ID :
165163
Wed, 03/02/2011 - 07:40
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https://www.oananews.org//node/165163
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Iran criticizes use of force against protestors in Arab states
GENEVA/TEHRAN, March 2 (MNA) - Iranian Foreign Minister Ali Akbar Salehi strongly criticized the use of excessive force against protestors in Arab countries.
Salehi made the remarks in Geneva on Monday during an address at the 16th session of the United Nations Human Rights Council which opened on February 28 and runs until March 25.
Following is the text of his speech:
(Today, the people of certain countries in the world)… are tired of corruption and foreign domination. They are desperately appealing for further rights to freedom, and independence from foreign domination, tyranny, and despotism. Such legitimate demands of people should be respected and honored.
Governments in the region burden the responsibility to listen and pay due attention to these requests and observe the fundamental rights of their people. It is deplorable, however, that some governments have used excessive force against innocent civilians which resulted in the death and injury of a number of people. Certain foreign powers must refrain from making obstacles in the way of the people of the region, thus allowing them to freely choose their destiny and future.
It is historically attested that the domineering policy of certain Western countries was the main cause which led to the miseries and bloodsheds currently we witness in the region as it happened at the time of the revolution in Iran when thousands of innocent people were killed by the Shah’s regime.
These states in particular, the Western states I mean, should not repeat the mistakes they have made in the past, presumably to serve their own narrow political interests.
Mr. President, let me draw attention of the council to the plight of the Palestinian people who have been suffering for over six decades from occupation and the subsequent deprivation of their most basic national and human rights. The depth and expanse of the gross and systematic violation of human rights of the Palestinian people by the Zionist regime in total blatant defiance of international law, numerous UN resolutions and human rights principles is more than known to the international community.
What is perplexing is that this regime enjoy the unflagging support of the Western bloc, continues to perpetrate its crimes and violations with the sense of impunity, the most recent evidence of which is vetoing by the United States of the draft resolution supported by all of the members of the UN Security Council.
Mr. President, despite the extensive efforts of the international community in combating racism, racial discrimination, xenophobia, and related intolerance and the measures taken to root out these evil and inhumane phenomena, racist and xenophobic attitudes... institutionalized practices continue to prevail in various parts of the world.
Discrimination on the basis of religion, race, and ethnicity in the Western communities has been on the rise in the recent years.
Muslim communities continue to experience an increasingly intolerant and even hostile environment.
Over and above the systematic Islamophobic campaign in many Western societies, and deliberate projection of a highly distorted image of Islam and Muslims in the media, certain unfair discriminatory governmental policies, specifically targeting Muslim minorities, have further aggravated their situation and expose them to different kinds of threat and intimidation by racist and extremist groups, and sadly even in certain cases by security forces and law enforcement officers.
As part of the collective endeavors in combating these phenomena, we call upon all member states to take concrete steps and adopt effective and practical measures towards combating Islamophobia and other forms of racism and racial discrimination in line with their obligations under the charter of the United Nations and other human rights instruments.
In this context, we welcome the general assembly decision to convene a high-level meeting in September 2011 to commemorate the 10th anniversary of the adoption of the Durbam Declaration and program of action.
Excellencies, establishment of the Human Rights Council was one of the significant UN initiatives in recent years not only for its contribution towards improving the functioning and performance of the UN Human Rights machinery, but more importantly for creating the potential capacity and institutional arrangements to move beyond the previous prevailing environment of confrontation between and among governments.
… The review of the council’s functions that has been extensively carried out during the past months has afforded the council a good opportunity assess its performance objectively and thus move in the direction of rectifying its shortcomings.
At this juncture, I take the opportunity to thank all distinguished delegates and different regional groups for their active and constructive participation during the negotiations in Geneva process which lead to the adoption of a consensual outcome.
It is also expected that through the collective cooperation of the member states, a consensual negotiated final outcome would emerge from New York next process for the adoption of the next session of the general assembly.
Mr. President, in conclusion, let me just underline the Human Rights Council entrusted with an historical and critical mandate for the actual promotion and protection of human rights on a global scale can indeed rise to the challenge through relying on the cherished principles of objectivity, impartiality, transparency, and consensus.
Its pro-active approach in addressing global human rights challenges including rectification of past shortcomings of the UN human rights machinery is encouraging.
In this regard, we look forward to continuing our close cooperation with the council and its members in order to realize our shared objectives of attaining greater global justice, equity and development for all.
Islamic Republic of Iran, in its own part, has extended and is ready to continue its cooperation with the office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights.
In December 2010, my country with the cooperation of the office of the High Commissioner held a joint colloquium on the administration of justice provided a very good opportunity for the participating judges as well as experts to exchange views on different judicial issues.
We are also happy that the High Commissioner is planning a visit to Iran which takes place this year aiming at exploring and enhancing the meaningful and beneficial cooperation of the Islamic Republic of Iran and the office of the High Commissioner.
A preparatory team visit Iran in near future to ensure that such a visit would be a successful one.
