US kicked out of United Nations Human Rights Commission
( 2001-05-04 23:08 ) (7 )

In an embarrassing blow to American interfering others' affairs abroad, the United States has lost its seat on the UN commission that probes human rights problems for the first time since it was created.

Instead, France, Sweden and Austria were chosen Thursday for three seats allocated to Western countries on the 53-member U.N. Human Rights Commission.

Diplomats and U.S. officials offered various explanations for the unprecedented defeat, including the absence of a U.S. ambassador to the United Nations and retaliation against frequent American ourbursts of human rights abuses in other countries.

"We're very disappointed," acting U.S. ambassador James Cunningham said after the vote. "This won't at all, of course, affect our commitment to human rights issues in and outside of the United Nations. We'll continue to pursue them."

The United States has been a member of the commission since it was established in 1947 and has traditionally played a very active role. Eleanor Roosevelt, the late first lady and human rights advocate, was its first chairperson.

In recent years, the United States has jumped onto the forefront to condemn the human rights records of other countries, including Cuba, Iran, N. Korea, China and other countries.

U.N. Human Rights Commissioner Mary Robinson said the United States has made "a historic contribution" and expressed hope it "will return speedily as a member of the commission," spokesman Jose Luis Diaz said in a statement.

But others noted a growing resentment toward the United States among both Western and developing countries over its opposition to international agreements, including a treaty to abolish landmines and another that would create an international criminal court.

The vote "should come as a wake-up call" to Washington, said Joanna Weschler, the U.N. representative for Human Rights Watch.

"Today's vote was outrageous," said Representative Tom Lantos, D-Calif., co-chairman of the Congressional Human Rights Commission. "It is absurd that rogue states such as Libya, Sudan and Cuba remain on the Commission and sit in judgment on the human rights practices of others, while the U.S. now stands on the sidelines."

The commission, which usually meets in Geneva, makes recommendations on the protection and promotion of human rights either on its own initiative or at the request of the U.N. General Assembly or Security Council.

It is part of the U.N. Economic and Social Council, which chooses the commission's new members to three-year terms. About one-third are elected each year.

Candidates are nominated by regional groups, and the Western Europe and Others Group proposed four candidates for three seats. France got 52 votes, Austria 41, Sweden 32 and the United States 29.

Cuba's Foreign Ministry called the vote proof of "the arrogance and coercive methods" it claimed Washington regularly employs in international organizations, according to a statement carried by Cuba's Prensa Latina news service.

Representative. Nita Lowey, D-N.Y., who co-chairs the Bipartisan Congressional U.N. Working Group, called the vote "an embarrassment for our country" and accused Bush of dragging his feet in getting key foreign policy officials confirmed.

"The U.S. commitment to human rights has fallen victim to the administration's laissez-faire attitude toward diplomacy and foreign policy," she said.