Minister Peiris tells Nigerian FM:
Politicization of UNHRC harmful to developing world
“Countries emerging from painful conflicts and renewing their
commitment to economic and social development after the eradication of
terrorism, deserve understanding and sympathetic support from the
international community, not judgmental attitudes buttressed by pressure
which erodes the dignity and self-respect of developing nations,
External Affairs Minister Prof G L Peiris said in the Nigerian capital,
Abuja on Wednesday.
He made these comments at his meeting with Nigeria’s Minister of
Foreign Affairs Olugbenga Ayodeji Ashiru.
He explained to his counterpart in the government of Nigeria the gist
of his arguments in Geneva during the last few days.
The two ministers said that they are looking forward to the
establishment of resident Missions in their respective capitals shortly.
Prof. Peiris observed that the developing world has a particular
interest in ensuring that organs of the United Nations system, such as,
the Human Rights Council, are not politicized, in the sense that they
become instruments for giving effect to decisions made by power blocs
for political reasons. If these bodies are to retain their practical
relevance and usefulness in the modern world, there is the compelling
need to preserve and indeed strengthen the culture that enables member
States to formulate their opinions and to vote on the merits of a
specific matter without undue pressure from powerful countries. If
political and strategic alignments, rather than recourse to an issue
based approach, are seen to determine voting patterns, the actual
conduct of these bodies, over time, will move further and further away
from the value system underpinning the Charter of the United Nations,
the Minister observed.
Professor Peiris emphasized that external intervention at a time when
domestic procedures are vibrant and moving forward, is entirely
counterproductive in terms of achieving results on the ground.
Nothing is more crucial, he suggested, than ensuring that the well
being of countries recovering from the ravages of terrorism --- which
should clearly be the sole aim and objective --- should not be lost
sight of in the interplay of global forces motivated by other agendas.
It is important, he continued, to recognize in this context the
distinction between co-operation and imposition: while the international
community admittedly has a constructive role to play, it must not seek
to impose its will in an arrogant and insensitive way.
"Sri Lanka, having shaken off the scourge of terrorism against
overwhelming odds, needs the space and the time to continue its domestic
process in keeping with local aspirations and within the framework of
its own legal and cultural systems.
This has been acknowledged by perceptive commentators from the
Western world, like Lord Rogan of Lower Iveagh, whose deep familiarity
with the complexities of the Northern Ireland situation enhances the
value of his views, Minister Peiris said.
Countries of Asia and Africa are the heirs to rich civilizations
which equip them to deal effectively with issues , however challenging,
which confront them in modern times. Nuances of context cannot be
relegated in response to pressure if sustainability of solutions
continues to be regarded as the priority requirement, the Minister
pointed out.
A dinner hosted by the Foreign Minister of Nigeria in honour of the
visiting Sri Lankan Foreign Minister was attended by a large number of
Ambassadors and High Commissioners who were informally briefed by Prof.
Peiris.
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