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20 September 2002
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Geneva, 20 September 2002
BILINGUAL TRANSCRIPT OF PRESS CONFERENCE
GIVEN BY
SERGIO VIEIRA DE MELLO,
THE NEW HIGH COMMISSIONER FOR HUMAN RIGHTS
Following is the bilingual transcript, in English and French, of the comments made by Sergio Vieira de Mello, the new High Commissioner for Human Rights, at the regular Friday morning briefing of the Information Service at the Palais des Nations in Geneva.
Mr. Vieira de Mello: The task before me is enormous. I am conscious of that. I am also aware that I am taking over this post at a very delicate time for human rights. My job will require speaking out to turn the world's attention to abuses. But it also requires tact and political acumen, as well as the ability to roll up one's sleeves and get down to work to protect human rights away from the spotlights. The end goal must always be kept in sight: the promotion and protection of human rights for all. I am here to serve those individuals and communities denied protection above all others.
My task has been made immeasurably easier by the work of my two predecessors. They faced the onerous twin tasks of both establishing what is still a young office and, also, helping in putting on the map the importance of human rights in every facet of our life. Human rights are now fully at the centre of the inter-governmental debate: that hurdle therefore has been overcome. This advantage I have inherited, together with a strong foundation and team at my office with which to work.
I have been in the job exactly one week, so I am still getting my bearings. But these first hectic days have strengthened my conviction that my action as High Commissioner should be guided by the bedrock principles of the UN Charter, the Universal Declaration and the other human rights instruments adopted in the last half century. And the rule of law, this is one of my fundamental measures, the rule of law is the lynchpin of human rights protection. It is not just about morals, it is not just about politics. Of course it is both, it is about law. It has a legal basis, a legal foundation.
I told you last week that I would be paying particular attention to a number of broad themes: among them the protection of civilian populations in conflict; combatting racism and discrimination; the rights of women; and more and more. These issues are at the core of our collective sense of humanity.
Armed conflict is one of the greatest scourges of human rights violations today, and as you can imagine from my own personal history, one that I am particularly keen to address, as I attempted to do also in one of my previous posts in New York as Under-Secretary-General for humanitarian affairs. I have seen for myself throughout my work with the UN the ravages of war and violence, including in my last assignments to Kosovo and East Timor. Helping countries to recover from the legacy of armed conflict and violence, and contributing to the prevention and resolution of such confrontations through the observance of human rights will be one of my priorities.
My overarching theme, as I referred to a moment ago, will be fostering the rule of law, without which it is not possible to have respect for human rights, democracy and good governance.
Let me be clear: my office cannot on its own ensure respect for human rights. We can educate, we can assist, we can exhort, and - if needs be - we can seek to shame. But ultimately we alone cannot impel. It is States that have the primary responsibility towards the well-being of their citizens and hence the main responsibility for the protection and promotion of human rights. This responsibility applies both to those States which perpetrate abuses and also, as importantly, to those many States which have forged our international legal framework. Every day on this job I will address violations of these rights, whether they are consciously perpetrated or the result of ignorance, system deficiencies or inadequacies of capacity.
But I shall not just work with Governments. The Office of the High Commissioner also needs to work with the human rights family and expand it. We will work with a broad range of partners at the international, regional and national levels; with NGOs; human rights defenders; the humanitarian community; the development community; the UN as a whole, of which I am a part, which I grew (in); with regional organizations; and with you - the media - to strengthen and develop our human rights work and the understanding of this work and of the role of my office by the public at large.
In one sense, human rights are not about dreamy-eyed idealism. It is about the law and commitments and obligations. It is about will, policies, education, training, and last but not least, money, resources. The extensive body of international human rights law that we have available is the closest thing we have to a universal code of conduct. All the more so since these commitments have been accepted voluntarily by most States. The violation of these commitments should always be seen as an affront to all and must not be tolerated.
In conclusion, and before I switch to French, let me get back to where I began. This job is about people - it is about human beings. It is about the victims of conflict; about the hungry; the poor; those who live under oppressive regimes; the tortured; and the silenced. And in that sense it is about idealism: we must not hide behind excuses that rights for all are too often difficult to define or too difficult to attain. We must not compromise on our end goal.
Human rights are about dignity: the dignity of those denied their rights as well as our own dignity. What do the victims think of us, what do they expect from us, and how do we see ourselves? These are not theoretical questions. These are very real issues. Many of us have gone through this experience in our lives.
I look forward to the four difficult but I know rewarding years ahead. More immediately, I look forward obviously to taking your questions in a moment.
La tâche qui se trouve devant nous est immense. Je sais que je prends mes fonctions comme Haut-Commissaire à une période délicate et difficile pour les droits de l'homme. Une de mes fonctions va être de dénoncer et attirer l'attention de la communauté internationale sur les abus des droits de l'homme commis dans le monde. Mais si mon poste nécessite aussi tact et perspicacité politique, il m'incombe aussi chaque fois qu'il le faut de remonter mes manches et celles de mes collègues, et d'aller sur le terrain, car c'est sur le terrain que ces droits sont violés, ou de négocier afin d'atteindre ces objectifs. Il n'y a pas véritablement de règles, il y a beaucoup de cas particuliers. Ce faisant, je devrai parfois le faire loin des caméras de télévisions et des micros des radios.
Mon travail a été largement facilité par celui de mes deux prédécesseurs, auxquels je veux rendre hommage ici. Ils ont eu à faire face à un double défi : établir, construire, structurer ce qui est et reste encore un bureau très jeune. Le Haut-Commissaire aux droits de l'homme a moins de 10 ans, c'est encore un enfant comparé à d'autres institutions, y compris celles que j'ai servies dans le passé. Mais ils ont aussi tous eu cette tâche très difficile de mettre la question des droits de l'homme sur le devant de la scène et au centre de la scène internationale. Ce double défi a été atteint, du moins en partie.
Cela fait exactement une semaine que j'ai pris mes fonctions, vous comprendrez qu'il me faut donc un peu de temps pour fixer les jalons et je que ne pourrai donc pas nécessairement répondre à toutes vos questions de façon satisfaisante aujourd'hui. Mais ces tout premiers jours, que je qualifierais de bien remplis, a renforcé ma conviction que mes actions en tant que Haut-Commissaire doivent se fonder sur les principes de la Charte, de la Déclaration universelle des droits de l'homme et de tous les instruments des droits de l'homme qui ont été adoptés au cours des cinquante dernières années. Le respect du droit international et national est au cœur de la protection des droits de l'homme. Et je disais en anglais que les droits de l'homme ne sont pas uniquement une question de morale, une question politique, économique ou sociale; ils sont essentiellement une question juridique, ils ont une base juridique, ils ont une base de droit, il ne faut jamais oublier cela.
