SLOVENIA TO STAND FOR SEAT ON NEW UN HUMAN RIGHTS COUNCIL

STA news agency, Ljubljana
27 Mar 06

New York, 27 March: Slovenia is to run for one of the six
seats reserved for countries of the East European group in the
newly-established United Nations Council of Human Rights. Eight
countries from the group have already announced their candidacy.

According to a diplomatic source in New York, Slovenia is to present
its candidacy to the other countries from the group this week.

The country’s chances in winning a seat are said to be as good as those
of other states in this region with a good human rights record. Its
chances are enhanced by its EU presidency in the first half of 2008.

In the East European group, Poland, the Czech Republic, Hungary,
Ukraine, Romania, Azerbaijan, Armenia, Lithuania and Russia have
either already announced their candidacy, or intend to do so.

The Slovene Foreign Ministry has welcomed the establishment of the
new body. It said that the country would endeavour towards making it
act in a credible manner and consistently in advocating the dignity
and freedom of every individual.

The new Council will in June replace the much-criticised Human
Rights Commission. It was established on 15 March, with 170 votes in
favour. The US was one of the countries voting against, claiming that
UN reform was not radical enough.

The elections to the new 47-strong body are scheduled for 9 May,
when the candidate countries will try to get 96 votes of 191-strong
UN General Assembly. The outcome of the vote is expected to indicate
whether the UN reform has truly brought any kind of change.