Speaking at the 59th Session of the U.N. Commission on Human Rights on the subject of the roadmap for peace in the Middle East March 31, U.S. Ambassador Jeane Kirkpatrick said the commission's actions, "which cast all blame on Israel for the situation, are not balanced, fair or helpful to the cause of peace."

Kirkpatrick, head of the U.S. delegation to the commission's 59th annual session March 17-April 25 in Geneva, said another imbalance is the commission's appointment of a special rapporteur with an open-ended mandate to report on Israeli government actions in the Occupied Territories. She said it is essential that the mandate be extended to human rights abuses committed by the Palestinian Authority, of which both Palestinians and Israelis are victims.

March 31, 2003

Madame Chairperson,

During the course of this debate, several delegations have referred to the role of the United States, and in particular, to the roadmap for peace in the Middle East.

On March 14, President Bush reaffirmed his commitment to the vision of two states, Israel and Palestine, living at peace, as laid out in his speech of June 24 of last year. The President also announced his readiness to present to the parties the Roadmap developed by the Quartet to realize this vision, as soon as an empowered Palestinian Prime Minister is confirmed in office. However, this vision cannot be realized while violence and terrorist attacks continue.

The roadmap is a starting point for the parties, and a framework for progress. The President made clear that with the presentation of that roadmap, the parties must then engage on implementation of the steps needed to realize the vision set forth in his June 24 speech.

The United States has listened carefully to this debate. The actions of this Commission, which cast all blame on Israel for the situation, are not balanced, fair, or helpful to the cause of peace.

We also continue to see as unbalanced the Commission's devoting an agenda item solely to the situation in the Occupied Territories when other human rights violations do not receive the same attention.

Another imbalance is the Commission's appointment of a Special Rapporteur with an open-ended mandate to report on Israeli government actions in the Occupied Territories. If it is to advance the cause of peace, it is essential that the mandate be extended to human rights abuses committed by the Palestinian Authority. Violations of human rights standards by the Palestinian Authority, of which both Palestinians and Israelis are victims, should not, indeed cannot, be treated differently.

Based upon the tenor of the discussion so far, the U.S. does not judge that the actions of this Commission can contribute to improving the situation in the Occupied Territories. Indeed, the Commission's lack of balance weakens its own credibility, undermines progress toward peace, and contributes to the sum total of hate in the world.

Madame Chairperson,

On March 14, President Bush called upon all parties in this conflict to abandon old hatreds and to meet their responsibilities for peace.

In a similar vein, you, Madame Chairperson, requested that the Commission use diplomatic language when discussing difficult issues like this one. Unfortunately, the Commission has failed to live up to that basic standard. We have heard inflammatory, repugnant, and reckless language -- including false assertions rejected by the General Assembly in 1991 and which we thought had been relegated to the dustbin of history along with the ashes of World War Two and the Cold War. Such language can inflame public opinion and make it harder to restore trust and confidence and bring the parties together. If there is to be peace, such language must stop.

America is committed to implementing our road map toward peace. As the President said, we will be an active partner of every party that seeks true peace.

Thank you.