Lors de ma brève déclaration la semaine dernière, le jour où le drapeau suisse a été levé devant ce palais, je vous ai dit que la protection des populations civiles dans les conflits armés, la lutte contre le racisme et autres formes de discrimination, les droits de femmes faisaient partie de mes priorités, mais que ces questions évidemment n'étaient pas exhaustives ni exclusives. Elles sont toutefois au centre de la Charte et au centre de mes préoccupations personnelles.
Les conflits armés sont l'une des origines des violations des droits de l'homme aujourd'hui et dans le passé. Il s'agit d'aider ces pays et ces populations de contribuer à résoudre mais aussi à prévenir de telles confrontations grâce au respect des droits de l'homme. Cela aussi sera l'un des grands défis.
En conclusion et avant que je ne réponde à vos questions, laissez moi revenir à ce que je disais au début de cette introduction. Mon travail concerne les individus, il concerne ceux qui ont faim, ceux qui vivent dans la misère, ceux qui subissent les régimes d'oppression, ceux qui subissent la torture, ceux qui sont exploités et ceux auxquels on impose le silence. Les droits de l'homme se fondent sur la dignité, la dignité de tous, mais aussi la nôtre, et plus particulièrement la mienne, afin que je puisse me regarder dans le miroir et me dire que j'ai fait ce qu'ils attendent de moi.
Je suis donc très heureux mais conscient des défis et des difficultés de ce mandat, je sais que la tâche qui m'attend au long de ces prochaines quatre années sera particulièrement complexe comparée à toutes celles que j'ai assumées auparavant. Je sais gré au Secrétaire général de m'avoir fait confiance. J'espère ne pas vous décevoir et le décevoir et je m'y attacherai avec conviction et détermination.
Question: M. de Mello, le problème le plus chaud du moment c'est le Moyen Orient, surtout la Palestine et Israël, bien que maintenant c'est l'Iraq qui occupe les médias. Mais principalement c'est en Israël et en Palestine; qu'est-ce que vous comptez faire là-bas ? Est-ce que vous avez un programme ? Normalement, celui qui se mêle à cette situation politique est attaqué par les Américains et les Israéliens. Est-ce que vous allez être prudent ? Est-ce que vous allez être courageux comme l'était Mme Robinson ?
M. Vieira de Mello: Vous me posez là une question tellement générale. Vous savez que j'ai servi au Moyen Orient donc ce n'est pas un problème abstrait pour moi. J'étais conseiller politique de la force des Nations Unies au Sud-Liban au début des années 80; j'ai travaillé avec les deux côtés; j'ai vécu le drame. Je crois comprendre les deux côtés. C'est peut-être un avantage. Je ferai ce que les deux parties croiront utile pour avancer le processus de paix. Il est évident, et le Secrétaire général s'y emploie, que ce conflit n'a que trop duré, n'a causé que trop de souffrances et je m'emploierai, dans la mesure où le Haut-Commissariat ou moi-même pouvons y contribuer, à faire en sorte que la recherche d'une solution et que la solution définitive et durable de ce problème soient fondées sur le respect des droits de l'homme des deux peuples. Et je sais, je suis convaincu que c'est possible.
Question: Vous avez déclaré que les questions des droits de l'homme ne sont pas uniquement morales mais sont des questions juridiques. Que pensez-vous faire pour qu'Israël respecte les résolutions de l'ONU, qui sont des résolutions juridiques du droit international qui ne sont pas respectées jusqu'à aujourd'hui? Pourtant, on a ces pays comme l'Afghanistan, l'Iraq etc., et là, rien ne se passe et on ne respecte pas.
M. Vieira de Mello: Les résolutions sont des résolutions du Conseil de sécurité. Ce sont des résolutions éminemment politiques; c'est au Conseil de sécurité de les faire respecter. En ce qui concerne le respect des droits de l'homme, je m'engagerai, je me suis déjà engagé dans un dialogue avec le Gouvernement israélien et je l'encouragerai, de toutes les façons possibles et imaginables, à respecter les droits de l'homme et de la femme - j'ai envie de dire des droits humains parce que je n'aime pas l'expression droits de l'homme - des Palestiniens dans les territoires occupés.
Question: Mr. de Mello, at this year's Human Rights Commission, there was some discussion on whether a committee or task force should be set up to look at the protection of human rights in the context of fighting terrorism. Given that some States and non-governmental organizations have expressed concern on fighting terrorism, how it can be used as a pretext for human rights violations, what is your position on that, and what will you do to ensure the measures taken by States to fight terrorism would be strictly in coherence of the rule of law that you mentioned. Thank you.
Mr. Vieira de Mello: This is not an easy issue. And you are really grilling me in my first appearance here by raising the most difficult questions. But this is fair play. First of all, I have said ad nauseam that terrorism is not a new phenomenon, but the forms that terrorism has taken in recent times is undoubtedly one of the most despicable international crimes. Okay, and there are many transnational crimes as it were these days, but this is perhaps the worst. And in addressing that question, one should never forget what happened on 11 September of last year, that should remain always in the background. Now, to an exceptional threat, often exceptional measures are required. What I have said is that these exceptional measures must be taken in transparency, respecting the fact that there are certain fundamental rights which are non-derogable, that cannot be derogated, and that these measures should be of short duration. Any individual, any society that is attacked as brutally as was the case of last year responds and reacts in a manner that some may consider excessive, but this is natural. What we need to ensure is that that reaction is of short duration, and complies with those rights that cannot be derogated. Now, you know that my predecessor began, and I will continue, in fact I have already established contacts with the Committee on Terrorism of the Security Council, she has, and I will continue to raise this point with them so that measures that are adopted to fight terrorism do not infringe on the rights of individuals and the most fundamental rights that I repeat cannot be derogated.
Question: High Commissioner, on a more specific note on the Middle East, have you requested from the Israeli Government to end the current siege of Mr. Arafat and the current incursion in Gaza. And what are your comments on the current escalation that started the day before yesterday.
Mr. Vieira de Mello: Well, on your first question, no. I have had general discussions with them. On the second, I repeat. Having gone through a traumatic two year experience in my own life dealing with that problem, even though it was from the angle of southern Lebanon, what I have seen developing in recent years, in recent months, and again since the day before yesterday, (inaudible), this goes against the sense of history, this goes against the interests of the Arab nations, of Israel, of the Palestinians, it goes against their right to peace, it goes against their right to live and co-exist in dignity, in neutral respect, in prosperity, in cooperation, in full compliance with their respective rights. And in particular, extreme forms of violence, and I believe you are referring to the bombing in front of the Palestinian school two days ago, and again the killing of civilians yesterday in Tel Aviv, are aimed at delaying the solution, perhaps even making the solution impossible, creating hatred between the two people, which is the worst obstacle to peace and the most difficult one to overcome. And if our voice is the voice of the Secretary-General who has spoken out on this issue, and if my voice can serve any purpose, I hope that we will revert immediately to this six week period of relative peace and get down to the real job, let the Quartet continue, they have come up with some practical ideas, that is the way forward.
