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human rights of the peoples of Iraq, was adopted by a vote of 30 (U.S.) to 1, with 10 abstentions.

In the public debate on human rights violations in specific countries, the U.S. Head of Delegation presented the concerns of the United States on the human rights situations in Iraq, Kuwait, Cuba, Iran, China, North Korea, Burma, El Salvador, Guatemala, Mauritania, East Timor, Sri Lanka, South Africa, Israel and the occupied Arab territories, the Baltic states, Yugoslavia and Cyprus. He also noted the progress made on the protection of basic human rights in the Soviet Union, Poland, Hungary, Czechoslovakia, Bulgaria and Albania. He likewise encouraged Nepal, Benin, Chile and Haiti to push forward with the recent progress made in the field of human rights and fundamental freedoms. The Commission also considers human rights situations in particular countries brought to its attention under the confidential procedures established by ECOSOC resolution 1503 (XLVIII). In closed sessions the Commission took up the human rights situations in Burma, Chad, Somalia, Sudan and Zaire. The Chairman of the Commission announced that the human rights situation in Zaire was no longer under consideration by the Commission under ECOSOC resolution 1503 (XLVIII).

The Commission adopted a number of public resolutions dealing with the human rights situations in specific countries. The United States continued its efforts to call international attention to the human rights situation in Cuba. The U.S. Delegation introduced a draft resolution on that subject; it gathered 20 other sponsors with broad regional distribution. A competing resolution was sponsored largely by Latin American delegations; for procedural reasons, it was considered first.

The U.S. proposal to insert critical elements of its own draft in the Latin text was adopted by a vote of 21 (U.S.) to 18, with 4 abstentions. The amended text was then adopted by a vote of 22 (U.S.) to 6, with 15 abstentions. (Resolution 1991/68.) The resolution called on the Secretary General to appoint a special representative to study the human rights situation in Cuba and report to the 1992 Commission session.

Western Group resolutions on human rights in Iran have been based traditionally on the reports of the special representative. At this year's Commission session, however, publication of the report was greatly delayed. A draft resolution sponsored by Iran was tabled before the publication of the report and the tabling of the Western draft resolution. The Iranian draft sought to terminate the mandate of the special representative and remove human rights in Iran from Commission scrutiny. During intense negotiations, in which the U.S. Delegation played an

active role, a consensus text was achieved retaining the mandate but raising the possibility of terminating it at the next Commission session. The U.S. Delegation insisted it be made clear that termination of the mandate could not be considered unless there was considerable clear and irreversible progress in human rights in Iran. The resolution called for a report by the special representative to the 1992 Commission but omitted the request made in previous years that an interim report be submitted to the General Assembly. (Resolution 1991/82.)

A resolution on the situation in southern Lebanon again condemned Israeli human rights violations and called on Israel to put an immediate end to repressive practices and withdraw totally and unconditionally from all Lebanese territory. The resolution was adopted by a vote of 41 to 1 (U.S.). (Resolution 1991/66.) In an explanation of vote, the U.S. Delegate pointed out the one-sided nature of the resolution, which did not refer to the presence of other foreign troops in Lebanon nor to the responsibility of the various Lebanese factions and militias for the country's turmoil.

A resolution on the situation of human rights in Afghanistan, based on the special rapporteur's annual report, was adopted without a vote. The resolution extended the mandate of the special rapporteur and urged all parties to the conflict in Afghanistan to respect the accepted humanitarian norms set out in international human rights instruments. (Resolution 1991/78.)

In the resolution on the situation in El Salvador, the Commission expressed its satisfaction with the progress achieved toward peaceful settlement and urged the parties to the conflict to continue their dialogue. It noted, however, continuing occurrences of human rights abuses and the weakness of the judiciary in dealing with human rights offenders and extended the mandate of the special representative. Resolution 1991/75 was adopted by consensus.

A resolution on the human rights situation in Haiti, adopted without a vote, recognized the progress that had been made with respect to the country's democratic electoral process and Haiti's ratification of international human rights instruments. The resolution also noted continuing threats to democracy and full respect for human rights; it called on the government to investigate massacres committed in recent years. The mandate of the independent expert was extended for a year. (Resolution 1991/77.)

Resolutions on human rights in Albania and Romania were adopted by consensus. Resolution 1991/76 welcomed the posi

tive steps taken by the Government of Albania, such as the release of prisoners and a certain degree of tolerance toward religious practice, but called on the government to ensure, as soon as possible, freedom, democracy, the rule of law, and the human rights of all Albanian citizens. Resolution 1991/69 on Romania noted that, despite regrettable lapses, respect for human rights in general had continued to improve. The resolution extended for a year the mandate of the special rapporteur.

The Commission decided, without a vote, to postpone until the 48th session, its consideration of the question of human rights in Cyprus. (Decision 1991/106.)

Human rights in the Baltics was the subject of a consensus Chairman's statement. The United States was instrumental in convincing the Soviet Delegation not to oppose this expression of the Commission's concern over the human rights situation in those states. This was the first time the Commission criticized a permanent member of the Security Council.

