REPUBLIC F BELARUS O
PERMANENT ISSION O THE UNITED ATIONS M T N
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UnitedNationsGeneralAssembly Sixfy-first session Third Committee 30 October2006
Agenda i{em 67 (b) and (c) "Human rights questions"

Statement !y Alexander Strigelsky Representative the Republic of Belarus of

Human rights are the major focus areaat the United Nations. Their importance is constantly growing as Member Statescontinueto encourage their full implementation equallyfor all and to improve existing humanrights mechanisms. However, tackling human rights issues is a hard and frequently controversialprocess as there are globallydifferenttraditionsand cultures. Meanwhile, here in the Third Committee we are working together to produce considerable and tirnely decisions on human rights. Through consultationancl dialoguemany delegations seek to make a positivecontribution that process, to to make it betterand relevant.The delegation Belarusis pleased be a part of ini, of to joint work and to contribute to the prevalence cooperative of spirit in the Third Committee. Mr. Chairman, 'l'his year MemberStates havemadea significant steptowards irnproving system the of thc human rights consideration. GeneralAssemblyhas created The the fiun-ran Rights Council to strearnline existing mechanisms and ensurean unbiasedand non-sclective approach towardshuman rights.By this step we seek to encourage a m o r e o b j e c t i v e n d u n i v e r s a l r i n c i p l ei n t a c k l i n gh u m a n r i g h t s e n t i r e l yi n a p the UN svstent.

We support view of manydelegations Member Statesshould more actively the that discussthe situation of human rights in all countries with no exception in To endthe HumanRightsCouncilhasbeenestablished. Geneva. that parlicular However, collaborative interaction that many of us sincerely favour is largely poisoned the practiceof country-specific by resolutionsinitiated from year to year. Belaruscondemnsthat practiceas a totally negative instrument that damages international dialogue on human rights and that is used for a purely political crackdown and thereforecannotbring any positiveresult. We are still witnessingexamples accusations some countriesof allegedhuman of of rightsviolations.Theseallegations appeareven againstthe background numerous of humanrights abusesin thosecountries that allow themselves blameothers. to With regardto Belarus,we need to emphasize that our legal framework,including regulations the NGOs and mass media activities that have most recently been of criticised the Third Committee, largelybased the legalprovisions in is on usedin the countries with solid democracies. allegations All with this regardhaveno ground and seekto give a falsepictureof our humanrights record. Mr. Chairman. Belarusseeks to encourage equitable and mutually respectful dialogue on human rights. We demonstratein practice our commitment to develop cooperation on protecting human rights where it is mostly needed for the sake of the people "Improvingcoordination worldwide.Initiatingresolution of effortsagainst trafficking recentlyadopted the Third Committee, in persons", in servesas a vivid exampleof our constructive activeposition. and Major challenges the Third Cornrnittee looming as Member States nearing in are are actions the bulk of proposals the humanrightsissues. is highly important on on It that we stick to a positive and constructive approachpreventing politicization and double standards.We all againhave the chanceto follow an obiective and lair towardsconsidering approach humanrightsissues.