Question: Claire Nullis, AP, one of the old faces. This really just requires a one-word answer, yes or no. From what you have said so far, it would seem that you were going to take a slightly lower profile than your predecessor, maybe relying less on the criticism and more on behind the scenes persuasion. Am I correct in that statement.
Mr. Vieira de Mello: I will not reply by yes or no, but I will reply very briefly. Judge me on the basis of results, not on style.
Question: Je vous félicite pour votre nomination et vous souhaite plein succès. Comme vous le savez, votre prédécesseur a engagé une coopération technique en Chine et plusieurs étapes sont très réussies. Est ce que vous continuerez cette coopération technique? Avez-vous l'intention de visiter prochainement la Chine ?
M. Vieira de Mello: La réponse est oui aux deux questions. Mary Robinson et, dans une moindre mesure, son prédécesseur, ont lancé divers programmes sur le terrain. Ils sont de nature diverse : ce que nous faisons en Colombie, au Cambodge, au Burundi, n'est pas la même chose que ce que nous faisons en Chine ou ailleurs. Mais ces programmes de coopération technique sont très importants. Car le droit international est évidemment important, et ce n'est pas à moi de vous le dire, mais plus importante encore est la législation nationale, et la pratique et la mise en œuvre et l'exécution de ces législations nationales. Et donc tous les programmes de coopération technique, y compris en Chine, sont destinés à faire en sorte que ces lois soient non seulement reconnues mais appliquées, en particulier par les institutions qui ont le devoir de le faire.
Deuxièmement, quant à une visite en Chine ou ailleurs, l'intention est évidemment d'y aller. Vous me connaissez, cela fait 33 ans que je visite ce monde et je ne vais pas changer. Donc, c'est une question de déterminer des dates qui soient mutuellement convenables et cela se fera sans doute dans la première moitié de l'année prochaine.
Question: Welcome Sergio and good luck on your new job. I am also an old face. I am going to piggy-back on my other colleague. Your predecessor, Mrs. Robinson, when she came in at her first press conference, said that she was going to be the voice of the voiceless. I was wondering whether you were planning to also be the voice of the voiceless. She also got into a lot of hot water by her attacks and criticism of powerful nations like the United States, China and Russia. Are you are going to openly criticise countries such as these if you feel that they deserve criticism, or will you use a different technique. And I am not adverse to verbosity, so you can use as many words as you like.
Mr. Vieira de Mello: I think I said in my introductory remarks that this Office and my own function exist to speak for those who are denied a voice. So yes, I will do that. But speaking can have different meanings, and I come to your second question. I have answered to some of your colleagues in New York who have put that question to me recently that you cannot really generalise; it will depend on each specific situation. Sometimes, speaking up will be necessary, will be a moral and legal obligation. In other circumstances, negotiating, exhausting other means, will be preferable to achieve the objective right. I said in reply to your neighbour that you should judge the Organization, the Office of the High Commissioner, and myself, on the basis of results, not style, not through a public statement, not through a negotiation behind closed doors, but about the outcome of both or a combination of both. I can give you many examples of quiet diplomacy that have produced results. There are also obviously examples of public statements and criticism, including of the (inaudible) that have produced the desired outcome. There is no general rule. Let me determine. Let me develop some experience first - which I should use when.
Question: Pensez-vous que la présence ou la visite d'un Haut-Commissaire aux droits de l'homme sur le terrain a suffisamment d'autorité pour arrêter ou limiter les violations des droits de l'homme. Si oui, quelles ont été les expériences qui, pour vous, ont été concrètement très importantes pour que, vous aussi, vous preniez le bâton de pèlerin ?
M. Vieira de Mello: Pour ceux qui me connaissent, je n'ai rien fait d'autre depuis mon entrée aux Nations Unies que de prendre et de serrer le bâton de pèlerin, et non pas uniquement dans des visites sur le terrain, pas seulement des missions de courte durée sur le terrain, mais de longs séjours sur le terrain. La réponse à votre question est manifestement oui, c'est sur le terrain que les problèmes se posent. Est-ce que le Haut-Commissaire aux droits de l'homme peut avoir un impact favorable? La réponse est manifestement oui. Encore une fois, on ne peut pas généraliser. Ce n'est souvent pas par une courte visite que vous obtenez des résultats, c'est par un engagement de longue durée car il s'agit d'améliorer le respect des droits de l'homme dans une situation déterminée. Il s'agit de construire de nouvelles institutions démocratiques, respectueuses des droits de l'homme. C'est ce que nous avons fait au Kosovo, c'est ce que nous avons fait au Timor. Je peux vous dire que ça ne se fait pas du jour au lendemain, et ça ne se fait pas non plus en deux ans et demi, qui a été la durée de l'Administration transitoire au Timor : ça se fait souvent sur des décennies. Donc, l'impact est réel et nécessaire, mais n'attendez pas toujours des résultats immédiats, instantanés.
Question: Stephanie Nebehay, Reuters. Mr. Brahimi, as you are probably aware, last night said that the UN will be investigating the mass graves and other suspicious deaths in Afghanistan. Is your Office prepared to cooperate in this investigation, and what are your other concerns in that country which is still unstable.
Mr. Vieira de Mello: My concerns in that country are many. It is a country that I have visited twice in 1998 and 1999 what I was Under-Secretary-General for humanitarian affairs and in charge of coordinating humanitarian assistance to Afghanistan. I will not list all those concerns, because they would cover I think the entire spectrum of human rights, not least the rights of women. But to answer your specific question, yes I have been in touch with Lakhdar Brahimi. We have been working together in recent weeks. I have told him, no later than yesterday morning, that he can count on my Office. The question of mass graves and killings by both sides in the previous state of affairs in that country is not new. We had to deal with that in 1998. Unfortunately, the security situation on the ground did not enable us to conclude the investigation. I am confident this time that provided forensic experts can be given the necessary security in those areas, and we are talking about areas if I am not mistaken in the vicinity of Mazar-i-Sharif, we can do the job and we can do it competently. But we should always do it in accordance with the wishes of the Afghan authorities, with their full participation because after all it is they who will have to deal with the consequences of these massacres, and very close cooperation needless to say with UNAMA and Lakhdar Brahimi.
