DATE=4/18/2000
TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT
TITLE=U-N / RIGHTS / YUGOSLAVIA (L-ONLY)
NUMBER=2-261478
BYLINE=LISA SCHLEIN
DATELINE=GENEVA
CONTENT=
VOICED AT:
INTRO: The United Nations Human Rights Commission has
overwhelmingly approved a resolution condemning what
it says are serious human rights violations in the
Federal Republic of Yugoslavia. Lisa Schlein in
Geneva reports the resolution was adopted by 44 votes,
with one vote against, and eight abstentions.
TEXT: The resolution condemns the Yugoslav government
for repressing the independent media, political
opposition and non-governmental organizations. It
accuses the government of the arbitrary administration
of justice and expresses grave concern that
discrimination and violence against ethnic minorities
have worsened during the year.
The document says the commission is gravely concerned
that Yugoslav President Slobodan Milosevic and other
senior leaders -- who have been charged with war
crimes and crimes against humanity -- are still in
power. It accuses Serbia and Montenegro of repeatedly
ignoring orders to turn over indicted war criminals to
the International War Crimes Tribunal in The Hague for
trial.
The resolution calls on Yugoslavia to end torture and
other cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment of people
in detention, and to bring those responsible for such
acts to justice. It also calls on the government to
account for and protect the human rights of the large
number of people removed from Kosovo and imprisoned at
the end of the conflict.
In Kosovo, the resolution condemns the Serbian
military offensive against the civilian population.
It accuses the Serbs of war crimes and gross
violations of human rights, including a systematic
policy of ethnic cleansing. It denounces the
systematic targeting and terrorizing of the civilian
population of Kosovo by Serbian forces. It notes
large-scale mass forced displacement, expulsion, group
massacres, summary executions, torture and arbitrary
detention.
U-S Assistant Secretary of State Harold Koh told the
Commission that the international community would have
to remain vigilant as long as Serbia was ruled by an
indicted war criminal.
There was no immediate reaction from Yugoslavia. But,
the Russian Ambassador in Geneva called the resolution
unbalanced and one-sided. He said the document was
particularly biased on Kosovo, treating it as if it
was not a part of Yugoslavia. Russia was the only
country to vote against the resolution. (Signed)
NEB/LS/GE/JP
18-Apr-2000 14:29 PM EDT (18-Apr-2000 1829 UTC)
NNNN
Source: Voice of America
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