U.N. Chief Urges China to Be Serious on Rights
BEIJING -- (Reuters) U.N. Secretary General Kofi Annan on Wednesday praised his Chinese hosts for pledging to sign a key human rights covenant, but urged Beijing to take human rights "very seriously." (Pictured, Chinese President Jiang Zemin, left, meets with U.N. Secretary General Kofi Annan, right, during his visit to Beijing.)
Annan, speaking in Beijing to members of an advisory body to the national legislature, said stable economic development, based on respect for human rights, was vital to preventing social upheaval.
"In this connection, let me add that I was particularly pleased to learn of China's intention to sign the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights," Annan said.
China last month said it would sign the covenant, which enshrines the freedoms of speech, assembly and religion and equality before the law -- liberties observers say Beijing still violates.
Late last year, Beijing signed a similar accord covering economic, social and cultural rights.
Asked whether the practice of singling out countries for censure at the United Nations Human Rights Commission should be scrapped, Annan said that was up to the countries on the commission to decide.
"There is a perception...that we sometimes pick on some governments, expose the failings in their society and overlook others," Annan said.
"We are going to try to ensure that this misperception is corrected," he said.
"In my judgment what is important is that we all embrace the human rights conventions and apply them fairly and consistently across the board and in
all aspects," he said.
"Human rights is something that affects all of us, not just institutions, governments or groups of others, and I would hope that we all take it very seriously," he said.
After China used the army to crush pro-democracy protesters in 1989, the United States and Europe every year sponsored resolutions at the annual session of the Human Rights Commission in Geneva criticizing Beijing's rights record.
Beijing fought off all attempts at censure by enlisting support from friendly countries. This year, citing improvements in China's human rights record, the United States and European countries said they would not back an anti-China resolution.
Annan, who is touring the five countries with permanent seats on the U.N. Security Council, also said he briefed Chinese leaders on details of a deal he reached with Baghdad allowing U.N. arms inspectors full access to disputed sites.
"Iraqi compliance with Security Council demands is the only theme of this agreement. Nothing more and nothing less will make possible the completion of the disarmament process and thus speed the lifting of sanctions," Annan said.
"Whether the threat to international peace and security has been averted for all time is now in the hands of the Iraqi leadership," he said.
Beijing strongly opposed a U.S.-led military strike against Iraq to punish it for failure to comply with U.N. weapons inspection requirements imposed on it after its defeat in the 1991 Gulf War.
China is keen on obtaining long-term oil supplies from Iraq and has billions of dollars in oil investments waiting to kick in once sanctions on Baghdad are lifted.
Annan on Tuesday met Chinese Vice Prime Minister Qian Qichen for talks that included the Asian financial crisis, the Middle East peace process and stalled talks aimed at forging a lasting peace between rival North and South Korea.
Annan is scheduled to leave Beijing for London on Thursday.
