled “Naples Political Declaration and Global Action Plan against Organized Transnational Crime”. The Third Committee adopted draft resolution IV without a vote. May I take it that the Assembly wishes to do the same? Draft resolution IV was adopted (resolution 49/159). The President (interpretation from French): The Assembly will now take a decision on the draft decision recommended by the Third Committee in paragraph 26 of its report. The draft decision is entitled “Document considered by the General Assembly in connection with the question of crime prevention and criminal justice”. May I take it that the Assembly wishes to adopt the draft decision? The draft decision was adopted. The President (interpretation from French): I now call on the representative of the United Kingdom who wishes to make a statement in explanation of position. Mr. Vaughn-Fenn (United Kingdom): The United Kingdom joined the consensus on the resolution entitled “Naples Political Declaration and Global Action Plan against Organized Transnational Crime”, despite substantial reservations of a technical and procedural nature, because it did not wish to mute the resolution’s political message - namely, that the General Assembly welcomes the World Ministerial Conference on Organized Transnational Crime. That is a message which the United Kingdom wholeheartedly endorses. But the United Kingdom does not believe that a conference on a specific sector of United Nations-related activity, even one convened at ministerial level, is able to determine the relative priority of that activity when set against all other aspects of the work of the United Nations. The General Assembly is equipped to do this, but the United Kingdom would like to place it on record that, despite our delegation’s efforts to stimulate discussion on those aspects of this text that attempt to address issues of budgetary prioritization, no opportunity to comment upon the draft was forthcoming. The United Kingdom accordingly reserves the right to revisit these questions at the Commission on Crime Prevention and Criminal Justice, the Economic and Social Council and, if necessary, the General Assembly. The President (interpretation from French): We have heard the only speaker in explanation of position. May I take it that the Assembly wishes to conclude its consideration of agenda item 96? It was so decided. Agenda item 97 Advancement of women: report of the Third Committee (A/49/607) The President (interpretation from French): The Assembly has before it eight draft resolutions recommended by the Third Committee in paragraph 37 of its report, and two draft decisions recommended by the Third Committee in paragraph 38. I shall put the eight draft resolutions and the two draft decisions to the Assembly one by one. After all the decisions have been taken, representatives will again have an opportunity to explain their positions. We turn first to draft resolution I, entitled “Proposed merger of the International Research and Training Institute for the Advancement of Women and the United Nations Development Fund for Women”. 12 General Assembly 94th meeting Forty-ninth session 23 December 1994 The Third Committee adopted draft resolution I without a vote. May I take it that the Assembly also wishes to do so? Draft resolution I was adopted (resolution 49/160). The President (interpretation from French): Draft resolution II is entitled “Implementation of the Nairobi Forward-looking Strategies for the Advancement of Women”. The Third Committee adopted draft resolution II without a vote. May I take it that the Assembly wishes to do the same? Draft resolution II was adopted (resolution 49/161). The President (interpretation from French): Draft resolution III is entitled “Integration of older women in development”. The Third Committee adopted draft resolution III without a vote. May I take it that the Assembly wishes to do the same? Draft resolution III was adopted (resolution 49/162). The President (interpretation from French): Draft resolution IV is entitled “International Research and Training Institute for the Advancement of Women”. The Third Committee adopted draft resolution IV without a vote. May I take it that the Assembly wishes to do likewise? Draft resolution IV was adopted (resolution 49/163). The President (interpretation from French): Draft resolution V is entitled “Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against Women”. The Third Committee adopted draft resolution V without a vote. May I take it that the Assembly wishes to do the same? Draft resolution V was adopted (resolution 49/164). The President (interpretation from French): Draft resolution VI is entitled “Violence against women migrant workers”. The Third Committee adopted draft resolution VI without a vote. May I take it that the Assembly also wishes to do so? Draft resolution VI was adopted (resolution 49/165). The President (interpretation from French): Draft resolution VII is entitled “Traffic in women and girls”. The Third Committee adopted draft resolution VII without a vote. May I take it that the General Assembly wishes to do the same? Draft resolution VII was adopted (resolution 49/166). The President (interpretation from French): Draft resolution VIII is entitled “Improvement of the status of women in the Secretariat”. The Third Committee adopted draft resolution VIII without a vote. May I take it that the Assembly wishes to do likewise? Draft resolution VIII was adopted (resolution 49/167). The President (interpretation from French): We turn next to the two draft decisions recommended by the Third Committee in paragraph 38 of its report. Draft decision I is entitled “Consideration of the request for the revision of article 20, paragraph 1, of the Convention on the Elimination of all Forms of Discrimination against Women”. The Third Committee adopted draft decision I without a vote. May I take it that the Assembly wishes to do the same? Draft decision I was adopted. The President (interpretation from French): Draft decision II, entitled “Documents considered by the General Assembly in connection with the question of the advancement of women”, was adopted by the Third Committee. May I take it that the Assembly too wishes to adopt the draft decision? Draft decision II was adopted. 13 General Assembly 94th meeting Forty-ninth session 23 December 1994 The President (interpretation from French): May I take it that it is the wish of the General Assembly to conclude its consideration of agenda item 97? It was so decided. Agenda item 98 International drug control: report of the Third Committee (A/49/608) The President (interpretation from French): The Assembly will take a decision on the draft resolution recommended by the Third Committee in paragraph 9 of its report (A/49/608). The draft resolution is entitled “International action to combat drug abuse and illicit production and trafficking”. The Third Committee adopted the draft resolution without a vote. May I take it that the General Assembly wishes to do the same? The draft resolution was adopted (resolution 49/168). The President (interpretation from French): May I take it that it is the wish of the General Assembly to conclude its consideration of agenda item 98? It was so decided. Agenda item 99 Report of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees, questions relating to refugees, returnees and displaced persons and humanitarian questions: report of the Third Committee (A/49/609) The President (interpretation from French): The Assembly will now take action on the six draft resolutions recommended by the Third Committee in paragraph 30 of its report (A/49/609) and on the draft decision recommended by the Third Committee in paragraph 31. We turn first to draft resolution I, entitled “Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees”. Draft resolution I was adopted by the Third Committee without a vote. May I take it that the Assembly wishes to do the same? Draft resolution I was adopted (resolution 49/169). The President (interpretation from French): Draft resolution II is entitled “New international humanitarian order”. The Third Committee adopted draft resolution II without a vote. May I take it that the Assembly wishes to do the same? Draft resolution II was adopted (resolution 49/170). The President (interpretation from French): Draft resolution III, entitled “Enlargement of the Executive Committee of the Programme of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees”, was adopted by the Third Committee without a vote. May I take it that the Assembly too wishes to adopt draft resolution III? Draft resolution III was adopted (resolution 49/171). The President (interpretation from French): Draft resolution IV, entitled “Assistance to unaccompanied refugee minors”, was adopted by the Third Committee without a vote. May I take it that the General Assembly wishes to do likewise? Draft resolution IV was adopted (resolution 49/172). The President (interpretation from French): Draft resolution V, entitled “Comprehensive consideration and review of the problems of refugees, returnees, displaced persons and related migratory movements”, was adopted by the Third Committee without a vote. May I take it that the Assembly also wishes to do so? Draft resolution V was adopted (resolution 49/173). The President (interpretation from French): Draft resolution VI, entitled “Assistance to refugees, returnees and displaced persons in Africa”, was adopted by the Third Committee without a vote. May I take it that the General Assembly wishes to do likewise? Draft resolution VI was adopted (resolution 49/174). The President (interpretation from French): The General Assembly will now take a decision on the draft decision recommended by the Third Committee in paragraph 31 of its report. The draft decision, entitled “Documents considered by the General Assembly in connection with the question of the report of the United Nations High Commissioner 14 General Assembly 94th meeting Forty-ninth session 23 December 1994 for Refugees, questions relating to refugees, returnees and displaced persons and humanitarian questions”, was adopted by the Third Committee. May I take it that the General Assembly also wishes to adopt the draft decision? The draft decision was adopted. The President (interpretation from French): I call now on those representatives who wish to make statements in explanation of position. Mr. Kuehl (United States of America): I would like to explain the position of my Government on draft resolution VI, entitled “Assistance to refugees, returnees and displaced persons in Africa”, which the General Assembly has just adopted. The United States appreciates the difficulty of drafting language which encompasses the vast and diverse issues surrounding refugee flows in Africa. It is for that very reason that we have in past years questioned both the inclusiveness and the accuracy of the way in which this perennial draft resolution purports to address the refugee situation in Africa. We look forward to