HIGH-LEVEL GOVERNMENT OFFICIALS OF BULGARIA AND BURUNDI SPEAK BEFORE COMMISSION ON HUMAN RIGHTS

Commission on Human Rights
58th session
28 March 2002
Afternoon



The Vice-Minister for Foreign Affairs of Bulgaria and the Minister of Institutional Reforms, Human Rights and Relations with Parliament of Burundi addressed the Commission on Human Rights this afternoon, reviewing domestic undertakings to advance fundamental rights and freedoms and commenting on matters ranging from the Middle East conflict to efforts to build democracy and end impunity for past abuses.

Petko Draganov of Bulgaria told the Commission that Bulgaria was now establishing an Ombudsman's institution to ensure additional guarantees for the effective enjoyment of human rights by citizens and residents; and that the protection of the rights of the most vulnerable groups -- children, women, minorities and refugees -- was among the priority goals of the Bulgarian Government. Mr. Draganov also said efforts had been made to improve opportunities for Roma in the country. He deplored escalating violence in the Middle East and said efforts to end terrorism must respect international human rights standards.

Alphonse Barancira, the Burundian Minister, said among other things that in spite of the new encouraging political situation in Burundi, violence committed against the civilian population continued, and the first priority of the Transitional Government was to obtain a permanent cease-fire. The economic and social situation in Burundi was difficult, he added, but the Transitional Government nonetheless was committed to establishing a state of law and to promoting and raising awareness among the population of human rights and fundamental freedoms.

Representatives of Iraq, Rwanda, Kuwait and the Democratic Republic of the Congo spoke in exercise of the right of reply.

Following these statements, the Commission met in closed session to continue its deliberations on human rights violations in specific countries under its 1503 procedure. At its next public meeting, at 10 a.m. on Tuesday, 2 April, it will continue its debate on the question of the violation of human rights in the occupied Arab territories, including Palestine.


Statements

PETKO DRAGANOV, Deputy Minister for Foreign Affairs of Bulgaria, said Bulgaria strongly supported the High Commissioner's vision of "all human rights -- for all" and the mainstreaming of human rights into every United Nations activity. The protection and promotion of human rights was a never-ending process that began at home. Bulgaria was now establishing an Ombudsman's institution, which would ensure additional guarantees for the effective enjoyment of human rights by the citizens and residents. The protection of the rights of the most vulnerable groups -- children, women, minorities and refugees -- was among the priority goals of the Government. At present, the worst forms of violence mostly affected children and women. The world was witnessing child labour, child soldiers, sexually abused children and adolescents, often trafficked as goods for all of these degrading purposes.

Bulgaria attached great importance to the promotion of tolerance and respect for diversity -- values which stood at the very core of democracy. The protection of the rights of persons belonging to minorities was a prerequisite for the maintenance of stability and security in both internal and international terms. Concerning the Roma, Bulgaria had seen tangible results in the field of education, namely the desegregation of Roma schools, and the improvement of the quality and access to education for the Roma children. Projects in the fields of housing, health care and professional qualifications were being implemented. Much remained to be done, but it was a long-term effort. However, the application of human rights standards, especially those related to minority rights, and the rights of specific vulnerable groups in the region of South Eastern Europe, was of paramount importance for the further stabilization and reconstruction of the Western Balkans.

Mr. Draganov also focused on the escalation of violence in the Middle East and said that the perpetuated clashes between Palestinians and Israelis caused irreversible harm to both communities. There could be no winners in a spiralling conflict of revenge and loss of human life. Impunity was another issue of concern for Bulgaria. In this respect, the International Tribunals for Yugoslavia and Rwanda played a significant role in efforts to fight crimes against humanity. The perpetrators of grave violations of human rights must have no safe-haven and must be held responsible for their actions. In this context, countries were called upon to adhere to the International Criminal Court. Concerning terrorism, Mr. Draganov said that the battle against terrorism must not be used as an excuse to violate human rights. He added that it was vital to stress, time and again, that no motives - be they political, religious, ethnic or social - could ever justify the actions of terrorists and those who harboured or assisted them.