Question: A follow-up. Is there a time frame that has been decided? Is there a time frame that you can say that you are looking to start these investigations by some of the experts at your end?
Mr. Vieira de Mello: Well, I have said to Lakhdar Brahimi that we can mobilize the experts very quickly, and we have already established contacts with two such groups that I will not name here obviously. It is likely to be a task of a certain duration, it is not a picnic affair, they will not be going there for a couple of days, this will require several weeks if the job is to be done properly and with full respect for the remains of those that will be found in the different mass graves. Therefore, the paramount question here is security. Provide me with security, and they will be there very very quickly.
Question: The next Human Rights Commission meeting is likely to see Libya as the Chair, a country where human rights violations are well known to be taking place. How are you going to handle that situation?
Mr. Vieira de Mello: You are really asking me the easiest (questions) today. First of all, I think it is important that you help me make a clear distinction, which I do not think exists even in the minds of some within the United Nations system, between the Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights on the one hand, and the Commission on Human Rights. One is the Office I have, it is part of the Secretariat, the other is an inter-governmental organ formed by States. Now, the election of the President and of the Bureau of the Human Rights Commission is the responsibility of its members, so you should address that question to them. Alright. They will vote, they will choose their Chairman, their Vice-Chairmen, their Rapporteurs and the members of the extended Bureau. Secondly, a Chairperson, man or woman, of whichever inter-governmental body, must by definition transcend national interests. Okay. And thirdly, I think your question that has been raised many times in recent days, may provide the Commission with an opportunity for promoting an idea that has already been floated by some Member States in the Commission on Human Rights, which is to select criteria for membership in the Commission on Human Rights. You know, defining the bottom line, adherence, ratification of all important human rights instruments, their implementation in practise within the borders of that country, the willingness to promote and protect human rights worldwide, some basic requirements. It is not for me to list those requirements. I can contribute to the discussion. I am doing so by answering your question. And I will happily do so if I was requested by the Commission. But it is a task for the Commission itself. And it is one that I think would greatly increase the credibility of the human rights machinery and of the United Nations as a whole.
Question: Quels sont vos projets au sujet de l'Amérique latine au niveau des droits de l'homme ? Dans votre pays il y a pas mal de cas où les droits de l'homme sont bafoués. Est-ce que vous allez aussi intervenir à ce niveau là ?
M. Vieira de Mello: En Amérique latine les choses se sont, Dieu merci, améliorées ces deux dernières décennies. Souvenez-vous des années 60, souvenez-vous des années 70 et, dans certains pays, même des années 80. Il est indubitable que la trajectoire est ascendante, que les régimes démocratiques sont plus nombreux aujourd'hui, que la région toute entière s'est donnée comme objectif d'écarter de son sein les régimes qui refuseraient la démocratisation et le respect des droits de l'homme.
Il y a beaucoup à dire sur l'Amérique latine et beaucoup de choses positives à dire. Je dirais que, dans le cas de certains pays latino-américains, peut-être dans tous, ce qu'ils devraient faire - et je dirais la même chose de tous les États membres des Nations Unies - c'est de faire ce que le Mexique et le Brésil ont fait, c'est-à-dire de lancer une invitation générale, sans restriction, à tous les Rapporteurs spéciaux et à toutes les procédures spéciales du système des droits de l'homme des Nations Unies pour qu'ils se rendent sur place et puissent investiguer librement ce qui leur plaira.
La semaine dernière, le Groupe de travail sur les détentions arbitraires se réunissait à Genève, et j'ai voulu les rencontrer; je venais d'arriver. Il est présidé par un vieil ami, Louis Joinet. Ils m'ont dit qu'ils partaient bientôt pour le Mexique. J'ai demandé «mais pourquoi le Mexique», et ils m'ont dit «Parce que nous avons été invités». L'Ambassadeur du Brésil me disait que le Brésil venait d'inviter, spécifiquement, la Rapporteuse spéciale sur les exécutions sommaires, qui est un problème grave au Brésil, et pas le seul. Voilà une attitude courageuse. Je crois que le jour où tous les pays du monde seront disposés à inviter, au risque de se faire critiquer, de se faire clouer au pilori, les rapporteurs spéciaux, les personnalités indépendantes et les groupes de travail sur des questions aussi fondamentales que celles-là et, pour parler de l'Amérique latine, y compris les autochtones et nos compatriotes d'origine africaine, ce sera un grand pas en avant pour la reconnaissance des insuffisances, des erreurs, des violations des droits de l'homme, leur promotion, leur respect et leur protection.
Question: Will you look for a woman to be Assistant High Commissioner? And a follow-up on the question by my colleague from Latin America, what is the meaning of having all these invitations to the human rights mechanisms when the Governments are not doing their part and are not responding to suggestions that Special Rapporteurs give after their visits.
Mr. Vieira de Mello: I will start with the second, that is why I said that these open invitations are a first important step towards acknowledging that there exist problems, and that countries, even advanced countries, in many respects like my own and Mexico, need help, need advice from impartial bodies and support from institutions such as the one I now have to correct those deficiencies. But they are not an answer in their own right Obviously, what Governments need to do after such visits is to implement such recommendations. And I will see to it that they do so. Perhaps, your first question is the most difficult that you have asked me today because I do not want to betray the confidence of the Secretary-General with whom I have discussed this question. But if I could, that would be an ideal decision.
Question: Sir, just to conclude, it still looks like a regime change at the Palais Wilson anyway. And you also mentioned that you are stepping over a mine field. So my question is, which mines do you expect to explode first. Thank you.
Mr. Vieira de Mello: Listen, you should have read the quotation in full. As we were launching a CD-rom yesterday on the margins of the meeting on anti-personnel mines, I did recall to some of the attendants that mines are not unknown to me in many of my previous assignments, not least in Cambodia where I was in charge of the repatriation of nearly 400,000 Cambodians into a heavily mined country and I was appointed first interim Director of the Cambodian mine action centre. So not only do I know the problem, but I think I also know how to avoid it. So I hope there will be no mines. Hold it. There has been a change, not of regime, there has been a change of person. Mary Robinson is not Sergio Vieira de Mello - Sergio Vieira de Mello is not Mary Robinson. But they will be both working now in her future tasks, as you know she is herself not giving up and she will be addressing some pretty fundamental issues linked to globalization, and myself, in her footsteps, towards the same goals.
Comment: In the absence of my colleague from ACANU, I would like to wish you Sergio a very hearty welcome among us. We were missing you all these years. What you have just said is that you will need a hell of a lot of perseverance, of courage, of courage, and diplomacy. I think that in the past, you have shown that you possess all those qualities and we wish you lots of luck. We wish to tell you that we shall also be able to help you. Thank you very much for being among us.