working with the sponsors and supporters of next year’s draft resolution on this item during the preliminary drafting stages at the fiftieth session of the General Assembly. We encourage other interested parties to join us in this effort so that we can collectively, in a spirit of good will and cooperation, develop a meaningful text that reflects the current situation of all refugees in Africa. To facilitate our work in this regard, we may want to avail ourselves of the annual session of the Executive Committee of the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) and the collective wisdom and experience of the experts on refugees, who attend that session, to discuss the possible elements of a draft resolution for consideration by the General Assembly at its next session. Ms. Fertekligil (Turkey) (interpretation from French): With respect to draft resolution I, “Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees”, which has just been adopted, my delegation wants to stress that Turkey considers the provision of temporary protection to be an activity that falls within the sole purview and national jurisdiction of the competent authorities of the receiving country. We believe that such protection can be granted only on an ad hoc basis following consideration of the particular circumstances of each individual. It is with that reservation that Turkey takes note of the definition of temporary protection included in the conclusions with respect to international protection that are contained in the report of the Executive Committee of the Programme of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees on the work of its forty-fifth session. I wish also to stress that this Executive Committee document cannot in any way prejudice Turkey’s reservations with respect to the 1951 Convention on the Status of Refugees. The President (interpretation from French): We have heard the last speaker in explanation of position. May I take it that it is the wish of the General Assembly to conclude its consideration of agenda item 99? It was so decided. Agenda item 100 Human rights questions: report of the Third Committee (Part I) (A/49/610) The President (interpretation from French): May I take it that the Assembly wishes to take note of part I of the report of the Third Committee? It was so decided. 15 General Assembly 94th meeting Forty-ninth session 23 December 1994 (a) Implementation of human rights instruments: report of the Third Committee (Part II) (A/49/610/Add.1) The President (interpretation from French): The Assembly will now take a decision on the four draft resolutions recommended by the Third Committee in paragraph 23 of part II of its report and the draft decision recommended by the Third Committee in paragraph 24. We turn first to draft resolution I, entitled “International Convention on the Protection of the Rights of All Migrant Workers and Members of their Families”. The Third Committee adopted draft resolution I without a vote. May I take it that the General Assembly wishes to do the same? Draft resolution I was adopted (resolution 49/175). The President (interpretation from French): Draft resolution II is entitled “United Nations Voluntary Fund for Victims of Torture”. The Third Committee adopted draft resolution II without a vote. May I take it that the Assembly wishes to do the same? Draft resolution II was adopted (resolution 49/176). The President (interpretation from French ): Draft resolution III is entitled “Report of the Committee against Torture and status of the Convention against Torture and Other Cruel, Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or Punishment”. Draft resolution III was adopted by the Third Committee without a vote. May I take it that the General Assembly wishes to do likewise? Draft resolution III was adopted (resolution 49/177). The President (interpretation from French): Draft resolution IV, entitled “Effective implementation of international instruments on human rights, including reporting obligations under international instruments on human rights”, was adopted by the Third Committee without a vote. May I take it that the Assembly wishes to do likewise? Draft resolution IV was adopted (resolution 49/178). The President (interpretation from French): We turn now to the draft decision, entitled “Documents considered by the General Assembly in connection with the item entitled Human rights questions: (a) Implementation of human rights instruments'”. This draft decision, contained in paragraph 24 of the report, was adopted by the Third Committee without a vote. May I consider that the Assembly wishes to do likewise? The draft decision was adopted. The President: May I take it that it is the wish of the General Assembly to conclude its consideration of sub-item (a) of agenda item 100? It was so decided. (b) Human rights questions, including alternative approaches for improving the effective enjoyment of human rights and fundamental freedoms: report of the Third Committee (Part III) (A/49/610/Add.2) The President (interpretation from French): I shall now call on those representatives who wish to explain their votes before the voting. Mrs. Feng Cui (China) (interpretation from Chinese): The Chinese delegation will abstain in the voting on draft resolution XII in document A/49/610/Add.2, entitled “Strengthening the role of the United Nations in enhancing the effectiveness of periodic and genuine elections and the promotion of democratization”. Our position is based on the following considerations: We do not deny that under some special circumstances the United Nations, at the request of the countries concerned, can play a certain role in providing technical assistance in connection with elections held in those countries. We are also aware of and fully understand the desire of some countries for assistance of this kind to be provided by the United Nations. However, we have always held that elections are internal affairs of the State. In accordance with the purposes and principles of the United Nations Charter, it is beyond the purview of the United Nations to interfere in the internal electoral affairs of Member States. But the draft resolution sponsored by the United States and other 16 General Assembly 94th meeting Forty-ninth session 23 December 1994 countries is aimed at actively involving the United Nations in the whole electoral process — before, during and after elections — as well as in the so-called democratization process. Furthermore, the draft resolution seeks to establish a link between the United Nations and agencies that have no such authorization. This is not in keeping with the purposes and principles of the United Nations Charter. Therefore, we cannot support the draft resolution. Mr. Gervais (Côte d’Ivoire) (interpretation from French): I would like to draw the Assembly’s attention to paragraph 24 of document A/49/610/Add.2, which relates to draft resolution A/C.3/49/L.39 — what is now draft resolution VI. During our discussions of this draft resolution in the Third Committee, it was understood that the French wording of the title would be “Décennie des Nations Unies pour l’éducation dans le domaine des droits de l’homme”. All the other language versions use the word “education” in the title. Indeed, consensus was reached in the Third Committee that the word éducation would be used, and not enseignement. We wish to point out that the word enseignement would limit the action we have in mind, which indeed is education. Mr. Fernández Palacios (Cuba) (interpretation from Spanish): Draft resolution XII in document A/49/610/Add.2, entitled “Strengthening the role of the United Nations in enhancing the effectiveness of periodic and genuine elections and the promotion of democratization”, continues to stray quite notably from the norms established by Member States in connection with electoral assistance. Cuba reiterates that national electoral processes fall strictly within the domestic jurisdiction of States and are a fundamental expression of their political sovereignty. That is why Cuba also reaffirms that it is up to peoples to determine the methods and establish the appropriate institutions for their electoral processes, in conformity with their Constitutions and national legislation. We would also repeat that, despite what draft resolution XII implies, there does not exist, any universal need for the United Nations to give electoral assistance to Member States; this can be done only in very specific circumstances and only at the express request of a sovereign State. These exceptional cases, however, can in no way form the basis for a general principle underlying action by the United Nations and Member States. None the less, draft resolution XII seems to condition the legitimacy of national electoral processes on an evaluation made by the United Nations and subordinates the extension of electoral assistance to the results of that evaluation. This makes national institutions and indigenous political practices subject to norms and models that are allegedly universal and disregards the diversity of political systems, cultures and traditions of the States Members of this Organization. But, above and beyond this intention, draft resolution XII includes new provisions that would distort and disregard the mandates of certain bodies of the United Nations, with the aim of involving them in tasks that are alien to their proper functions. At the same time, the aim is to extend electoral assistance at the pre- and postelectoral stages on the pretext of consolidating democracy, while in what is involved is legitimizing interference in the domestic affairs of States. In this context, we are also concerned over the recent administrative decision taken by the Secretariat, without consultations and in violation of provisions established in many General Assembly resolutions, to transfer the newly named Electoral Assistance Division of the Department of Political Affairs to the Department of Peace-keeping Operations. This decision has serious political and administrative consequences and must be corrected as swiftly as possible. For all those reasons, Cuba cannot vote in favour of draft resolution XII. The President (interpretation from French): We have heard the last speaker in explanation of vote before the voting. The Assembly has before it 17 draft resolutions recommended by the Third Committee in paragraph 68 of part III of its report (A/49/610/Add.2) and one draft decision recommended by the Third Committee in paragraph 69. I shall put the draft resolutions and the draft decision to the Assembly one by one. After all the decisions have been taken, representatives will again have the opportunity to explain their vote or position. We first turn to draft resolution I, entitled “Human rights and extreme poverty”. The Third Committee adopted draft resolution I without a vote. May I take it that the Assembly wishes to do the same? Draft resolution I was adopted (resolution 49/179). 