Geneva -- The United States expressed dismay at a decision by the U.N. Commission on Human Rights resulting from the assassination of Sheik Ahmad Yassin to hold a special sitting March 24 on the situation in the occupied territories.

Ambassador Richard S. Williamson, the U.S. Representative to the Commission, called the special sitting "precisely the sort of politicization of Commission deliberations that discredits our work and diminishes the effectiveness of this body."

"The United States remains committed to President Bush's June 24 [2003] two-state vision," Williamson told the Commission. "Working with our Quartet partners, we call on both sides to meet their responsibilities and obligations to fulfill the vision of two states, Israel and Palestine, living side by side in peace and security."

"Those responsibilities include Israel not taking steps to undercut that outcome, and Palestinian authorities and people reining in terrorism, like that unleashed by Hamas."

The United States and Australia were the only two members of the Commission to vote against a resolution introduced by the OIC that condemns Israel for "continuing grave violations of human rights in the Occupied Palestinian Territory in particular the tragic assassination of Sheikh Ahmad Yasin." The resolution, which makes no reference to terrorism against Israel, was adopted by a vote of 31 to 2 with 18 abstentions.

The Special Sitting was the first of two back-to-back sessions at the Commission on March 24. It was followed by the Commission's annual deliberations on Item 8, "the question of the violation of human rights in the occupied Arab territories, including Palestine."

Williamson said an agenda item that is "focused entirely on castigating one country" has "no place in a forum whose members are committed to the equal rights of all human beings."

"Item 8 is wrongheaded and counterproductive. It diminishes the stature of the Commission and decreases the efficacy of our work," he said.

The following are the texts of the two statements delivered March 24 by Ambassador Richardson.

Statement by Ambassador Richard S. Williamson
Special Sitting
Commission on Human Rights
Geneva, Switzerland
March 24, 2004

America's commitment to individual freedom and democracy provides the foundation for our society. We cherish the values of free speech, equal justice, and religious tolerance, and we steadfastly oppose the forces of cruelty, injustice, and tyranny. Across the globe, we stand with those who fight for fundamental freedoms. We bring this commitment to our participation in the Commission on Human Rights.

The agenda of the 60"' Commission on Human Rights is a full one, and includes several agenda items in which the conduct of Israel is the focus. Agenda Items 5, 8 and 9 all contain one-sided, anti-Israel resolutions. There is sufficient opportunity to address issues of Israeli conduct in the existing agenda. In fact there is much more than sufficient opportunity. An agenda item, such as Agenda Item 8, focused entirely on castigating one country, without any discussion of those who promote terror and violence is wrong.

It is important now for all sides to exercise maximum restraint and to remain focused on measures to bring an end to violence and terror. All sides should avoid actions that escalate tension, make more difficult restoration of calm, and harm efforts to resume progress toward peace.

The Quartet envoys met Monday in Cairo, and at that critical juncture, the international community must remain focused on how to achieve the peace we all seek. There should be no detours: one-sided, unbalanced resolutions can only detract from Quartet efforts.

This is not the time to consider this matter, particularly in this forum. The United States is dismayed that the Commission on Human Rights is taking up an issue with which the Security Council is seized at this very moment. It is the U.N. Security Council, not a functional commission of ECOSOC, that has primary responsibility for such questions. It is precisely this sort of politicalization of Commission deliberations that discredits our work and diminishes the effectiveness of this body.

The United States remains committed to President Bush's June 24 two-state vision. Working with our Quartet partners, we call on both sides to meet their responsibilities and obligations to fulfill the vision of two states, Israel and Palestine, living side by side in peace and security. Those responsibilities include Israel not taking steps to undercut that outcome, and Palestinian authorities and people reining in terrorism, like that unleashed by Hamas. Thank you.

Statement by
Ambassador Richard S. Williamson
Item 8: Question of the violation of human rights in the occupied Arab territories, including Palestine

60th Commission on Human Rights
Geneva, Switzerland

The United States, as a member of the Commission on Human Rights, is committed to promoting universal respect for and observance of human rights and fundamental freedoms. We believe that the inherent dignity and the equal and inalienable rights of all members of the human family are the foundation of freedom, justice and peace in the world.

