[...] Also this afternoon, the Committee decided to suspend the Transnational Radical Party's consultative status with the Economic and Social Council for three years.

The Government of the Russian Federation had complained that during the fifty-sixth session of the Commission on Human Rights, held in Geneva from 20 to 27 April, the representative of the Chechen separatists and terrorists, A. Idigov, had addressed the Commission under the name of the Transnational Radical Party. The Russian Federation also expressed grave concern about narcotic-related activities by the NGO. The Committee had deferred taking action on the complaint until today to give delegations time to consult with their respective governments. [...]

In his closing remarks the Chairman stated that during the session there had been a rich exchange of views and the Committee had been able to ensure the fruitful participation of NGOs in the work of the United Nations. Particular concern was given to complaints brought by four members of the Committee against NGOs who, they alleged, had misbehaved during the fifty-sixth session of the Human Rights Commission held in Geneva earlier in the year.

Representatives of Algeria, Chile, China, Cuba, France, Germany, India, Lebanon, Pakistan, Russian Federations, Sudan, Tunisia and the United States spoke during the afternoon's deliberations.

Addressing the Committee in their capacity as observers were the representatives of Canada, Netherlands.

Statements

The representative of the Russian Federation said that the discussion that had ensued in the Committee on the misconduct of the Transnational Radical Party had further emphasized that its consultative status with the Economic and Social Council should be withdrawn.

The representative of Cuba said that his delegation did not have any difficulty with the principles or with the members of the party. However, the Russian delegation had indicated that a serious violation had taken place and the entity did not strictly comply with resolution 1996/31. Cuba supported the request of the Russian delegation.

The representative of Pakistan said he understood that there was a very strong urge within the Committee to make decisions on the withdrawal of consultative status by consensus. If that was not the case now, the Committee should vote for a suspension of the Party's consultative status.

The representative of the Russian Federation said that it was in favour of the suspension, as the NGO had breached its relationship with the United Nations. He preferred, however, that the Committee agree by consensus that the NGO be stripped of its consultative status with the Economic and Social Council for three years. That action would send a clear message that all NGOs should comply with the principles of resolution 1996/31 and with the provisions of the United Nations Charter.

The Committee had also discussed the circulation of negative material about his country by the organization, the representative of India said. However, he wished to underscore that India would always require NGOs to comply with the principles of the Charter.

The Committee then decided to suspend the consultative status with ECOSOC of the Transnational Radical Party for three years.

Explanation of Position

The representative of France said the resolution 1996/31, which regulated the relationship between non-governmental organizations with consultative status with the Council and the United Nations, was explicit and that the measure of suspension was a severe one.

The representative of Germany said it had joined the consensus with reservation. He did not think the issue had been extensively discussed in the Committee. The representative of the Radical Party had yesterday fully responded to the issues raised by the Russian Federation.

The representative of the United States dissociated himself from the consensus, noting that the three-year suspension was a harsh punishment. It had apologized and had informed the Committee of the steps it was taking to rectify issues raised in the complaint. The organization's stance on drug-trafficking did not indicate that it was involved in it.

The representative of India hoped that delegations that joined in the consensus would do so again when the issue came up before the Council.

Commenting on the decision, the representative of Canada, an observer, said it did not appear that the complaints against the Transnational Radical Party constituted a violation of Economic and Social Council resolutions and principles of the Charter. The Party did not indulge in terrorism or drug trafficking. The purpose of having NGOS in consultative status was to afford them an opportunity to make statements, however critical of Member States.

The observer from the Netherlands expressed doubts about the decision to recommend suspension of the organization. He could not discern the motives for that action as there was no written complaint. From the provisions of the Economic and Social Council resolution 1996/31 -- on which the Russian complaint was based -- there was no evidence of the organization's influence in the drug trade. It was also questionable whether there was a pattern of abuses by the organization, contrary to the principles of the Charter.