17 General Assembly 94th meeting Forty-ninth session 23 December 1994 The President (interpretation from French): Draft resolution II is entitled “Respect for the principles of national sovereignty and non-interference in the internal affairs of States in their electoral processes”. A recorded vote has been requested. A recorded vote was taken. In favour: Afghanistan, Algeria, Angola, Antigua and Barbuda, Bahamas, Bahrain, Bangladesh, Barbados, Benin, Bhutan, Botswana, Brazil, Brunei Darussalam, Burkina Faso, Burundi, Cameroon, Cape Verde, China, Colombia, Comoros, Congo, Côte d’Ivoire, Cuba, Cyprus, Democratic People’s Republic of Korea, Djibouti, Dominica, Ecuador, Egypt, Ethiopia, Gabon, Gambia, Ghana, Grenada, Guinea, Guyana, Haiti, Honduras, India, Indonesia, Iran (Islamic Republic of), Iraq, Jamaica, Jordan, Kenya, Kuwait, Lao People’s Democratic Republic, Lebanon, Lesotho, Libyan Arab Jamahiriya, Malawi, Malaysia, Maldives, Mali, Mauritania, Mauritius, Mexico, Mongolia, Morocco, Mozambique, Myanmar, Namibia, Nepal, Niger, Nigeria, Oman, Pakistan, Papua New Guinea, Peru, Qatar, Rwanda, Saint Kitts and Nevis, Saint Lucia, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, Saudi Arabia, Senegal, Sierra Leone, Singapore, South Africa, Sri Lanka, Sudan, Suriname, Swaziland, Syrian Arab Republic, Thailand, Togo, Trinidad and Tobago, Tunisia, Uganda, United Arab Emirates, United Republic of Tanzania, Uruguay, Venezuela, Viet Nam, Yemen, Zambia, Zimbabwe Against: Albania, Andorra, Argentina, Armenia, Australia, Austria, Azerbaijan, Belarus, Belgium, Belize, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Bulgaria, Canada, Croatia, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Iceland, Ireland, Israel, Italy, Japan, Kazakhstan, Latvia, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, Marshall Islands, Micronesia (Federated States of), Monaco, Netherlands, New Zealand, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Republic of Korea, Republic of Moldova, Romania, Russian Federation, Samoa, Slovakia, Slovenia, Solomon Islands, Spain, Sweden, Tajikistan, Turkey, Ukraine, United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, United States of America, Uzbekistan Abstaining: Bolivia, Cambodia, Chile, Costa Rica, El Salvador, Fiji, Georgia, Guatemala, Kyrgyzstan, Nicaragua, Panama, Paraguay, Philippines, The Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia Draft resolution II was adopted by 97 votes to 57, with 14 abstentions (resolution 49/180). The President (interpretation from French): Draft resolution III is entitled “Strengthening of United Nations action in the human rights field through the promotion of international cooperation and the importance of nonselectivity, impartiality and objectivity”. The Third Committee adopted draft resolution III without a vote. May I take it that the Assembly wishes to do the same? Draft resolution III was adopted (resolution 49/181). The President (interpretation from French): Draft resolution IV is entitled “Respect for the universal freedom of travel and the vital importance of family reunification”. A recorded vote has been requested. A recorded vote was taken. In favour: Afghanistan, Algeria, Andorra, Angola, Armenia, Bangladesh, Benin, Bhutan, Bolivia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Botswana, Brazil, Brunei Darussalam, Burkina Faso, Burundi, Cameroon, Cape Verde, Chile, China, Colombia, Comoros, Congo, Costa Rica, Côte d’Ivoire, Cuba, Cyprus, Democratic People’s Republic of Korea, Djibouti, Dominica, Ecuador, Egypt, El Salvador, Ethiopia, France, Gabon, Gambia, Ghana, Grenada, Guatemala, Guinea, Guyana, Haiti, Honduras, India, Indonesia, Iran (Islamic Republic of), Iraq, Jordan, Kenya, Kyrgyzstan, Lao People’s Democratic Republic, Lebanon, Lesotho, Libyan Arab Jamahiriya, Mali, Mauritania, Mexico, Micronesia (Federated States of), Monaco, Morocco, Mozambique, Myanmar, Namibia, Nepal, Nicaragua, Niger, Nigeria, Pakistan, Paraguay, Peru, Rwanda, Senegal, South Africa, Spain, Sri Lanka, Sudan, Swaziland, Syrian Arab Republic, Togo, Tunisia, Turkey, Uganda, United Republic of Tanzania, Uruguay, Viet Nam, Yemen, Zambia, Zimbabwe Against: Australia, Israel, Japan, United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, United States of America Abstaining: Albania, Antigua and Barbuda, Argentina, Austria, Azerbaijan, Bahamas, Barbados, Belarus, Belgium, Belize, Bulgaria, Cambodia, Canada, Croatia, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Fiji, Finland, Georgia, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Iceland, Ireland, Italy, Jamaica, Kazakhstan, Latvia, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malawi, Malaysia, Maldives, 18 General Assembly 94th meeting Forty-ninth session 23 December 1994 Malta, Marshall Islands, Mauritius, Mongolia, Netherlands, New Zealand, Norway, Panama, Papua New Guinea, Philippines, Poland, Portugal, Republic of Korea, Republic of Moldova, Romania, Russian Federation, Saint Kitts and Nevis, Saint Lucia, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, Samoa, Sierra Leone, Singapore, Slovakia, Slovenia, Solomon Islands, Suriname, Sweden, Tajikistan, Thailand, The Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, Trinidad and Tobago, Turkmenistan, Ukraine, Uzbekistan, Venezuela Draft resolution IV was adopted by 88 votes to 5, with 70 abstentions (resolution 49/182). The President (interpretation from French): Draft resolution V is entitled “Right to Development”. The Third Committee adopted draft resolution V without a vote. May I take it that the Assembly wishes to do the same? Draft resolution V was adopted (resolution 49/183). The President (interpretation from French): Draft resolution VI is entitled “United Nations Decade for Human Rights Education”. The Third Committee adopted draft resolution VI without a vote. May I take it that the Assembly wishes to do the same? Draft resolution VI was adopted (resolution 49/184). The President (interpretation from French): Draft resolution VII is entitled “Human rights and terrorism”. The Third Committee adopted draft resolution VII without a vote. May I take it that it is the wish of the Assembly to do likewise? Draft resolution VII was adopted (resolution 49/185). The President (interpretation from French): Draft resolution VIII is entitled “Alternative approaches and ways and means within the United Nations system for improving the effective enjoyment of human rights and fundamental freedoms”. A recorded vote has been requested. A recorded vote was taken. In favour: Afghanistan, Algeria, Angola, Antigua and Barbuda, Bahamas, Bahrain, Bangladesh, Barbados, Belize, Benin, Bhutan, Bolivia, Botswana, Brazil, Brunei Darussalam, Burkina Faso, Burundi, Cameroon, Cape Verde, Chile, China, Colombia, Comoros, Congo, Costa Rica, Côte d’Ivoire, Cuba, Cyprus, Democratic People’s Republic of Korea, Djibouti, Dominica, Ecuador, Egypt, El Salvador, Ethiopia, Fiji, Gabon, Gambia, Ghana, Grenada, Guatemala, Guinea, Guyana, Haiti, Honduras, India, Indonesia, Iran (Islamic Republic of), Iraq, Jamaica, Jordan, Kenya, Kuwait, Kyrgyzstan, Lao People’s Democratic Republic, Lebanon, Lesotho, Libyan Arab Jamahiriya, Madagascar, Malawi, Malaysia, Maldives, Mali, Mauritania, Mauritius, Mexico, Mongolia, Morocco, Mozambique, Myanmar, Namibia, Nepal, Nicaragua, Niger, Nigeria, Oman, Pakistan, Panama, Paraguay, Peru, Philippines, Qatar, Rwanda, Saint Kitts and Nevis, Saint Lucia, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, Saudi Arabia, Senegal, Sierra Leone, Singapore, South Africa, Sri Lanka, Sudan, Suriname, Swaziland, Syrian Arab Republic, Thailand, Togo, Trinidad and Tobago, Tunisia, Uganda, United Arab Emirates, United Republic of Tanzania, Uruguay, Uzbekistan, Venezuela, Viet Nam, Yemen, Zambia, Zimbabwe Against: Andorra, Australia, Austria, Belgium, Bulgaria, Canada, Czech Republic, Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Iceland, Ireland, Israel, Italy, Japan, Latvia, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, Monaco, Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Republic of Moldova, Romania, Slovakia, Spain, Sweden, United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, United States of America Abstaining: Albania, Argentina, Armenia, Azerbaijan, Belarus, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Croatia, Estonia, Georgia, Kazakhstan, Marshall Islands, Micronesia (Federated States of), New Zealand, Papua New Guinea, Republic of Korea, Russian Federation, Samoa, Slovenia, Solomon Islands, Tajikistan, The Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, Turkey, Turkmenistan, Ukraine Draft resolution VIII was adopted by 110 votes to 35, with 24 abstentions (resolution 49/186). The President (interpretation from French): Draft resolution IX is entitled “Development of public information activities in the field of human rights”. 19 General Assembly 94th meeting Forty-ninth session 23 December 1994 The Third Committee adopted draft resolution IX without a vote. May I take it that the Assembly wishes to do likewise? Draft resolution IX was adopted (resolution 49/187). The President (interpretation from French): Draft resolution X is entitled “Elimination of all forms of religious intolerance”. The Third Committee adopted draft resolution X without a vote. May I take it that the Assembly also wishes to do so? Draft resolution X was adopted (resolution 49/188). The President (interpretation from French): Draft resolution XI is entitled “Regional arrangements for the promotion and protection of human rights”. The Third Committee adopted draft resolution XI without a vote. May I take it that the Assembly wishes to do the same? Draft resolution XI was adopted (resolution 49/189). The President (interpretation from French): Draft resolution XII is entitled “Strengthening the role of the United Nations in enhancing the effectiveness of periodic and genuine elections and the promotion of democratization”. A recorded vote has been requested. A recorded vote was taken. In favour: Afghanistan, Albania, Algeria, Andorra, Angola, Antigua and Barbuda, Argentina, Armenia, Australia, Austria, Azerbaijan, Bahamas, Bahrain, Bangladesh, Barbados, Belarus, Belgium, Belize, Benin, Bhutan, Bolivia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Botswana, Brazil, Bulgaria, Burkina Faso, Burundi, Cambodia, Cameroon, Canada, Cape Verde, Chile, Colombia, Comoros, Congo, Costa Rica, Côte d’Ivoire, Croatia, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark, Djibouti, Dominica, Ecuador, Egypt, El Salvador, Eritrea, Estonia, Ethiopia, Fiji, Finland, France, Gabon, Gambia, Georgia, Germany, Ghana, Greece, Grenada, Guatemala, Guinea, Guyana, Haiti, Honduras, Hungary, Iceland, India, Indonesia, Ireland, Israel, Italy, Jamaica, Japan, Jordan, Kazakhstan, Kenya, Kuwait, Kyrgyzstan, Latvia, Lebanon, Lesotho, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Madagascar, Malawi, Malaysia, Maldives, Mali, Malta, Marshall Islands, Mauritania, Mauritius, Mexico, Micronesia (Federated States