Mr. Vieira de Mello: Thank you.
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BILINGUAL TRANSCRIPT OF PRESS CONFERENCE
GIVEN BY
SERGIO VIEIRA DE MELLO,
THE NEW HIGH COMMISSIONER FOR HUMAN RIGHTS
Following is the bilingual transcript, in English and French, of the comments made by Sergio Vieira de Mello, the new High Commissioner for Human Rights, at the regular Friday morning briefing of the Information Service at the Palais des Nations in Geneva.
Mr. Vieira de Mello: The task before me is enormous. I am conscious of that. I am also aware that I am taking over this post at a very delicate time for human rights. My job will require speaking out to turn the world's attention to abuses. But it also requires tact and political acumen, as well as the ability to roll up one's sleeves and get down to work to protect human rights away from the spotlights. The end goal must always be kept in sight: the promotion and protection of human rights for all. I am here to serve those individuals and communities denied protection above all others.
My task has been made immeasurably easier by the work of my two predecessors. They faced the onerous twin tasks of both establishing what is still a young office and, also, helping in putting on the map the importance of human rights in every facet of our life. Human rights are now fully at the centre of the inter-governmental debate: that hurdle therefore has been overcome. This advantage I have inherited, together with a strong foundation and team at my office with which to work.
I have been in the job exactly one week, so I am still getting my bearings. But these first hectic days have strengthened my conviction that my action as High Commissioner should be guided by the bedrock principles of the UN Charter, the Universal Declaration and the other human rights instruments adopted in the last half century. And the rule of law, this is one of my fundamental measures, the rule of law is the lynchpin of human rights protection. It is not just about morals, it is not just about politics. Of course it is both, it is about law. It has a legal basis, a legal foundation.
I told you last week that I would be paying particular attention to a number of broad themes: among them the protection of civilian populations in conflict; combatting racism and discrimination; the rights of women; and more and more. These issues are at the core of our collective sense of humanity.
Armed conflict is one of the greatest scourges of human rights violations today, and as you can imagine from my own personal history, one that I am particularly keen to address, as I attempted to do also in one of my previous posts in New York as Under-Secretary-General for humanitarian affairs. I have seen for myself throughout my work with the UN the ravages of war and violence, including in my last assignments to Kosovo and East Timor. Helping countries to recover from the legacy of armed conflict and violence, and contributing to the prevention and resolution of such confrontations through the observance of human rights will be one of my priorities.
My overarching theme, as I referred to a moment ago, will be fostering the rule of law, without which it is not possible to have respect for human rights, democracy and good governance.
Let me be clear: my office cannot on its own ensure respect for human rights. We can educate, we can assist, we can exhort, and - if needs be - we can seek to shame. But ultimately we alone cannot impel. It is States that have the primary responsibility towards the well-being of their citizens and hence the main responsibility for the protection and promotion of human rights. This responsibility applies both to those States which perpetrate abuses and also, as importantly, to those many States which have forged our international legal framework. Every day on this job I will address violations of these rights, whether they are consciously perpetrated or the result of ignorance, system deficiencies or inadequacies of capacity.
But I shall not just work with Governments. The Office of the High Commissioner also needs to work with the human rights family and expand it. We will work with a broad range of partners at the international, regional and national levels; with NGOs; human rights defenders; the humanitarian community; the development community; the UN as a whole, of which I am a part, which I grew (in); with regional organizations; and with you - the media - to strengthen and develop our human rights work and the understanding of this work and of the role of my office by the public at large.
In one sense, human rights are not about dreamy-eyed idealism. It is about the law and commitments and obligations. It is about will, policies, education, training, and last but not least, money, resources. The extensive body of international human rights law that we have available is the closest thing we have to a universal code of conduct. All the more so since these commitments have been accepted voluntarily by most States. The violation of these commitments should always be seen as an affront to all and must not be tolerated.
In conclusion, and before I switch to French, let me get back to where I began. This job is about people - it is about human beings. It is about the victims of conflict; about the hungry; the poor; those who live under oppressive regimes; the tortured; and the silenced. And in that sense it is about idealism: we must not hide behind excuses that rights for all are too often difficult to define or too difficult to attain. We must not compromise on our end goal.
Human rights are about dignity: the dignity of those denied their rights as well as our own dignity. What do the victims think of us, what do they expect from us, and how do we see ourselves? These are not theoretical questions. These are very real issues. Many of us have gone through this experience in our lives.
I look forward to the four difficult but I know rewarding years ahead. More immediately, I look forward obviously to taking your questions in a moment.
La tâche qui se trouve devant nous est immense. Je sais que je prends mes fonctions comme Haut-Commissaire à une période délicate et difficile pour les droits de l'homme. Une de mes fonctions va être de dénoncer et attirer l'attention de la communauté internationale sur les abus des droits de l'homme commis dans le monde. Mais si mon poste nécessite aussi tact et perspicacité politique, il m'incombe aussi chaque fois qu'il le faut de remonter mes manches et celles de mes collègues, et d'aller sur le terrain, car c'est sur le terrain que ces droits sont violés, ou de négocier afin d'atteindre ces objectifs. Il n'y a pas véritablement de règles, il y a beaucoup de cas particuliers. Ce faisant, je devrai parfois le faire loin des caméras de télévisions et des micros des radios.
Mon travail a été largement facilité par celui de mes deux prédécesseurs, auxquels je veux rendre hommage ici. Ils ont eu à faire face à un double défi : établir, construire, structurer ce qui est et reste encore un bureau très jeune. Le Haut-Commissaire aux droits de l'homme a moins de 10 ans, c'est encore un enfant comparé à d'autres institutions, y compris celles que j'ai servies dans le passé. Mais ils ont aussi tous eu cette tâche très difficile de mettre la question des droits de l'homme sur le devant de la scène et au centre de la scène internationale. Ce double défi a été atteint, du moins en partie.
Cela fait exactement une semaine que j'ai pris mes fonctions, vous comprendrez qu'il me faut donc un peu de temps pour fixer les jalons et je que ne pourrai donc pas nécessairement répondre à toutes vos questions de façon satisfaisante aujourd'hui. Mais ces tout premiers jours, que je qualifierais de bien remplis, a renforcé ma conviction que mes actions en tant que Haut-Commissaire doivent se fonder sur les principes de la Charte, de la Déclaration universelle des droits de l'homme et de tous les instruments des droits de l'homme qui ont été adoptés au cours des cinquante dernières années. Le respect du droit international et national est au cœur de la protection des droits de l'homme. Et je disais en anglais que les droits de l'homme ne sont pas uniquement une question de morale, une question politique, économique ou sociale; ils sont essentiellement une question juridique, ils ont une base juridique, ils ont une base de droit, il ne faut jamais oublier cela.