ALPHONSE BARANCIRA, Minister of Institutional Reforms, Human Rights and Relations with the Parliament of Burundi, said that in spite of the new encouraging political situation in Burundi, it was necessary to note that violence committed against the civilian population continued. The peace and national reconciliation accord was signed without a cease-fire. This meant that the first priority of the Transitional Government was to obtain a global and permanent cease-fire. Without a cease-fire, the Government would not be able to ensure the rehabilitation of disaster victims, macroeconomic and financial stabilization and the relaunching of the national economy. The consequences of the war were felt by all the population and in all areas. The continuation of the war led to violations of fundamental human rights such as the right to life and security, acts of genocide, war crimes and other crimes against humanity, growth of crime and persistence of impunity and lack of respect for democratic rules.

Mr. Barancira continued that from a social point of view the situation was marked by a deterioration in social indicators, especially in the health area, the destruction of social infrastructure, a large number of disaster victims, including internally displaced persons and refugees, and a considerable increase in the number of orphans and street children. In the economic area, the situation was characterized by a deterioration in the economic situation, lack of financial resources, fall in private and public investments, disequilibrium in the balance of payments, excessive national debt, unchecked inflation and widespread abject poverty.

Mr. Barancira underlined that the objective of the Transitional Government was to establish a true state of law and promote and raise awareness among the population of human rights and fundamental freedoms. In this regard, the Transitional Constitution accorded primary importance to the protection of human rights and fundamental freedoms, recognizing that every person was sacred and inviolable. It also stipulated that every person had the right to life, security, physical integrity, development, fulfilment, education, culture and ownership. The Government was also committed to the fight against impunity and to increasing the representation of women throughout the national structure.

Rights of Reply

A Representative of Iraq, speaking in right of reply, said Iraq had no interest whatsoever in holding any Kuwaiti prisoners, despite what was said by the representative of Kuwait this morning. Some 6,222 Kuwaiti prisoners had been liberated, along with members of the Kuwaiti royal family and top officials of the Kuwaiti army. Iraq had cooperated with all the interested parties, and it had cooperated with the Red Cross since 1994. However, some parties still tried to keep this matter on the Commission's agenda as a justification for the economic embargo against Iraq and to justify daily attacks against the country. Iraq remained ready to welcome any Arab delegation wishing to look into the situation, and would receive relatives of those missing who wished to visit.

A Representative of Rwanda, exercising his right of reply, said he did not wish to respond to the groundless allegations heard in this room earlier in the day in such a short time. However, he did want to make it clear that Rwanda was not the root of the problems faced in the Democratic Republic of the Congo. In fact, the genocide in Rwanda had been perpetrated before the very eyes of the international community. Millions had been massacres by the command of the Kinshasa army. They had always dreamed of reconquering Rwanda and completing the genocide -- a genocide that had been recognized by the United Nations. Maybe it seemed irrelevant to Western countries -- Africa was remote. This had been made clear by a Western President during the genocide when he said that things happening in Africa were of little consequence in the West. Africa must take its destiny in hand. Coming whimpering at the Commission was no solution. Rwanda had shown that an African solution was possible. The true problem in the Democratic Republic of the Congo was not Rwanda, but the Congolese leadership. Rwandans were peaceloving people and had adhered to the Lusaka Agreement.

A Representative of Kuwait, speaking in right of reply, said Iraq had committed an enormous crime against his country in its invasion of 1990. Iraq's continued rejection of international decisions, including those regarding human rights, was further proof of its destructive policies. The statements of Iraq on this issue were simply misleading and had nothing to do with the facts arising out of the invasion of Iraq and the question of Kuwaiti prisoners of war. To claim that there were no Kuwaiti prisoners of war was simply not true. Iraq must release the remaining prisoners or return their corpses to their families. That Iraq had not cooperated with the Tripartite Committee was a clear indication of its unwillingness to resolve the issue of prisoners of war and missing persons.

A Representative of the Democratic Republic of Congo, speaking in right of reply, said that his delegation refuted the allegations made by Rwanda against his country. The Democratic Republic of the Congo had requested the Security Council to set up an enquiry to verify these events and he accused Rwanda of pillaging its resources.


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