World Tibet Network News Tuesday, February 10, 1998

UNITED NATIONS, Feb 4 (AFP) - China has blocked a briefing by UN human rights commissioner Mary Robinson to the UN Security Council, western diplomats said Wednesday.

The diplomats said that Security Council members suggested on Tuesday that Robinson, who is currently in New York, should brief the council. But China, which as a permanent member holds veto power, opposed the proposal.

Other council members were furious. One said "it's not as if she's the Dalai Lama (Tibet's exiled spiritual leader). She's a senior UN official."

Chinese spokesman Chen Ranfeng told AFP that Robinson's mandate depended on the 185-nation UN General Assembly, not the 15-member Council.

"There is no set practice for the human rights commissioner to brief Security Council members," Chen said.

He added however that Beijing attached "great importance" to human rights at the United Nations, and had extended an invitation to Robinson to visit China.