To that end, the United States, with our Quartet partners, is committed to doing everything possible to advance progress toward the goal of two states, Israel and Palestine, living side by side in peace and security. As President Bush told an audience at the American Enterprise Institute in Washington on February 26, 2003, "Old patterns of conflict in the Middle East can be broken, if all concerned will let go of bitterness, hatred, and violence, and get on with serious work of economic development, and political reform, and reconciliation."

We must seize every opportunity in pursuit of peace-and the Commission on Human Rights can play an important role in ensuring the dignity and worth of all men and women. In working towards peace, however, we cannot single out one group for censure, while turning a blind eye to another. The United States strongly believes that one-sided, anti-Israel resolutions have no place in a forum whose members are committed to the equal rights of all human beings. An agenda item, such as Agenda Item 8, focused entirely on castigating one country, without regard for those who promote terror and violence is wrong. And one-sided resolutions serve only to perpetuate acrimony and accusations, without accountability or utility. In fact, the United States questions a dedicated Agenda Item on one nation separate from Item 9 for all other country-specific resolutions, because too many other important matters of human rights are marginalized in the disproportionate focus on one government's behavior. Item 8 is wrongheaded and counterproductive. It diminishes the stature of the Commission, and decreases the efficacy of our work.

Things must change in the Middle East. It is untenable for Israeli citizens to live in terror. It is untenable for Palestinians to live under harsh economic conditions and occupation. No longer can the hatred of a few hold the hopes of many hostage. The forces of extremism and terror must not be allowed to kill progress and peace by killing the innocent.

President Bush in articulating his two-state vision called on the parties to break with the past and set out on a new path. For progress to be made, however, both sides must meet their responsibilities and obligations. For Palestinians, this means concrete steps to confront terror and violence, as well as progress on reform. For Israel, it means sustained efforts to improve the humanitarian situation and fulfill their other commitments, including settlements and outpost activity.

If the Commission on Human Rights is to play a positive role in bringing the parties closer to a peaceful settlement, its resolutions must reflect the recognition that both sides have responsibilities. Were the Commission to pursue a balanced and constructive text, it might read as follows:

DRAFT CHAIRMAN'S STATEMENT ON ITEM 8
-- The Commission is concerned about the human rights of Israelis and Palestinians alike, as a result of the decades-long conflict and the absence of a lasting peace.

-- The Commission recognizes that terror has in fact been the worst enemy of the Palestinian people.

-- The Commission calls upon the Palestinian Authority to prevent terror and other acts of violence directed against Israeli civilians.

-- The Commission calls upon Israel (1) to avoid actions that endanger innocent Palestinian civilians, (ii) to take appropriate action to alleviate suffering of the Palestinian people, and (iii) to avoid all actions that undermine the long-term viability of a two-State solution to the conflict.

A balanced resolution is a first step. But the best way to defeat violence is the advance of freedom. Vice President Cheney articulated this important message recently at the World Economic Forum in Davos. "Our forward strategy for freedom," the Vice President told the gathered world leaders, "commits us to support those who work and sacrifice for reform across the greater Middle East." Democratic reform is the key to the future that the people of the Middle East - as all people - deserve and is essential to a peaceful resolution of the long-standing Arab-Israeli dispute.

Elsewhere in the world, recent events give us a reason for optimism. The capture of Saddam Hussein, the adoption of a new democratic constitution in Afghanistan, Libya's decision to abandon its pursuit of weapons of mass destruction, the recent warming between India and Pakistan, positive steps to an agreement in Cyprus and the return to robust growth in the United States and Asia; these all point toward a future that is more hopeful than many people believed possible just a year ago.

This year in Geneva, we need to help break with a past that has prevented peace from taking root in the Middle East. And the best hope for a lasting peace will be true democracy. Thank you.