of), Monaco, Mongolia, Morocco, Mozambique, Namibia, Nepal, Netherlands, New Zealand, Nicaragua, Niger, Nigeria, Norway, Oman, Pakistan, Panama, Papua New Guinea, Paraguay, Peru, Philippines, Poland, Portugal, Qatar, Republic of Korea, Republic of Moldova, Romania, Russian Federation, Rwanda, Saint Kitts and Nevis, Saint Lucia, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, Samoa, Senegal, Sierra Leone, Singapore, Slovakia, Slovenia, Solomon Islands, South Africa, Spain, Sri Lanka, Suriname, Swaziland, Sweden, Tajikistan, Thailand, The Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, Togo, Trinidad and Tobago, Tunisia, Turkey, Turkmenistan, Ukraine, United Arab Emirates, United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, United States of America, Uruguay, Uzbekistan, Venezuela, Yemen, Zambia Against: Iran (Islamic Republic of) Abstaining: China, Cuba, Democratic People’s Republic of Korea, Iraq, Libyan Arab Jamahiriya, Myanmar, Sudan, Syrian Arab Republic, Uganda, United Republic of Tanzania, Viet Nam, Zimbabwe Draft resolution XII was adopted by 155 votes to 1, with 12 abstentions (resolution 49/190). [Subsequently, the delegation of the Islamic Republic of Iran advised the Secretariat that it had intended not to participate in the voting.] The President (interpretation from French): Draft resolution XIII is entitled “Summary or arbitrary executions”. The Third Committee adopted draft resolution XIII without a vote. May I take it that the Assembly wishes to do likewise? Draft resolution XIII was adopted (resolution 49/191). The President (interpretation from French): Draft resolution XIV is entitled “Effective promotion of the Declaration on the Rights of Persons Belonging to National or Ethnic, Religious and Linguistic Minorities”. The Third Committee adopted draft resolution XIV without a vote. May I take it that the Assembly also wishes to do so? 20 General Assembly 94th meeting Forty-ninth session 23 December 1994 Draft resolution XIV was adopted (resolution 49/192). The President (interpretation from French): Draft resolution XV is entitled “Question of enforced or involuntary disappearances”. The Third Committee adopted draft resolution XV without a vote. May I take it that the Assembly wishes to do likewise? Draft resolution XV was adopted (resolution 49/193). The President (interpretation from French): Draft resolution XVI is entitled “Strengthening of the rule of law”. The Third Committee adopted draft resolution XVI without a vote. May I take it that the Assembly wishes to do likewise? Draft resolution XVI was adopted (resolution 49/194). The President (interpretation from French): Draft resolution XVII is entitled “Strengthening of the Centre for Human Rights of the Secretariat”. The Third Committee adopted draft resolution XVII without a vote. May I take it that the Assembly wishes to do the same? Draft resolution XVII was adopted (resolution 49/195). The President (interpretation from French): We turn now to the draft decision in paragraph 69 of part III of the report entitled “Documents considered by the General Assembly in connection with human rights questions, including alternative approaches for improving the effective enjoyment of human rights and fundamental freedoms”. The draft decision was adopted by the Third Committee without a vote. May I consider that the General Assembly wishes to do likewise? The draft decision was adopted. The President (interpretation from French): I shall now call on those representatives who wish to speak in explanation of vote. Mr. Sreenivasan (India): My delegation has gladly joined the consensus on draft resolution VII, entitled “Human rights and terrorism”, since it addresses a concern that India has repeatedly voiced at the United Nations. We are gratified that the international community has endorsed our view that the violation, indeed the destruction, of human rights, particularly the right to life of innocent and law-abiding citizens by terrorists on any pretext should be condemned, and that global measures should be taken not only to combat terrorism but also to provide succour to the victims of terrorism. The present resolution, together with the Declaration on Measures to Eliminate International Terrorism that the Assembly adopted earlier this year, marks a significant step towards the formulation of a comprehensive international convention on terrorism that India has called for. Our position stands vindicated. As a nation that has been a victim of terrorism from across the border, India is acutely aware of the devastation that terrorism can cause not only to life and property but also to the very institutions established to protect and promote the human rights of citizens. The policy of some States which minimize the gravity of terrorist acts by treating them as less serious than actions of States that violate human rights is perplexing to us. States, by their very nature, have legal and constitutional restraints on them, while the terrorists are a law unto themselves, and they engage in the most heinous of crimes, which deserve strong condemnation. Addressing the Security Council in January 1992, the Prime Minister of India, Mr. P. V. Narashima Rao, said: “...we cannot countenance a situation where all human rights are reserved only for the practitioners of terrorism, while Governments dealing with this menace are arraigned day and night on grounds of violation of human rights — real or imaginary, mostly the latter.” (S/PV.3046, p. 98) In this year’s resolution on human rights and terrorism the obligation of the international community to assist the victims of terrorism has been recognized. The leader of the Indian delegation to the General Assembly at its forty-ninth session specifically suggested this during the general debate. He said: “The international community must also provide the necessary succour to the victims of terrorism, whose 21 General Assembly 94th meeting Forty-ninth session 23 December 1994 numbers are swelling by the day.” (Official Records of the General Assembly, Forty-ninth Session, Plenary Meetings, 14th meeting, p. 16) We hope that the voluntary fund proposed in the resolution will be set up promptly. Similarly, we hope that the relevant human rights machinery of the United Nations will gear itself to tackle the toxin of terrorism. The High Commissioner for Human Rights, who has the mandate to protect and promote all human rights, will do well to include a strategy against terrorism in his programme of action. Mr. Rezvani (Islamic Republic of Iran): My delegation is of the view that certain elements of draft resolution XII, entitled “Strengthening the role of the United Nations in enhancing the effectiveness of periodic and genuine elections and the promotion of democratization” and contained in document A/49/610/Add.2, are not consistent with the practices or the Charter of the United Nations. Therefore, we chose — I repeat, we chose — not to participate in the voting on the draft resolution. My country adheres to the principle of periodic and genuine elections, and, in accordance with the Constitution of the Islamic Republic of Iran, the affairs of the country must be administered on the basis of public votes, through the election of the President, representatives of the Consultative Assembly and members of the Council, or through referendums on certain important economic, cultural and political issues. In practice, since the establishment of the Islamic Republic of Iran in 1979, 21 presidential and parliamentary elections have been held in the country, with the participation of a majority of the population. The President (interpretation from French): We have heard the last speaker in explanation of vote. May I take it that it is now the wish of the General Assembly to conclude its consideration of sub-item (b) of agenda item 100? It was so decided. (c) Human rights situations and reports of special rapporteurs and representatives: report of the Third Committee (Part IV) (A/49/610/Add.3) The President (interpretation from French): I call on the representative of Cuba, who wishes to speak in explanation of vote before the voting. Mr. Fernández Palacios (Cuba) (interpretation from Spanish): In a few minutes the General Assembly will be concluding an exercise that, besides being selective and discriminatory, is one of the greatest injustices in the recent history of this Organization and an inexcusable concession to the use of force by a great Power in its unremitting attempt to bring a small country to its knees. Draft resolution V, introduced by the United States and entitled “Situation of human rights in Cuba” — like the similar draft resolutions introduced in the past — is one more act of aggression in the context of that country’s hostile policy towards mine. The Government of the United States, instigator of the farce that has led to this situation, is utterly lacking in the political or moral authority to set itself up as the arbiter of human rights in Cuba — not only because it is an inveterate violator of those rights in its own territory or because it has historically supported the most repressive regimes since the Second World War, but also, and most particularly, because through its policy and through the genocidal blockade it keeps in place against my country is massively, flagrantly and systematically violating the human rights of 11 million Cubans. Cuba, which has done so much to guarantee the human rights of its people within a broader concept of freedom and social justice and which has shown great solidarity with others in their suffering, does not consider itself accused or on trial here. It will move forward in its historic endeavour of independence and national dignity and will continue to develop its policy of opening up to the world. It will continue to make those changes required by its sovereignty and the will of its people, and it will maintain constant cooperation with the United Nations on the basis of the principles of universality, impartiality and non-selectivity. It will never tire of rejecting and denouncing, time and time again, as often as is necessary, the kind of ploy we are witnessing today; nor will it ever accept a major Power’s interference with the independence and sovereignty of its people. For all those reasons, Cuba will vote against draft resolution V contained in document A/49/610/Add.3. 