Source: – HYPERLINK http://frist.senate.gov/index.cfm?FuseAction=PressReleases.Detail&PressRelease_id=2332&Month=4&Year=2006 http://frist.senate.gov/index.cfm?FuseAction=PressReleases.Detail&PressRelease_id=2332&Month=4&Year=2006
Date: April 6, 2006                                                                                                                                                                                               
Press Releases
FRIST PRAISES ADMINISTRATION’S OPPOSITION TO U.S.
PARTICIPATION IN NEW U.N. HUMAN RIGHTS COUNCIL

US Senator William H. Frist, M.D.

April 6, 2006 - WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Senate Majority Leader Bill Frist, M.D. (R-TN) today made the following statement on the Bush Administration’s decision not to participate in the newly established United Nations Human Rights Council: 

“I applaud President Bush’s decision not to seek membership for the United States on the newly created United Nations Human Rights Council.  Last week, I wrote to President Bush and went to the floor of the United States Senate to voice my opposition to America’s participation in this new, unreformed body.  The President has taken a principled stand in defense of those oppressed around the world. 

 “As I and many others have argued, the new Council makes only superficial changes to the widely discredited Human Rights Commission structure that granted membership to some of the world’s worst human rights abusers and failed to speak out against some of history’s most egregious human rights abuses.  This new Council does not adequately address these problems and cannot be relied upon to preserve and protect human rights around the world. 

“The Administration’s decision to oppose U.S. membership on the new Council will uphold America’s credibility on the issue of human rights and deny the Council unwarranted legitimacy.  I do not support providing funding for this new body, but today’s decision is a positive step in the right direction.  My hope is that President Bush will consider establishing a council of democracies outside of the U.N. system that could meet regularly to truly monitor, examine and expose human rights abuses around the globe. 

 “The President’s decision is a courageous step toward safeguarding human rights and essential freedoms abroad, and I encourage the Administration to continue its demonstrated commitment to meaningful reform of the United Nations and to the protection of human rights.”