India has welcomed the establishment of the Human Rights Council by the United Nations General Assembly, especially as it provides for equitable geographical representation.
Commenting on the assembly's decision to replace the much-criticised Human Rights Commission with a more powerful Council, India's Ambassador to UN Nirupam Sen told reporters that it corrects the selectivity and double standards that had increasingly marred the functioning of the Geneva-based Commission.
India played a key role in making the Human Rights Council possible, Sen said, adding that the primacy of the general assembly and the way in which the assembly established the council is a good augury for the comprehensive reform of the UN Security Council.
Asked about expansion of the Security Council after the assembly voted to establish the Human Rights Council, President Jan Eliasson said it was an important part of the overall reform effort and that he was in contact with the countries concerned.
Meanwhile, United Nations Secretary General Kofi Annan has expressed confidence that the United States will be able to work with the new council despite its opposition to a draft framework for the panel.
"I think in a normal democratic process; if you can get unanimity, well and good," Annan said in Johannesburg after meeting former South African President Nelson Mandela during a two-week visit to Africa.
"But if you cannot, and an overwhelming majority of the members go for something, I think it should work. And I am sure the US, which has done so much for human rights, will find a way to work with the other member states to make the council what it ought to be," he added.
In presenting his proposed reforms a year ago, Annan wanted election to be by a two-thirds majority and failure to achieve this has been cited by the US as one of the main elements in its opposition. But while conceding his inability to reach this goal, he repeatedly stressed that the council as proposed by general assembly president Jan Eliasson after months-long consultations with member states could be a basis for more effective human rights protection.
"The president of the general assembly has done a great work, working with all the member states to come up with a document that gives a credible basis to move forward," he said.
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