22 General Assembly 94th meeting Forty-ninth session 23 December 1994 The President (interpretation from French): We have hear the only speaker in explanation of vote before the voting. The Assembly has before it 12 draft resolutions recommended by the Third Committee in paragraph 61 of part IV of its report (A/49/610/Add.3) and the draft decision recommended by the Third Committee in paragraph 62. I shall put the 12 draft resolutions and the draft decision to the vote one by one. After all decisions have been taken, representatives will again have the opportunity to explain their votes. We turn first to draft resolution I, entitled “Situation of human rights in the Republic of Bosnia and Herzegovina, the Republic of Croatia and the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia (Serbia and Montenegro)”. I shall first put to the vote operative paragraph 2, on which a separate, recorded vote has been requested. A recorded vote was taken. In favour: Afghanistan, Albania, Algeria, Andorra, Antigua and Barbuda, Argentina, Australia, Austria, Azerbaijan, Bahamas, Bahrain, Bangladesh, Barbados, Belgium, Belize, Benin, Bhutan, Bolivia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Botswana, Brazil, Brunei Darussalam, Bulgaria, Burkina Faso, Burundi, Cambodia, Cameroon, Canada, Cape Verde, Chile, Colombia, Comoros, Costa Rica, Croatia, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark, Djibouti, Dominica, Ecuador, Egypt, El Salvador, Estonia, Fiji, Finland, France, Gabon, Gambia, Georgia, Germany, Greece, Grenada, Guatemala, Guinea, Guyana, Haiti, Honduras, Hungary, Iceland, Indonesia, Iran (Islamic Republic of), Ireland, Israel, Italy, Jamaica, Japan, Jordan, Kazakhstan, Kenya, Kuwait, Kyrgyzstan, Latvia, Lebanon, Lesotho, Libyan Arab Jamahiriya, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malawi, Malaysia, Maldives, Mali, Malta, Marshall Islands, Mauritania, Mauritius, Mexico, Micronesia (Federated States of), Monaco, Morocco, Namibia, Nepal, Netherlands, New Zealand, Nicaragua, Niger, Nigeria, Norway, Oman, Pakistan, Panama, Papua New Guinea, Paraguay, Peru, Philippines, Poland, Portugal, Qatar, Republic of Korea, Republic of Moldova, Romania, Saint Kitts and Nevis, Saint Lucia, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, Samoa, Saudi Arabia, Senegal, Sierra Leone, Singapore, Slovakia, Slovenia, Solomon Islands, South Africa, Spain, Sudan, Suriname, Swaziland, Sweden, Syrian Arab Republic, Tajikistan, Thailand, The Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, Trinidad and Tobago, Tunisia, Turkey, Uganda, Ukraine, United Arab Emirates, United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, United States of America, Uruguay, Uzbekistan, Venezuela, Yemen Against: Russian Federation Abstaining: Angola, Belarus, China, Côte d’Ivoire, Ghana, India, Mozambique, Myanmar, Rwanda, Sri Lanka, Togo, United Republic of Tanzania, Zambia, Zimbabwe Operative paragraph 2 of draft resolution I was adopted by 144 votes to 1, with 14 abstentions. The President (interpretation from French): I shall now put to the vote operative paragraph 4 of draft resolution I, on which a separate, recorded vote has been requested. A recorded vote was taken. In favour: Afghanistan, Albania, Algeria, Andorra, Antigua and Barbuda, Argentina, Australia, Austria, Azerbaijan, Bahamas, Bahrain, Bangladesh, Barbados, Belgium, Belize, Benin, Bhutan, Bolivia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Botswana, Brazil, Brunei Darussalam, Bulgaria, Burkina Faso, Cambodia, Canada, Cape Verde, Chile, Colombia, Comoros, Costa Rica, Croatia, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark, Djibouti, Dominica, Ecuador, Egypt, El Salvador, Estonia, Fiji, Finland, France, Gabon, Gambia, Georgia, Germany, Greece, Grenada, Guatemala, Guinea, Guyana, Haiti, Honduras, Hungary, Iceland, Indonesia, Iran (Islamic Republic of), Ireland, Israel, Italy, Jamaica, Japan, Jordan, Kazakhstan, Kenya, Kuwait, Kyrgyzstan, Latvia, Lebanon, Lesotho, Libyan Arab Jamahiriya, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malawi, Malaysia, Maldives, Mali, Malta, Marshall Islands, Mauritania, Mauritius, Mexico, Micronesia (Federated States of), Monaco, Morocco, Nepal, Netherlands, New Zealand, Nicaragua, Niger, Nigeria, Norway, Oman, Pakistan, Panama, Papua New Guinea, Paraguay, Peru, Philippines, Poland, Portugal, Qatar, Republic of Korea, Republic of Moldova, Romania, Saint Kitts and Nevis, Saint Lucia, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, Samoa, Saudi Arabia, Senegal, Sierra Leone, Singapore, Slovakia, Slovenia, Solomon Islands, South Africa, Spain, Sudan, Suriname, Swaziland, Sweden, Syrian Arab Republic, Tajikistan, Thailand, The Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, Trinidad and Tobago, Tunisia, Turkey, Uganda, United Arab Emirates, United 23 General Assembly 94th meeting Forty-ninth session 23 December 1994 Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, United States of America, Uruguay, Uzbekistan, Venezuela, Yemen Against: Russian Federation Abstaining: Angola, Belarus, Cameroon, China, Côte d’Ivoire, Ghana, India, Mozambique, Myanmar, Namibia, Rwanda, Sri Lanka, Togo, Ukraine, United Republic of Tanzania, Zambia, Zimbabwe Operative paragraph 4 of draft resolution I was adopted by 140 votes to 1, with 17 abstentions. The President (interpretation from French): I shall now put to the vote draft resolution I as a whole. A recorded vote has been requested. A recorded vote was taken. In favour: Afghanistan, Albania, Algeria, Andorra, Antigua and Barbuda, Argentina, Australia, Austria, Azerbaijan, Bahamas, Bahrain, Bangladesh, Barbados, Belgium, Belize, Benin, Bhutan, Bolivia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Botswana, Brazil, Brunei Darussalam, Bulgaria, Burkina Faso, Burundi, Cambodia, Canada, Cape Verde, Chile, Colombia, Comoros, Costa Rica, Croatia, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark, Djibouti, Dominica, Ecuador, Egypt, El Salvador, Eritrea, Estonia, Ethiopia, Fiji, Finland, France, Gabon, Gambia, Georgia, Germany, Greece, Grenada, Guatemala, Guinea, Guyana, Haiti, Honduras, Hungary, Iceland, Indonesia, Iran (Islamic Republic of), Ireland, Israel, Italy, Jamaica, Japan, Jordan, Kazakhstan, Kenya, Kuwait, Kyrgyzstan, Latvia, Lebanon, Lesotho, Libyan Arab Jamahiriya, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malawi, Malaysia, Maldives, Mali, Malta, Marshall Islands, Mauritania, Mauritius, Mexico, Micronesia (Federated States of), Monaco, Mongolia, Morocco, Mozambique, Myanmar, Namibia, Nepal, Netherlands, New Zealand, Nicaragua, Niger, Norway, Oman, Pakistan, Panama, Papua New Guinea, Paraguay, Peru, Philippines, Poland, Portugal, Qatar, Republic of Korea, Republic of Moldova, Romania, Rwanda, Saint Kitts and Nevis, Saint Lucia, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, Samoa, Saudi Arabia, Senegal, Sierra Leone, Singapore, Slovakia, Slovenia, Solomon Islands, South Africa, Spain, Sri Lanka, Sudan, Suriname, Swaziland, Sweden, Syrian Arab Republic, Tajikistan, Thailand, The Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, Trinidad and Tobago, Tunisia, Turkey, Turkmenistan, Uganda, Ukraine, United Arab Emirates, United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, United States of America, Uruguay, Uzbekistan, Venezuela, Yemen Against: None Abstaining: Angola, Belarus, Cameroon, China, Congo, Côte d’Ivoire, Ghana, India, Nigeria, Russian Federation, Togo, United Republic of Tanzania, Zambia, Zimbabwe Draft resolution I as a whole was adopted by 150 votes to none, with 14 abstentions (resolution 49/196). The President (interpretation from French): Draft resolution II is entitled “Situation of human rights in Myanmar”. The Third Committee adopted draft resolution II without a vote. May I take it that the General Assembly wishes to do the same? Draft resolution II was adopted (resolution 49/197). The President (interpretation from French): We turn next to draft resolution III, entitled “Situation of human rights in the Sudan”. A recorded vote has been requested. A recorded vote was taken. In favour: Albania, Algeria, Andorra, Angola, Antigua and Barbuda, Argentina, Armenia, Australia, Austria, Bahamas, Barbados, Belarus, Belgium, Belize, Bolivia, Botswana, Brazil, Bulgaria, Canada, Cape Verde, Chile, Comoros, Costa Rica, Croatia, Czech Republic, Denmark, Ecuador, El Salvador, Eritrea, Estonia, Fiji, Finland, France, Georgia, Germany, Greece, Grenada, Guyana, Haiti, Honduras, Hungary, Iceland, Ireland, Israel, Italy, Jamaica, Japan, Kazakhstan, Latvia, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Madagascar, Malawi, Malta, Mauritius, Mexico, Micronesia (Federated States of), Monaco, Mongolia, Namibia, Nepal, Netherlands, New Zealand, Nicaragua, Norway, Panama, Paraguay, Peru, Poland, Portugal, Republic of Moldova, Romania, Russian Federation, Rwanda, Saint Kitts and Nevis, Saint Lucia, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, Samoa, Singapore, Slovakia, Slovenia, Solomon Islands, South Africa, Spain, Suriname, Sweden, Tajikistan, The Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, Trinidad and Tobago, Turkey, Uganda, Ukraine, United Kingdom of 24 General Assembly 94th meeting Forty-ninth session 23 December 1994 Great Britain and Northern Ireland, United Republic of Tanzania, United States of America, Uruguay, Uzbekistan, Venezuela, Zambia, Zimbabwe Against: Afghanistan, China, Cuba, India, Indonesia, Iran (Islamic Republic of), Iraq, Libyan Arab Jamahiriya, Myanmar, Pakistan, Sudan, Syrian Arab Republic, Viet Nam Abstaining: Bahrain, Bangladesh, Benin, Bhutan, Brunei Darussalam, Burkina Faso, Burundi, Cameroon, Colombia, Congo, Côte d’Ivoire, Cyprus, Democratic People’s Republic of Korea, Egypt, Ethiopia, Gabon, Ghana, Guatemala, Guinea, Jordan, Kenya, Kuwait, Kyrgyzstan, Lao People’s Democratic Republic, Lebanon, Lesotho, Malaysia, Maldives, Mali, Marshall Islands, Mauritania, Morocco, Mozambique, Niger, Nigeria, Oman, Papua New Guinea, Philippines, Qatar, Republic of Korea, Saudi Arabia, Sierra Leone, Sri Lanka, Swaziland, Thailand, Togo, Tunisia, Turkmenistan, United Arab Emirates Draft resolution III was adopted by 101 votes to 13, with 49 abstentions (resolution 49/198). The President (interpretation from French): Draft resolution IV is entitled “Situation of human rights in Cambodia”. The Third Committee adopted draft resolution IV without a vote. May I take it that the Assembly wishes to do the same? Draft resolution IV was adopted (resolution 49/199). The President (interpretation from French): We turn now to draft resolution V, entitled “Situation of human rights in Cuba”. A recorded vote has been requested. A recorded vote was taken. In favour: Albania, Andorra, Argentina, Armenia, Australia, Austria, Belgium, Bulgaria, Canada, Chile, Costa Rica, Croatia, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark, Dominica, Ecuador, El Salvador, Estonia, Finland, France, Georgia, Germany, Greece, Haiti, Honduras, Hungary, Iceland, Ireland, Israel, Italy, Japan, Kuwait, Latvia, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, Marshall Islands, Monaco, Netherlands, New Zealand, Nicaragua, Norway, Paraguay, Poland, Portugal, Republic of Korea, Republic of Moldova, Romania, Russian Federation, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, Samoa, Saudi Arabia, Slovakia, Slovenia, Solomon Islands, Spain, Sweden, Tajikistan, The Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, Turkey, United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, United States of America, Uruguay Against: Angola, China, Cuba, Democratic People’s Republic of Korea, Ghana, India, Indonesia, Iran (Islamic Republic of), Iraq, Lao People’s Democratic Republic, Lesotho, Libyan Arab Jamahiriya, Myanmar, Namibia, Saint Lucia, South Africa, Sudan, Syrian Arab Republic, Uganda, United Republic of Tanzania, Viet Nam, Zambia, Zimbabwe Abstaining: Afghanistan, Algeria, Antigua and Barbuda, Azerbaijan, Bahamas, Bahrain, Bangladesh, Barbados, Belarus, Belize, Benin, Bhutan, Bolivia, Botswana, Brazil, Brunei Darussalam, Burkina Faso, Burundi, Cameroon, Cape Verde, Colombia, Comoros, Congo, Côte d’Ivoire, Egypt, Eritrea, Ethiopia, Fiji, Gabon, Grenada, Guinea, Guyana, Jamaica, Jordan, Kazakhstan, Kenya, Kyrgyzstan, Lebanon, Malawi, Malaysia, Maldives, Mali, Mauritania, Mauritius, Mexico, Micronesia (Federated States of), Morocco, Mozambique, Niger, Nigeria, Pakistan, Panama, Papua New Guinea, Peru, Philippines, Rwanda, Saint Kitts and Nevis, Sierra Leone, Singapore, Sri Lanka, Suriname, Swaziland, Thailand, Togo, Trinidad and Tobago, Tunisia, Turkmenistan, Ukraine, Uzbekistan, Venezuela Draft resolution V was adopted by 65 votes to 23, with 70 abstentions (resolution 49/200). The President (interpretation from French): Draft resolution VI is entitled “Human rights in Haiti”. The Third Committee adopted draft resolution VI without a vote. May I take it that the Assembly wishes to do the same? Draft resolution VI was adopted (resolution 49/201). The President (interpretation from French): Draft resolution VII is entitled “Situation of human rights in the Islamic Republic of Iran”. 