I have the honor to announce that we have already planned for a full-fledged program of cooperation with the special procedures which includes the visit by some mandate holders to Iran and thank you Mr. President.
Salehi made the remarks in Geneva on Monday during an address at the 16th session of the United Nations Human Rights Council which opened on February 28 and runs until March 25.
Following is the text of his speech:
(Today, the people of certain countries in the world)… are tired of corruption and foreign domination. They are desperately appealing for further rights to freedom, and independence from foreign domination, tyranny, and despotism. Such legitimate demands of people should be respected and honored.
Governments in the region burden the responsibility to listen and pay due attention to these requests and observe the fundamental rights of their people. It is deplorable, however, that some governments have used excessive force against innocent civilians which resulted in the death and injury of a number of people. Certain foreign powers must refrain from making obstacles in the way of the people of the region, thus allowing them to freely choose their destiny and future.
It is historically attested that the domineering policy of certain Western countries was the main cause which led to the miseries and bloodsheds currently we witness in the region as it happened at the time of the revolution in Iran when thousands of innocent people were killed by the Shah’s regime.
These states in particular, the Western states I mean, should not repeat the mistakes they have made in the past, presumably to serve their own narrow political interests.
Mr. President, let me draw attention of the council to the plight of the Palestinian people who have been suffering for over six decades from occupation and the subsequent deprivation of their most basic national and human rights. The depth and expanse of the gross and systematic violation of human rights of the Palestinian people by the Zionist regime in total blatant defiance of international law, numerous UN resolutions and human rights principles is more than known to the international community.
What is perplexing is that this regime enjoy the unflagging support of the Western bloc, continues to perpetrate its crimes and violations with the sense of impunity, the most recent evidence of which is vetoing by the United States of the draft resolution supported by all of the members of the UN Security Council.
Mr. President, despite the extensive efforts of the international community in combating racism, racial discrimination, xenophobia, and related intolerance and the measures taken to root out these evil and inhumane phenomena, racist and xenophobic attitudes... institutionalized practices continue to prevail in various parts of the world.
Discrimination on the basis of religion, race, and ethnicity in the Western communities has been on the rise in the recent years.
Muslim communities continue to experience an increasingly intolerant and even hostile environment.
Over and above the systematic Islamophobic campaign in many Western societies, and deliberate projection of a highly distorted image of Islam and Muslims in the media, certain unfair discriminatory governmental policies, specifically targeting Muslim minorities, have further aggravated their situation and expose them to different kinds of threat and intimidation by racist and extremist groups, and sadly even in certain cases by security forces and law enforcement officers.
As part of the collective endeavors in combating these phenomena, we call upon all member states to take concrete steps and adopt effective and practical measures towards combating Islamophobia and other forms of racism and racial discrimination in line with their obligations under the charter of the United Nations and other human rights instruments.
In this context, we welcome the general assembly decision to convene a high-level meeting in September 2011 to commemorate the 10th anniversary of the adoption of the Durbam Declaration and program of action.
Excellencies, establishment of the Human Rights Council was one of the significant UN initiatives in recent years not only for its contribution towards improving the functioning and performance of the UN Human Rights machinery, but more importantly for creating the potential capacity and institutional arrangements to move beyond the previous prevailing environment of confrontation between and among governments.
… The review of the council’s functions that has been extensively carried out during the past months has afforded the council a good opportunity assess its performance objectively and thus move in the direction of rectifying its shortcomings.
At this juncture, I take the opportunity to thank all distinguished delegates and different regional groups for their active and constructive participation during the negotiations in Geneva process which lead to the adoption of a consensual outcome.
It is also expected that through the collective cooperation of the member states, a consensual negotiated final outcome would emerge from New York next process for the adoption of the next session of the general assembly.
Mr. President, in conclusion, let me just underline the Human Rights Council entrusted with an historical and critical mandate for the actual promotion and protection of human rights on a global scale can indeed rise to the challenge through relying on the cherished principles of objectivity, impartiality, transparency, and consensus.
Its pro-active approach in addressing global human rights challenges including rectification of past shortcomings of the UN human rights machinery is encouraging.
In this regard, we look forward to continuing our close cooperation with the council and its members in order to realize our shared objectives of attaining greater global justice, equity and development for all.
Islamic Republic of Iran, in its own part, has extended and is ready to continue its cooperation with the office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights.
In December 2010, my country with the cooperation of the office of the High Commissioner held a joint colloquium on the administration of justice provided a very good opportunity for the participating judges as well as experts to exchange views on different judicial issues.
We are also happy that the High Commissioner is planning a visit to Iran which takes place this year aiming at exploring and enhancing the meaningful and beneficial cooperation of the Islamic Republic of Iran and the office of the High Commissioner.
A preparatory team visit Iran in near future to ensure that such a visit would be a successful one.
I have the honor to announce that we have already planned for a full-fledged program of cooperation with the special procedures which includes the visit by some mandate holders to Iran and thank you Mr. President.