Lors de ma brève déclaration la semaine dernière, le jour où le drapeau suisse a été levé devant ce palais, je vous ai dit que la protection des populations civiles dans les conflits armés, la lutte contre le racisme et autres formes de discrimination, les droits de femmes faisaient partie de mes priorités, mais que ces questions évidemment n'étaient pas exhaustives ni exclusives. Elles sont toutefois au centre de la Charte et au centre de mes préoccupations personnelles.
Les conflits armés sont l'une des origines des violations des droits de l'homme aujourd'hui et dans le passé. Il s'agit d'aider ces pays et ces populations de contribuer à résoudre mais aussi à prévenir de telles confrontations grâce au respect des droits de l'homme. Cela aussi sera l'un des grands défis.
En conclusion et avant que je ne réponde à vos questions, laissez moi revenir à ce que je disais au début de cette introduction. Mon travail concerne les individus, il concerne ceux qui ont faim, ceux qui vivent dans la misère, ceux qui subissent les régimes d'oppression, ceux qui subissent la torture, ceux qui sont exploités et ceux auxquels on impose le silence. Les droits de l'homme se fondent sur la dignité, la dignité de tous, mais aussi la nôtre, et plus particulièrement la mienne, afin que je puisse me regarder dans le miroir et me dire que j'ai fait ce qu'ils attendent de moi.
Je suis donc très heureux mais conscient des défis et des difficultés de ce mandat, je sais que la tâche qui m'attend au long de ces prochaines quatre années sera particulièrement complexe comparée à toutes celles que j'ai assumées auparavant. Je sais gré au Secrétaire général de m'avoir fait confiance. J'espère ne pas vous décevoir et le décevoir et je m'y attacherai avec conviction et détermination.
Question: M. de Mello, le problème le plus chaud du moment c'est le Moyen Orient, surtout la Palestine et Israël, bien que maintenant c'est l'Iraq qui occupe les médias. Mais principalement c'est en Israël et en Palestine; qu'est-ce que vous comptez faire là-bas ? Est-ce que vous avez un programme ? Normalement, celui qui se mêle à cette situation politique est attaqué par les Américains et les Israéliens. Est-ce que vous allez être prudent ? Est-ce que vous allez être courageux comme l'était Mme Robinson ?
M. Vieira de Mello: Vous me posez là une question tellement générale. Vous savez que j'ai servi au Moyen Orient donc ce n'est pas un problème abstrait pour moi. J'étais conseiller politique de la force des Nations Unies au Sud-Liban au début des années 80; j'ai travaillé avec les deux côtés; j'ai vécu le drame. Je crois comprendre les deux côtés. C'est peut-être un avantage. Je ferai ce que les deux parties croiront utile pour avancer le processus de paix. Il est évident, et le Secrétaire général s'y emploie, que ce conflit n'a que trop duré, n'a causé que trop de souffrances et je m'emploierai, dans la mesure où le Haut-Commissariat ou moi-même pouvons y contribuer, à faire en sorte que la recherche d'une solution et que la solution définitive et durable de ce problème soient fondées sur le respect des droits de l'homme des deux peuples. Et je sais, je suis convaincu que c'est possible.
Question: Vous avez déclaré que les questions des droits de l'homme ne sont pas uniquement morales mais sont des questions juridiques. Que pensez-vous faire pour qu'Israël respecte les résolutions de l'ONU, qui sont des résolutions juridiques du droit international qui ne sont pas respectées jusqu'à aujourd'hui? Pourtant, on a ces pays comme l'Afghanistan, l'Iraq etc., et là, rien ne se passe et on ne respecte pas.
M. Vieira de Mello: Les résolutions sont des résolutions du Conseil de sécurité. Ce sont des résolutions éminemment politiques; c'est au Conseil de sécurité de les faire respecter. En ce qui concerne le respect des droits de l'homme, je m'engagerai, je me suis déjà engagé dans un dialogue avec le Gouvernement israélien et je l'encouragerai, de toutes les façons possibles et imaginables, à respecter les droits de l'homme et de la femme - j'ai envie de dire des droits humains parce que je n'aime pas l'expression droits de l'homme - des Palestiniens dans les territoires occupés.
Question: Mr. de Mello, at this year's Human Rights Commission, there was some discussion on whether a committee or task force should be set up to look at the protection of human rights in the context of fighting terrorism. Given that some States and non-governmental organizations have expressed concern on fighting terrorism, how it can be used as a pretext for human rights violations, what is your position on that, and what will you do to ensure the measures taken by States to fight terrorism would be strictly in coherence of the rule of law that you mentioned. Thank you.
Mr. Vieira de Mello: This is not an easy issue. And you are really grilling me in my first appearance here by raising the most difficult questions. But this is fair play. First of all, I have said ad nauseam that terrorism is not a new phenomenon, but the forms that terrorism has taken in recent times is undoubtedly one of the most despicable international crimes. Okay, and there are many transnational crimes as it were these days, but this is perhaps the worst. And in addressing that question, one should never forget what happened on 11 September of last year, that should remain always in the background. Now, to an exceptional threat, often exceptional measures are required. What I have said is that these exceptional measures must be taken in transparency, respecting the fact that there are certain fundamental rights which are non-derogable, that cannot be derogated, and that these measures should be of short duration. Any individual, any society that is attacked as brutally as was the case of last year responds and reacts in a manner that some may consider excessive, but this is natural. What we need to ensure is that that reaction is of short duration, and complies with those rights that cannot be derogated. Now, you know that my predecessor began, and I will continue, in fact I have already established contacts with the Committee on Terrorism of the Security Council, she has, and I will continue to raise this point with them so that measures that are adopted to fight terrorism do not infringe on the rights of individuals and the most fundamental rights that I repeat cannot be derogated.
Question: High Commissioner, on a more specific note on the Middle East, have you requested from the Israeli Government to end the current siege of Mr. Arafat and the current incursion in Gaza. And what are your comments on the current escalation that started the day before yesterday.
Mr. Vieira de Mello: Well, on your first question, no. I have had general discussions with them. On the second, I repeat. Having gone through a traumatic two year experience in my own life dealing with that problem, even though it was from the angle of southern Lebanon, what I have seen developing in recent years, in recent months, and again since the day before yesterday, (inaudible), this goes against the sense of history, this goes against the interests of the Arab nations, of Israel, of the Palestinians, it goes against their right to peace, it goes against their right to live and co-exist in dignity, in neutral respect, in prosperity, in cooperation, in full compliance with their respective rights. And in particular, extreme forms of violence, and I believe you are referring to the bombing in front of the Palestinian school two days ago, and again the killing of civilians yesterday in Tel Aviv, are aimed at delaying the solution, perhaps even making the solution impossible, creating hatred between the two people, which is the worst obstacle to peace and the most difficult one to overcome. And if our voice is the voice of the Secretary-General who has spoken out on this issue, and if my voice can serve any purpose, I hope that we will revert immediately to this six week period of relative peace and get down to the real job, let the Quartet continue, they have come up with some practical ideas, that is the way forward.