The Commission also adopted four resolutions on more general human rights problems. A resolution on human rights and mass exoduses was proposed by several cosponsors, including the United States, and was approved without a vote. (Resolution 1991/73.) The Commission also approved without a vote a resolution on the continuing problem of summary or arbitrary executions in various parts of the world. (Resolution 1991/71.) Resolution 1991/70, also adopted without a vote, stressed the obligation of governments to cooperate with the representatives of UN human rights bodies and to refrain from intimidation or reprisal against individuals or groups that seek to cooperate with those representatives. Another consensus resolution invited the competent UN bodies to consider the responsibility of states for violations of their international obligations in the field of human rights and fundamental freedoms. (Resolution 1991/72.)

The General Assembly considered country-specific resolutions on the human rights situations in occupied Kuwait, Iraq, El Salvador, Afghanistan, Burma and Haiti.

As required by the UNHRC resolution on human rights in Kuwait under Iraqi occupation, an interim report from the special rapporteur was submitted to the General Assembly. The report detailed the massive and systematic human rights violations committed by the Iraqi occupying forces. The General Assembly overwhelmingly condemned Iraq in resolution 46/ 135, adopted by a vote of 155 (U.S.) to 1, with no abstentions. Iraq cast the lone vote against the resolution, which, in particu

lar, called on Iraq to provide information on all Kuwaitis or third-country nationals deported from Kuwait during the occupation.

The General Assembly also received an interim report from the special rapporteur on human rights in Iraq. The report was based on the findings of the rapporteur's visit to portions of northern Iraq under UN protection and on numerous interviews outside Iraq of victims of Iraqi abuse. The General Assembly adopted resolution 46/134, expressing its deep concern about the numerous and detailed allegations of a wide range of human rights violations by Iraqi authorities; the vote was 129 (U.S.) to 1, with 17 abstentions.

The human rights situation in El Salvador was the subject of resolution 46/133, adopted without a vote. Based upon an interim report from the special rapporteur on El Salvador, the resolution expressed the General Assembly's satisfaction with mechanisms agreed upon by the government and FMLN for verification and monitoring of human rights. It also urged the parties to continue their search for a political solution to the conflict.

Resolution 46/136, adopted without a vote, welcomed the cooperation of the Afghan authorities with the special rapporteur on the situation of human rights in Afghanistan. It also urged all parties to the conflict to work for the achievement of a comprehensive political solution that would permit the return of refugees and the full enjoyment of human rights by all Afghans.

For the first time, the General Assembly adopted a resolution on the situation in Burma. The consensus resolution noted with concern the substantial available information indicating a grave human rights situation there and urged the Burmese authorities to permit free participation by all its citizens in the political process. (Resolution 46/132.)

The General Assembly noted the September 1991 coup in Haiti by adopting resolution 46/138 by consensus. The resolution strongly condemned the overthrow of Haiti's constitutionally elected president and the use of violence and military coercion.

On related themes, a resolution on human rights and mass exoduses, similar to that adopted by the Human Rights Commission, called for continued attention to establishing an earlywarning arrangement that would help avert new massive flows of refugees and displaced persons. It was adopted without a vote. (Resolution 46/127.) The General Assembly also adopted

without a vote resolution 46/125 on the question of enforced or involuntary disappearances.

Israeli-occupied Territories

Since 1968 the Human Rights Commission has annually debated the agenda item entitled "Question of the violation of human rights in the occupied Arab territories, including Palestine.” The United States has vigorously opposed this annual and fruitless debate because of its unbalanced, inaccurate and inflammatory rhetoric condemning alleged Israeli human rights violations.

Resolution 1991/1, a two-part resolution on violations of human rights in occupied Palestine, cosponsored mainly by Arab countries, contained inflammatory and unsupported condemnations of alleged Israeli policies and practices. Following a U.S. request for a roll-call vote, Part A of the resolution passed by a vote of 28 to 1 (U.S.), with 10 abstentions. Part B focused on the Geneva Convention relative to the protection of civilian persons in time of war and contained further allegations of Israeli violations. The resolution contained a provision reaffirming that the Geneva Convention is applicable to all Arab territories occupied by Israel since 1967, including Jerusalem. The United States again called for a roll-call vote on Part B, which was adopted by a vote of 26 to 1 (U.S.), with 11 abstentions.

Resolution 1991/2 dealt with the human rights situation in occupied territories in Syria. This resolution, which contained numerous objectionable paragraphs, including unsubstantiated allegations against Israel, was approved by a vote of 32 to 1 (U.S.), with 8 abstentions in a roll-call vote requested by the

United States.

A third resolution under this agenda item dealt with the legality of Israeli settlements in the occupied Arab territories. Although the United States has urged the Government of Israel to halt settlement activity, it has also maintained that raising the question of the legality of the settlements represents an obstacle to the peace process. The U.S. Delegation called for a vote and abstained. Resolution 1991/3 was adopted by a vote of 38 to 0, with one abstention (U.S.).

Racial Discrimination in Southern
Africa

The Human Rights Commission considered racial discrimination and apartheid under a cluster of agenda items that appear on the Commission's agenda every year. In the debate,

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