25 General Assembly 94th meeting Forty-ninth session 23 December 1994 A recorded vote has been requested. A recorded vote was taken. In favour: Algeria, Andorra, Antigua and Barbuda, Argentina, Australia, Austria, Bahamas, Barbados, Belarus, Belgium, Belize, Bolivia, Botswana, Brazil, Canada, Cape Verde, Chile, Costa Rica, Czech Republic, Denmark, Dominica, Ecuador, El Salvador, Fiji, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Grenada, Guyana, Haiti, Honduras, Hungary, Iceland, Iraq, Ireland, Israel, Italy, Jamaica, Japan, Liechtenstein, Luxembourg, Malawi, Malta, Marshall Islands, Mauritius, Mexico, Micronesia (Federated States of), Monaco, Mongolia, Netherlands, New Zealand, Nicaragua, Norway, Paraguay, Peru, Portugal, Russian Federation, Rwanda, Saint Kitts and Nevis, Saint Lucia, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, Samoa, Slovenia, Solomon Islands, South Africa, Spain, Suriname, Sweden, Trinidad and Tobago, United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, United States of America, Venezuela, Zambia Against: Afghanistan, Armenia, Azerbaijan, Bangladesh, Brunei Darussalam, China, Cuba, Democratic People’s Republic of Korea, India, Indonesia, Iran (Islamic Republic of), Libyan Arab Jamahiriya, Malaysia, Maldives, Myanmar, Oman, Pakistan, Qatar, Sri Lanka, Sudan, Syrian Arab Republic, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, United Republic of Tanzania, Viet Nam Abstaining: Albania, Angola, Bahrain, Benin, Bhutan, Bulgaria, Burkina Faso, Burundi, Cameroon, Colombia, Comoros, Congo, Côte d’Ivoire, Cyprus, Egypt, Eritrea, Estonia, Ethiopia, Gabon, Ghana, Guatemala, Guinea, Jordan, Kazakhstan, Kenya, Kyrgyzstan, Lao People’s Democratic Republic, Lebanon, Lesotho, Mali, Mauritania, Mozambique, Namibia, Nepal, Niger, Nigeria, Panama, Papua New Guinea, Philippines, Poland, Republic of Korea, Republic of Moldova, Romania, Saudi Arabia, Sierra Leone, Singapore, Swaziland, Thailand, The Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, Togo, Tunisia, Uganda, Ukraine, Uruguay, Zimbabwe Draft resolution VII was adopted by 74 votes to 25, with 55 abstentions (resolution 49/202). The President (interpretation from French): Draft resolution VIII is entitled “Situation of human rights in Iraq”. A recorded vote has been requested. A recorded vote was taken. In favour: Albania, Andorra, Angola, Antigua and Barbuda, Argentina, Armenia, Australia, Austria, Azerbaijan, Bahamas, Barbados, Belarus, Belgium, Belize, Benin, Bhutan, Bolivia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Botswana, Brazil, Bulgaria, Cambodia, Canada, Cape Verde, Chile, Colombia, Costa Rica, Croatia, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark, Dominica, Ecuador, El Salvador, Estonia, Fiji, Finland, France, Georgia, Germany, Ghana, Greece, Grenada, Guinea, Guyana, Haiti, Honduras, Hungary, Iceland, Iran (Islamic Republic of), Ireland, Israel, Italy, Jamaica, Japan, Kazakhstan, Kuwait, Latvia, Lebanon, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malawi, Maldives, Malta, Marshall Islands, Mauritius, Mexico, Micronesia (Federated States of), Monaco, Mongolia, Netherlands, New Zealand, Nicaragua, Niger, Norway, Panama, Papua New Guinea, Paraguay, Peru, Poland, Portugal, Republic of Korea, Republic of Moldova, Romania, Russian Federation, Rwanda, Saint Kitts and Nevis, Saint Lucia, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, Samoa, Saudi Arabia, Senegal, Singapore, Slovakia, Slovenia, Solomon Islands, South Africa, Spain, Suriname, Swaziland, Sweden, Syrian Arab Republic, The Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, Trinidad and Tobago, Turkey, Ukraine, United Arab Emirates, United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, United States of America, Uruguay, Uzbekistan, Venezuela, Zambia Against: Iraq, Libyan Arab Jamahiriya, Sudan Abstaining: Afghanistan, Algeria, Bahrain, Bangladesh, Brunei Darussalam, Burkina Faso, Burundi, Cameroon, China, Comoros, Congo, Côte d’Ivoire, Cuba, Democratic People’s Republic of Korea, Eritrea, Ethiopia, Gabon, Guatemala, India, Indonesia, Jordan, Kenya, Kyrgyzstan, Lao People’s Democratic Republic, Lesotho, Malaysia, Mali, Mauritania, Morocco, Mozambique, Myanmar, Namibia, Nepal, Nigeria, Pakistan, Philippines, Sierra Leone, Sri Lanka, Tajikistan, Thailand, Togo, Tunisia, Turkmenistan, Uganda, United Republic of Tanzania, Viet Nam, Zimbabwe Draft resolution VIII was adopted by 114 votes to 3, with 47 abstentions (resolution 49/203). The President (interpretation from French): We turn now to draft resolution IX, entitled “Situation of human rights in Kosovo”. 26 General Assembly 94th meeting Forty-ninth session 23 December 1994 A recorded vote has been requested. A recorded vote was taken. In favour: Afghanistan, Albania, Algeria, Andorra, Antigua and Barbuda, Argentina, Australia, Austria, Azerbaijan, Bahamas, Bahrain, Bangladesh, Barbados, Belgium, Belize, Benin, Bolivia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Brazil, Brunei Darussalam, Bulgaria, Cambodia, Canada, Cape Verde, Chile, Colombia, Costa Rica, Croatia, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark, Djibouti, Ecuador, Egypt, El Salvador, Estonia, Fiji, Finland, France, Germany, Grenada, Guyana, Haiti, Honduras, Hungary, Iceland, Indonesia, Iran (Islamic Republic of), Ireland, Israel, Italy, Japan, Jordan, Kazakhstan, Kuwait, Kyrgyzstan, Latvia, Lebanon, Lesotho, Libyan Arab Jamahiriya, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malaysia, Maldives, Mali, Malta, Marshall Islands, Mauritania, Mauritius, Mexico, Micronesia (Federated States of), Monaco, Mongolia, Morocco, Mozambique, Netherlands, New Zealand, Nicaragua, Niger, Norway, Oman, Pakistan, Panama, Papua New Guinea, Paraguay, Poland, Portugal, Qatar, Republic of Korea, Saint Kitts and Nevis, Saint Lucia, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, Samoa, Saudi Arabia, Senegal, Sierra Leone, Slovakia, Slovenia, Solomon Islands, South Africa, Spain, Sudan, Suriname, Swaziland, Sweden, Syrian Arab Republic, Tunisia, Turkey, United Arab Emirates, United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, United States of America, Uruguay, Uzbekistan Against: India, Russian Federation Abstaining: Angola, Belarus, Bhutan, Botswana, Burundi, Cameroon, China, Comoros, Congo, Côte d’Ivoire, Ethiopia, Gabon, Gambia, Ghana, Greece, Guatemala, Guinea, Jamaica, Kenya, Malawi, Myanmar, Namibia, Nepal, Nigeria, Peru, Philippines, Republic of Moldova, Rwanda, Singapore, Sri Lanka, Tajikistan, The Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, Togo, Trinidad and Tobago, Uganda, Ukraine, United Republic of Tanzania, Venezuela, Zambia, Zimbabwe Draft resolution IX was adopted by 114 votes to 2, with 40 abstentions (resolution 49/204). The President (interpretation from French): Draft resolution X is entitled “Rape and abuse of women in the areas of armed conflict in the former Yugoslavia”. The Third Committee adopted draft resolution X without a vote. May I take it that the Assembly wishes to do the same? Draft resolution X was adopted (resolution 49/205). The President (interpretation from French): Draft resolution XI is entitled “Situation of human rights in Rwanda”. The Third Committee adopted draft resolution XI without a vote. May I take it that the Assembly wishes to do the same? Draft resolution XI was adopted (resolution 49/206). The President (interpretation from French): Draft resolution XII is entitled “Situation of human rights in Afghanistan”. The Third Committee adopted draft resolution XII without a vote. May I take it that the Assembly wishes to do the same? Draft resolution XII was adopted (resolution 49/207). The President (interpretation from French): We turn now to the draft decision recommended by the Third Committee in paragraph 62 of part IV of its report (A/49/610/Add.3). The draft decision is entitled “Documents considered by the General Assembly in connection with human rights situations and reports of special rapporteurs and representatives”. May I consider that the Assembly wishes to adopt the draft decision? The draft decision was adopted. The President (interpretation from French): I shall now call on those representatives who wish to speak in explanation of vote. Mr. Pereira (Cape Verde): My explanation of vote concerns draft resolution VII; on the situation of human rights in Iran. Cape Verde voted in favour of the draft resolution, but we would like to express our disappointment at the way in which it and other draft resolutions relating to items before the Third Committee were handled: private and restricted discussions, personal contacts and, finally, faits accomplis. The resolution on the situation of human rights in Iran could, in fact, be more balanced in its emphasis and wording, reflecting in a more complete way the 27 General Assembly 94th meeting Forty-ninth session 23 December 1994 conditionalities and nuances reported by the Special Representative in his report. It could have been the product of a broader scope of opinions and approaches - but this could have been possible only with more transparent, extensive and participative consultations. Finally, on the eve of the fiftieth anniversary of the United Nations, we believe that if it is to fulfil the basic principles which assist the promotion, implementation and protection of human rights world-wide, the General Assembly will have to be able to address with similar vigour and determination other cases of violations