Question: Claire Nullis, AP, one of the old faces. This really just requires a one-word answer, yes or no. From what you have said so far, it would seem that you were going to take a slightly lower profile than your predecessor, maybe relying less on the criticism and more on behind the scenes persuasion. Am I correct in that statement.
Mr. Vieira de Mello: I will not reply by yes or no, but I will reply very briefly. Judge me on the basis of results, not on style.
Question: Je vous félicite pour votre nomination et vous souhaite plein succès. Comme vous le savez, votre prédécesseur a engagé une coopération technique en Chine et plusieurs étapes sont très réussies. Est ce que vous continuerez cette coopération technique? Avez-vous l'intention de visiter prochainement la Chine ?
M. Vieira de Mello: La réponse est oui aux deux questions. Mary Robinson et, dans une moindre mesure, son prédécesseur, ont lancé divers programmes sur le terrain. Ils sont de nature diverse : ce que nous faisons en Colombie, au Cambodge, au Burundi, n'est pas la même chose que ce que nous faisons en Chine ou ailleurs. Mais ces programmes de coopération technique sont très importants. Car le droit international est évidemment important, et ce n'est pas à moi de vous le dire, mais plus importante encore est la législation nationale, et la pratique et la mise en œuvre et l'exécution de ces législations nationales. Et donc tous les programmes de coopération technique, y compris en Chine, sont destinés à faire en sorte que ces lois soient non seulement reconnues mais appliquées, en particulier par les institutions qui ont le devoir de le faire.
Deuxièmement, quant à une visite en Chine ou ailleurs, l'intention est évidemment d'y aller. Vous me connaissez, cela fait 33 ans que je visite ce monde et je ne vais pas changer. Donc, c'est une question de déterminer des dates qui soient mutuellement convenables et cela se fera sans doute dans la première moitié de l'année prochaine.
Question: Welcome Sergio and good luck on your new job. I am also an old face. I am going to piggy-back on my other colleague. Your predecessor, Mrs. Robinson, when she came in at her first press conference, said that she was going to be the voice of the voiceless. I was wondering whether you were planning to also be the voice of the voiceless. She also got into a lot of hot water by her attacks and criticism of powerful nations like the United States, China and Russia. Are you are going to openly criticise countries such as these if you feel that they deserve criticism, or will you use a different technique. And I am not adverse to verbosity, so you can use as many words as you like.
Mr. Vieira de Mello: I think I said in my introductory remarks that this Office and my own function exist to speak for those who are denied a voice. So yes, I will do that. But speaking can have different meanings, and I come to your second question. I have answered to some of your colleagues in New York who have put that question to me recently that you cannot really generalise; it will depend on each specific situation. Sometimes, speaking up will be necessary, will be a moral and legal obligation. In other circumstances, negotiating, exhausting other means, will be preferable to achieve the objective right. I said in reply to your neighbour that you should judge the Organization, the Office of the High Commissioner, and myself, on the basis of results, not style, not through a public statement, not through a negotiation behind closed doors, but about the outcome of both or a combination of both. I can give you many examples of quiet diplomacy that have produced results. There are also obviously examples of public statements and criticism, including of the (inaudible) that have produced the desired outcome. There is no general rule. Let me determine. Let me develop some experience first - which I should use when.
Question: Pensez-vous que la présence ou la visite d'un Haut-Commissaire aux droits de l'homme sur le terrain a suffisamment d'autorité pour arrêter ou limiter les violations des droits de l'homme. Si oui, quelles ont été les expériences qui, pour vous, ont été concrètement très importantes pour que, vous aussi, vous preniez le bâton de pèlerin ?
M. Vieira de Mello: Pour ceux qui me connaissent, je n'ai rien fait d'autre depuis mon entrée aux Nations Unies que de prendre et de serrer le bâton de pèlerin, et non pas uniquement dans des visites sur le terrain, pas seulement des missions de courte durée sur le terrain, mais de longs séjours sur le terrain. La réponse à votre question est manifestement oui, c'est sur le terrain que les problèmes se posent. Est-ce que le Haut-Commissaire aux droits de l'homme peut avoir un impact favorable? La réponse est manifestement oui. Encore une fois, on ne peut pas généraliser. Ce n'est souvent pas par une courte visite que vous obtenez des résultats, c'est par un engagement de longue durée car il s'agit d'améliorer le respect des droits de l'homme dans une situation déterminée. Il s'agit de construire de nouvelles institutions démocratiques, respectueuses des droits de l'homme. C'est ce que nous avons fait au Kosovo, c'est ce que nous avons fait au Timor. Je peux vous dire que ça ne se fait pas du jour au lendemain, et ça ne se fait pas non plus en deux ans et demi, qui a été la durée de l'Administration transitoire au Timor : ça se fait souvent sur des décennies. Donc, l'impact est réel et nécessaire, mais n'attendez pas toujours des résultats immédiats, instantanés.
Question: Stephanie Nebehay, Reuters. Mr. Brahimi, as you are probably aware, last night said that the UN will be investigating the mass graves and other suspicious deaths in Afghanistan. Is your Office prepared to cooperate in this investigation, and what are your other concerns in that country which is still unstable.
Mr. Vieira de Mello: My concerns in that country are many. It is a country that I have visited twice in 1998 and 1999 what I was Under-Secretary-General for humanitarian affairs and in charge of coordinating humanitarian assistance to Afghanistan. I will not list all those concerns, because they would cover I think the entire spectrum of human rights, not least the rights of women. But to answer your specific question, yes I have been in touch with Lakhdar Brahimi. We have been working together in recent weeks. I have told him, no later than yesterday morning, that he can count on my Office. The question of mass graves and killings by both sides in the previous state of affairs in that country is not new. We had to deal with that in 1998. Unfortunately, the security situation on the ground did not enable us to conclude the investigation. I am confident this time that provided forensic experts can be given the necessary security in those areas, and we are talking about areas if I am not mistaken in the vicinity of Mazar-i-Sharif, we can do the job and we can do it competently. But we should always do it in accordance with the wishes of the Afghan authorities, with their full participation because after all it is they who will have to deal with the consequences of these massacres, and very close cooperation needless to say with UNAMA and Lakhdar Brahimi.
Question: A follow-up. Is there a time frame that has been decided? Is there a time frame that you can say that you are looking to start these investigations by some of the experts at your end?
