U.N. Rights Council Reaches Agreement

[Eugene]

Source: Associated Press

U.N. Rights Council Reaches Agreement

Tuesday June 19, 2007 10:01 AM

By FRANK JORDANS

Associated Press Writer

GENEVA (AP) - Members of the U.N.'s new human rights
watchdog agreed in principle Tuesday to a compromise
on how to launch investigations into some of the world's
worst rights offenders, sparing the body from the
potentially embarrassing prospect of failing to set its
own rules.

The Human Rights Council, which was formed last year
to replace the discredited U.N. Human Rights Commission,
has faced widespread criticism from activists who say it
spends much of its time singling out Israel and fending
off criticism of countries such as Sudan and Zimbabwe.

The European Union, which played a key role in the
negotiations, said it remained to be seen how the
council can perform on the basis of the agreement.

“The package is certainly not ideal, but we have a
basis we can work with,” said Ambassador Michael
Steiner of Germany, which currently holds the EU
presidency. “The package must prove its value in
practice.”

-snip-

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