Remarks by Ambassador Zalmay Khalilzad U.S. Permanent Representative, on the election of members to the Human Rights Council, at the General Assembly Stakeout, May 17, 2007 Full Text: USUN Website

Press Statement
Sean McCormack, Spokesman
Washington, DC
May 17, 2007


Slovenia and Bosnia Elected to the UN Human Rights Council

The United States is pleased with today's UN Human Rights Council election. We congratulate Slovenia and Bosnia for their commitment to human rights and democracy, and for running outstanding campaigns for positions on the Council -- positions they both greatly deserve.

Slovenia and Bosnia exemplify the characteristics of member states that should be represented on the Human Rights Council. Both are democracies that have held free and fair elections, and have good human rights records.

By not electing Belarus, the UN General Assembly today sent a strong signal that the international community does not want an unaccountable and repressive regime to be represented on the Human Rights Council. The United States, in close cooperation with democratic partners from all regions of the world, has worked energetically to strengthen the credibility of the Council, and is encouraged by this victory.

2007/405

Released on May 17, 2007