Mr. Vieira de Mello: Well, I have said to Lakhdar Brahimi that we can mobilize the experts very quickly, and we have already established contacts with two such groups that I will not name here obviously. It is likely to be a task of a certain duration, it is not a picnic affair, they will not be going there for a couple of days, this will require several weeks if the job is to be done properly and with full respect for the remains of those that will be found in the different mass graves. Therefore, the paramount question here is security. Provide me with security, and they will be there very very quickly.
Question: The next Human Rights Commission meeting is likely to see Libya as the Chair, a country where human rights violations are well known to be taking place. How are you going to handle that situation?
Mr. Vieira de Mello: You are really asking me the easiest (questions) today. First of all, I think it is important that you help me make a clear distinction, which I do not think exists even in the minds of some within the United Nations system, between the Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights on the one hand, and the Commission on Human Rights. One is the Office I have, it is part of the Secretariat, the other is an inter-governmental organ formed by States. Now, the election of the President and of the Bureau of the Human Rights Commission is the responsibility of its members, so you should address that question to them. Alright. They will vote, they will choose their Chairman, their Vice-Chairmen, their Rapporteurs and the members of the extended Bureau. Secondly, a Chairperson, man or woman, of whichever inter-governmental body, must by definition transcend national interests. Okay. And thirdly, I think your question that has been raised many times in recent days, may provide the Commission with an opportunity for promoting an idea that has already been floated by some Member States in the Commission on Human Rights, which is to select criteria for membership in the Commission on Human Rights. You know, defining the bottom line, adherence, ratification of all important human rights instruments, their implementation in practise within the borders of that country, the willingness to promote and protect human rights worldwide, some basic requirements. It is not for me to list those requirements. I can contribute to the discussion. I am doing so by answering your question. And I will happily do so if I was requested by the Commission. But it is a task for the Commission itself. And it is one that I think would greatly increase the credibility of the human rights machinery and of the United Nations as a whole.
Question: Quels sont vos projets au sujet de l'Amérique latine au niveau des droits de l'homme ? Dans votre pays il y a pas mal de cas où les droits de l'homme sont bafoués. Est-ce que vous allez aussi intervenir à ce niveau là ?
M. Vieira de Mello: En Amérique latine les choses se sont, Dieu merci, améliorées ces deux dernières décennies. Souvenez-vous des années 60, souvenez-vous des années 70 et, dans certains pays, même des années 80. Il est indubitable que la trajectoire est ascendante, que les régimes démocratiques sont plus nombreux aujourd'hui, que la région toute entière s'est donnée comme objectif d'écarter de son sein les régimes qui refuseraient la démocratisation et le respect des droits de l'homme.
Il y a beaucoup à dire sur l'Amérique latine et beaucoup de choses positives à dire. Je dirais que, dans le cas de certains pays latino-américains, peut-être dans tous, ce qu'ils devraient faire - et je dirais la même chose de tous les États membres des Nations Unies - c'est de faire ce que le Mexique et le Brésil ont fait, c'est-à-dire de lancer une invitation générale, sans restriction, à tous les Rapporteurs spéciaux et à toutes les procédures spéciales du système des droits de l'homme des Nations Unies pour qu'ils se rendent sur place et puissent investiguer librement ce qui leur plaira.
La semaine dernière, le Groupe de travail sur les détentions arbitraires se réunissait à Genève, et j'ai voulu les rencontrer; je venais d'arriver. Il est présidé par un vieil ami, Louis Joinet. Ils m'ont dit qu'ils partaient bientôt pour le Mexique. J'ai demandé «mais pourquoi le Mexique», et ils m'ont dit «Parce que nous avons été invités». L'Ambassadeur du Brésil me disait que le Brésil venait d'inviter, spécifiquement, la Rapporteuse spéciale sur les exécutions sommaires, qui est un problème grave au Brésil, et pas le seul. Voilà une attitude courageuse. Je crois que le jour où tous les pays du monde seront disposés à inviter, au risque de se faire critiquer, de se faire clouer au pilori, les rapporteurs spéciaux, les personnalités indépendantes et les groupes de travail sur des questions aussi fondamentales que celles-là et, pour parler de l'Amérique latine, y compris les autochtones et nos compatriotes d'origine africaine, ce sera un grand pas en avant pour la reconnaissance des insuffisances, des erreurs, des violations des droits de l'homme, leur promotion, leur respect et leur protection.
Question: Will you look for a woman to be Assistant High Commissioner? And a follow-up on the question by my colleague from Latin America, what is the meaning of having all these invitations to the human rights mechanisms when the Governments are not doing their part and are not responding to suggestions that Special Rapporteurs give after their visits.
Mr. Vieira de Mello: I will start with the second, that is why I said that these open invitations are a first important step towards acknowledging that there exist problems, and that countries, even advanced countries, in many respects like my own and Mexico, need help, need advice from impartial bodies and support from institutions such as the one I now have to correct those deficiencies. But they are not an answer in their own right Obviously, what Governments need to do after such visits is to implement such recommendations. And I will see to it that they do so. Perhaps, your first question is the most difficult that you have asked me today because I do not want to betray the confidence of the Secretary-General with whom I have discussed this question. But if I could, that would be an ideal decision.
Question: Sir, just to conclude, it still looks like a regime change at the Palais Wilson anyway. And you also mentioned that you are stepping over a mine field. So my question is, which mines do you expect to explode first. Thank you.
Mr. Vieira de Mello: Listen, you should have read the quotation in full. As we were launching a CD-rom yesterday on the margins of the meeting on anti-personnel mines, I did recall to some of the attendants that mines are not unknown to me in many of my previous assignments, not least in Cambodia where I was in charge of the repatriation of nearly 400,000 Cambodians into a heavily mined country and I was appointed first interim Director of the Cambodian mine action centre. So not only do I know the problem, but I think I also know how to avoid it. So I hope there will be no mines. Hold it. There has been a change, not of regime, there has been a change of person. Mary Robinson is not Sergio Vieira de Mello - Sergio Vieira de Mello is not Mary Robinson. But they will be both working now in her future tasks, as you know she is herself not giving up and she will be addressing some pretty fundamental issues linked to globalization, and myself, in her footsteps, towards the same goals.
Comment: In the absence of my colleague from ACANU, I would like to wish you Sergio a very hearty welcome among us. We were missing you all these years. What you have just said is that you will need a hell of a lot of perseverance, of courage, of courage, and diplomacy. I think that in the past, you have shown that you possess all those qualities and we wish you lots of luck. We wish to tell you that we shall also be able to help you. Thank you very much for being among us.
Mr. Vieira de Mello: Thank you.
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