of human rights in other parts of the world that are of the same nature and gravity as the classic cases which have been addressed by the Third Committee. Mrs. Feng Cui (China) (interpretation from Chinese): My statement concerns draft resolution IX, entitled “Situation of human rights in Kosovo”. The Chinese delegation has always opposed the consideration under the agenda item on national human rights of questions concerning a particular region of the territory of a State. Kosovo is an integral part of the territory of the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia, whose sovereignty and territorial integrity as a sovereign State should be respected. The General Assembly’s resolutions should be in stricter conformity with the purposes and principles of the United Nations Charter and should respect national sovereignty and territorial integrity. On the basis of those considerations, the Chinese delegation could not vote in favour of draft resolution IX, just adopted. We therefore abstained in the voting. Mr. Sutoyo (Indonesia): My delegation wishes to explain its vote on draft resolution IX, on which action was taken a few minutes ago. My delegation joined others in voting in favour of that draft resolution, entitled “Situation of human rights in Kosovo”, because it too is concerned at the deplorable human rights situation in that part of the world. That situation should be corrected. However, my delegation also wishes to place on record its reservations concerning the title of the resolution, which is directed not at the general or national human rights situation in a country, but, rather, at a territorial part of a country. My delegation is therefore concerned that if draft resolutions are presented in this way in the future there could be a vast increase in the number of draft resolutions considered by the Assembly. The President (interpretation from French): We have heard the last speaker in explanation of vote. I call on the representative of Rwanda, who wishes to make a statement. Mr. Bakuramutsa (Rwanda) (interpretation from French): Allow me to express my profound thanks to you, Mr. President, for this opportunity to speak on draft resolution XI on the situation of human rights in Rwanda. The Rwandese delegation wishes first to thank those countries that have been good enough to show their interest in the human rights situation in Rwanda, even if we must regret that this gesture has come a bit late, following the death of 1 million people during the civil war. In the specific context of human rights in my country, my delegation must point out that the national coalition Government established on 19 July 1994 has faced the following obstacles. Many criminals who committed or encouraged genocide did not flee; they took shelter in the south-west security zone during Operation Turquoise. This made for precarious security within the country. The Government of Rwanda has inherited a country that has been destroyed, looted, drained and deeply traumatized by genocide and other massacres. The judicial institutions of the country have been decimated, which makes it difficult for the new Government to carry out its task of rendering justice; for there is a dire shortage of magistrates and adequate legal structures. Nevertheless, although it is only five months old, my Government has the following achievements to its credit. On the political level, the country is being governed by a broad-based Government of national unity reflecting all the political trends in the nation. All sectors of society are integrated in the various national institutions, with the exception of the sectors implicated in the genocide. On the military level, more than 2,500 soldiers from the former Government forces have been incorporated into the Rwandese Patriotic Army. 28 General Assembly 94th meeting Forty-ninth session 23 December 1994 On the administrative level, we have set up a territorial administration which favours national reconciliation, as is shown by the fact that all but one of the civil prefects have been appointed and two prefects of the former regime have been reinstated. In the economic, administrative and social spheres, various obstacles have been put in the path of the national coalition Government’s efforts, the absence or shortage of the necessary resources and personnel is impeding progress. As for training and information, at major rallies regularly held throughout the country, the President of the Republic, the Vice-President and the Prime Minister are calling for reconciliation and peace. On the question of national representation, the recently established National Assembly consists of the representatives of all sectors of our society, including the army. Despite the lack of resources, the Government is defending human rights and ensuring their strict observance —unlike the sinister advocates and perpetrators of genocide, with whose adventures the international community is very familiar. As for strict compliance with human rights, my Government deserves not harsh criticism but, rather, economic, technical and material assistance and moral support for our good intentions, to enable us to carry out the policy we have decided on: to the establishment of a State of law on the basis of universal respect for human rights. My delegation believes that if a country wishes to have a resolution adopted that it deems useful for another country, the latter should of course be associated in the drafting of that resolution. My delegation has the right to speak freely on a sensitive subject like human rights, and I therefore have the right to express regret that we were not closely associated from the very outset in the drafting of the text of the draft resolution concerning my country. It is true that operative paragraphs 7 and 8 were slightly amended upon the request of my delegation, which sought to have the resolution make it clear that the policies of the new Rwandese administration were far removed from any planned violation of human rights. We had intended to make this clarification on the human rights situation in Rwanda in the Third Committee on 14 December 1994. It is highly regrettable that on that day pressure was exerted on the delegation of Rwanda and on the representative who had been authorized to make such a statement, and he was obliged to keep silent. The national coalition Government, only five months old, has inherited a looted, ravaged and drained country, with a decimated population and with all the vital sectors of the State in need of reconstruction. We hope that the international community will be more understanding towards the Government of Rwanda. All we are asking for is help to help ourselves. Again I thank the countries that are kind enough to support Rwanda in its efforts to resolve its situation. We associated ourselves with the consensus on this draft resolution, but we wished to make this clarification. The President (interpretation from French): I call on the representative of Pakistan, who wishes to make a statement in exercise of the right of reply. Mr. Masood Khan (Pakistan): A short while ago, the Indian representative, in an explanation of vote on the draft resolution concerning human rights and terrorism, gave some very skewed justification. I should like to point out at the outset that in any case India should not have explained its vote, because it was a sponsor of that draft resolution. But I wish to point out something else. The representative of India, in his so-called explanation of vote on the draft resolution concerning human rights and terrorism, tried to project India as an innocent victim of terrorism. By innuendo, he tried to give the impression that India was the victim of terrorism from across the border. I do concede that the people of the Indian Union are victims of terrorism — but not from across the border; they are victims of terrorism from within India, the terrorism unleashed by the Indian security forces in all parts of India. Pakistan does not want to dilate on this point. We are concerned only with the distortion of the resolution on human rights and terrorism and its use by India in the context of the dispute over Jammu and Kashmir. The main sponsor of the resolution, Turkey, in its statement before action was taken on the draft resolution in the Third Committee, clearly indicated that the draft resolution did not militate against the right of peoples under alien domination and foreign occupation to selfdetermination. Pakistan also believes that the resolution 29 General Assembly 94th meeting Forty-ninth session 23 December 1994 on human rights and terrorism is without prejudice to the struggle of peoples under alien domination and foreign occupation for the exercise of their right to selfdetermination. Finally, the indigenous struggle of the people of Jammu and Kashmir for the exercise of their right to selfdetermination cannot be characterized as “terrorism”. Those who are suppressing that right of the Kashmiri people are guilty of State terrorism. The President (interpretation from French): May I take it that it is the wish of the General Assembly to conclude its consideration of sub-item (c) of agenda item 100? It was so decided. (d) Comprehensive implementation of and follow-up to the Vienna Declaration and Programme of Action: report of the Third Committee (Part V) (A/49/610/Add.4) The President (interpretation from French): The Assembly will now take a decision on the draft resolution recommended by the Third Committee in paragraph 14 of its report and on the two draft decisions recommended by the Third Committee in paragraph 15. We turn first to the draft resolution contained in paragraph 14 of part V of the report. The draft resolution was adopted by the Third Committee without a vote. May I take it that the Assembly wishes to do the same? The draft resolution was adopted (resolution 49/208). The President (interpretation from French): We turn now to the two draft decisions recommended by the Third Committee in paragraph 15 of part V of the report. Draft decision I is entitled “Increased coordination within the United Nations system in the field of human rights”. May I take it that the Assembly wishes to adopt draft decision I? Draft decision I was adopted. The President (interpretation from French): Draft decision II is entitled “Human rights questions: Comprehensive implementation of and follow-up to the Vienna Declaration and Programme of Action”. May I take it that the Assembly wishes to adopt draft decision II? Draft decision II was adopted. The President (interpretation from French): We have concluded this stage of our consideration of sub-item (d) of agenda item 100. (e) Capital punishment: report of the Third Committee (Part VI) (A/49/610/Add.5) The President (interpretation from French): May I take it that the General Assembly wishes to take note of part VI of the report of the Third Committee? It was so decided. The President (interpretation from French): May I take it that it is the