STATEMENT BY PROFESSOR G.L. PEIRIS, MINISTER OF EXTERNAL AFFAIRS – PRESS RELEASE

It is a matter of great satisfaction to us that 15 countries voted withSri Lanka, despite the intensity of pressure, in a variety of forms, exerted on them all.ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚  We convey to them our warm thanks and deep appreciation.

ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ We also thank sincerely the 8 countries which, by abstaining, declined to support the Resolution.

ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ With 15 countries voting withSri Lanka, and 8 countries abstaining, the final result was that 23 countries, out of a total of 47 members of the Human Rights Council, did not support the Resolution, while 24 supported it. The margin was as narrow as this.

ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ The most distressing feature of this experience is the obvious reality that voting at the Human Rights Council is now determined not by the merits of a particular issue but by strategic alliances and domestic political issues in other countries which have nothing to do with the subject matter of a Resolution or the best interests of the country to which the Resolution relates.ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚  This is a cynical negation of the purposes for which the Human Rights Council was established.

ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ Many countries which voted withSri Lankawere acutely conscious of the danger of setting a precedent which enables ad hoc intervention by powerful countries in the internal affairs of other nations.ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚  This is a highly selective and arbitrary process not governed by objective norms or criteria of any kind.ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚  The implications of this were not lost on many countries.

ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ As far asSri Lankais concerned, our policy in respect of all matters will continue to be guided by the vital interests and wellbeing of the people of our country.ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚  It hardly requires emphasis that this cannot yield place to any other consideration.

ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ PermanentMissionofSri Lankato the United Nations

Geneva

ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