World Tibet Network News Tuesday, March 31, 1998

By Scott Hillis

BEIJING (Reuters) - U.N. Secretary-General Kofi Annan said Tuesday he was very pleased by Beijing's invitation extended earlier this year to host the top U.N. official on human rights.

Earlier Tuesday, Mary Robinson, the U.N. High Commissioner for Human Rights, said she planned to visit China in September.

Annan, touring the five countries that are permanent members of the U.N. Security Council, said after talks with Vice-Premier Qian Qichen that he welcomed China's pledge to sign U.N. pacts enshrining political and social rights.

``I am also particularly encouraged that they have invited Mrs Robinson to visit,'' Annan said.

China in January invited Robinson to visit in a move that analysts said signalled a new openness by Beijing to talk about human rights issues, which have long troubled its ties with Western countries.

``Both Mrs. Robinson and myself are very pleased with this development, and we look forward to working with China as we would work with other governments on human rights issues,'' Annan said.

Annan said he and Qian also discussed issues such as weapons inspections in Iraq, the Asian financial crisis, the Middle East peace process and stalled talks aimed at brokering a lasting peace between rival North and South Korea.

Robinson said in Geneva her visit might include a stop in Tibet.

Critics charge Beijing has tried to wipe out Tibetan culture and its unique form of Buddhism. Beijing points to rising living standards in the Himalayan region as proof of its concern for human rights, and says Buddhism is flourishing there.

Robinson, the former Irish president, speaking on the sidelines of the annual session of the U.N. Commission on Human Rights, also welcomed China's efforts to adopt international standards to help improve its human rights record.

``I think it is important that China clearly is not only taking ownership of its problems but is addressing those problems by national capacity building with reference to international standards and norms,'' Robinson said.

She cited Beijing's willingness to sign the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights, which upholds liberties observers say Beijing is still restricting, such as the freedoms of speech, assembly and worship.

China has already signed a similar covenant on economic, social and cultural rights.

Qian said China was committed to the pacts but needed more time to research their implications before they could be fully implemented.

``After the signing, of course we will comply with the covenants, but there are a few issues we will have to look into,'' Qian said.

``We will have to research whether there are areas that clash with Chinese laws or are unclear,'' he said.

Annan praised China for backing his deal that ended Iraq's stand-off with U.N. weapons inspectors. He said implementation of the accord allowing arms inspectors, accompanied by diplomats, full access to disputed sites was going smoothly.

``It is important that we maintain that unity and also encourage Iraq to comply in the hope that once it has done its duty and fulfilled the Security Council resolutions, the council in turn will look at what needs to be done on the sanctions front,'' Annan said.

China strongly argued against U.S.-led military action to force Iraq to permit inspections required under Security Council resolutions after Baghdad's defeat in the 1991 Gulf War.

Beijing is interested in securing long-term supplies of Iraqi oil and has substantial investments in oil production ready to kick in once U.N. sanctions on Baghdad are lifted.