wish of the General Assembly to conclude its consideration of sub-item (e) of agenda item 100? It was so decided. Agenda item 101 Promotion and protection of the rights of children: report of the Third Committee (A/49/611) The President (interpretation from French): I shall now call on those representatives who wish to explain their positions before action is taken. Mr. Kuehl (United States of America): My delegation will join the plenary consensus on draft resolution II, entitled “Need to adopt efficient international measures for the prevention and eradication of the sale of children, child prostitution and child pornography”, despite the fact that it contains an inaccurate and misleading reference to the sale of children’s organs. My delegation attempted to delete this 30 General Assembly 94th meeting Forty-ninth session 23 December 1994 reference by amendment during the Third Committee’s consideration of this draft. The amendment failed, but my delegation joined the consensus on the Committee draft we have before us. The United States Government strongly objects to the inclusion in future resolutions of the United Nations of wording regarding the sale of children’s organs. If such a practice could be proved to exist, the United States Government would condemn it in the strongest terms. Fortunately for all children, no credible evidence has been found to support these references. My delegation, both here and in the Commission on Human Rights, has repeatedly asked for such evidence from Governments and from non-governmental organizations, and no one has been able to provide it. In October of this year, the report of Mr. Vitit Muntarbhorn, the Special Rapporteur on child prostitution, child pornography and the sale of children, was issued. The Special Rapporteur praises the safeguards the United States carries out to prevent these practices. He notes in his report that he was unable to find credible evidence that even one instance of the sale of a child for the harvesting of organs had occurred. On the contrary, Mr. Muntarbhorn reported that innocent civilians had been assaulted owing to “unfounded rumours concerning the trafficking of children for organ transplantation.” (A/49/478, para. 84) Specifically, the Special Rapporteur reports that in one instance during the past year a United States citizen was brutally beaten by a mob in Central America when it was falsely alleged that she was kidnapping children in order to harvest their organs for sale. She remains in a coma almost eight months after the attack. By adopting a draft resolution containing this reference, the United Nations is giving credence to unfounded rumours which demonstrably have resulted in vicious attacks on individuals. To fuel the fire of speculation, fear and rumour is the height of irresponsibility and is a misuse of this important body. We urge the sponsors of this draft resolution to give the most careful thought to this issue if it is addressed again, either at the forthcoming session of the Commission on Human Rights or at a future session of the General Assembly. Mr. Sutoyo (Indonesia): in the General Assembly my delegation will be joining in the adoption, without a vote, of draft resolution III, entitled “Implementation of the Convention on the Rights of the Child”, just as our delegation did in the Third Committee. However, my delegation maintains its position as expressed in the Third Committee before the Committee took action on the draft resolution, particularly as concerns the recommendation of the Committee on the Rights of the Child on the number of its annual sessions. In this respect, my delegation wishes to put on record its reservations with regard to the recommendation in operative paragraph 13 of the draft resolution to increase to three the number of annual sessions of the Committee. The President (interpretation from French): The Assembly will now take decisions on the four draft resolutions recommended by the Third Committee in paragraph 26 of its report (A/49/611). We first turn to draft resolution I, entitled “Protection of children affected by armed conflicts”. Draft resolution I was adopted by the Third Committee without a vote. May I take it that the Assembly wishes to do likewise? Draft resolution I was adopted (resolution 49/209. The President (interpretation from French): Draft resolution II is entitled “Need to adopt efficient international measures for the prevention and eradication of the sale of children, child prostitution and child pornography”. The Third Committee adopted draft resolution II without a vote. May I take it that the Assembly wishes to do the same? Draft resolution II was adopted (resolution 49/210). The President (interpretation from French): Draft resolution III is entitled “Implementation of the Convention on the Rights of the Child”. The Third Committee adopted draft resolution III without a vote. May I take it that the Assembly also wishes to do so? Draft resolution III was adopted (resolution 49/211). 31 General Assembly 94th meeting Forty-ninth session 23 December 1994 The President (interpretation from French): Draft resolution IV is entitled “The plight of street children”. The Third Committee adopted draft resolution IV without a vote. May I take it that the Assembly wishes to do the same? Draft resolution IV was adopted (resolution 49/212). The President (interpretation from French): May I take it that it is the wish of the General Assembly to conclude its consideration of agenda item 101? It was so decided. Agenda item 102 Preparation for and organization of the United Nations Year for Tolerance: report of the Third Committee (A/49/612) The President (interpretation from French): The Assembly will now take a decision on the draft resolution recommended by the Third Committee in paragraph 8 of its report. The draft resolution, entitled “United Nations Year for Tolerance”, was adopted by the Third Committee without a vote. May I take it that the Assembly wishes to do the same? The draft resolution was adopted (resolution 49/213). The President (interpretation from French): May I take it that it is the wish of the General Assembly to conclude its consideration of agenda item 102? It was so decided. Agenda item 103 (continued) Programme of activities of the International Decade of the World’s Indigenous People: report of the Third Committee (Part II) (A/49/613/Add.1) The President (interpretation from French): Members will recall that the Assembly took action on part I of the report (A/49/613) of the Third Committee at its 52nd meeting, on 7 November. The Assembly will now take a decision on the draft resolution recommended by the Third Committee in paragraph 10 of part II of its report (A/49/613/Add.1) and the draft decision recommended by the Third Committee in paragraph 11. We turn first to the draft resolution, entitled “International Decade of the World’s Indigenous People”. The Third Committee adopted the draft resolution without a vote. May I take it that the Assembly wishes to do the same? The draft resolution was adopted (resolution 49/214). The President (interpretation from French): We now turn to the draft decision, entitled “United Nations Voluntary Fund for Indigenous Populations”. The draft decision was adopted by the Third Committee. May I consider that the Assembly wishes to do the same? The draft decision was adopted. The President (interpretation from French): I call on the representative of Brazil, who wishes to speak in explanation of position. Mr. Carvalho (Brazil): My delegation deeply regrets that it was not in a position to co-sponsor the draft resolution just adopted on the programme of activities of the International Decade of the World’s Indigenous People, as it did with a similar draft resolution when this question was considered at the last session of the General Assembly. We joined the consensus on the draft resolution just adopted because Brazil remains fully committed to the goals of the Decade, set forth in General Assembly resolution 48/163. Although many of our concerns have been met in the final text, we maintain reservations on some of its language, in particular operative paragraphs 5 and 13 (b). The delegation of Brazil has consistently maintained that the reference made to the “draft United Nations declaration on the rights of indigenous peoples” (resolution 49/214, para. 5) — in the plural form suggested by the Subcommission on Prevention of Discrimination and Protection of Minorities — tends to prejudge important decisions still to be taken by other 32 General Assembly 94th meeting Forty-ninth session 23 December 1994 bodies of the United Nations on this highly complex and controversial issue. It is our understanding that the use of the expression “indigenous peoples”, in the plural form, in the text of the resolution is not to be construed as having any consequence for further consideration of the matter nor any implication related to possible rights to be attributed to this terminology in international law. We would have preferred, therefore, that this resolution properly reflect the consensus formulations contained in previous texts, in particular that of the Vienna Declaration and Programme of Action. Moreover, it is our understanding that the expression “appropriate channels” in paragraph 13 (b) of resolution 49/214 means the governmental channels through which all United Nations representatives must guide their conduct when contacting indigenous people in Brazil for the purposes of the Decade and, in particular, the planning and implementation of projects affecting them. The President (interpretation from French): We have heard the only speaker in explanations of position after action has been taken. May I take it that it is the wish of the General Assembly to conclude its consideration of agenda item 103? It was so decided. Agenda item 12 (continued) Report of the Economic and Social Council: report of the Third Committee (A/49/603) The President (interpretation from French): The Assembly will now take a decision on the two draft decisions recommended by the Third Committee in paragraph 9 of its report. We turn first to draft decision I, entitled “Organization of work of the Third Committee and biennial programme of work of the Committee for 1995- 1996”. May I take it that the Assembly wishes to adopt draft decision I? Draft decision I was adopted. The President (interpretation from French): Draft decision II is entitled “Report of the Economic and Social Council”. May I take it that the Assembly wishes to adopt draft decision II? Draft decision II was adopted. The President (interpretation from French): May I take it that it is the wish of the General Assembly to conclude its consideration of the chapters of the report of the Economic and Social Council allocated to the Third Committee? It was so decided. The President (interpretation from French): The General Assembly has thus concluded its consideration of all the reports of the Third Committee. The meeting rose at 1.30 p.m. 33