A/HRC/7/31
page 9
(c) The Government reiterated that the United Nations should be the main arena for
international cooperation, including on human rights issues, and stressed that current challenges
and threats in the field of human rights can only be addressed through joint efforts. The
development of constructive interaction between States within the Human Rights Council has the
potential to be a unifying factor in international relations. The Government expressed its
intention to take an active part in the work of the Council by concentrating on finding mutually
acceptable and constructive solutions to the most relevant international problems in the field of
human rights, and to contribute to strengthening the authority of this organ. The Government
expressed regret that a number of Member States, after only the first year of the Council, are
already casting doubt on its importance and claiming that it is ineffective and unviable.
(d) The Government expressed the view that the work of the Council has demonstrated
that international relations related to the field of human rights continue to be extremely tense and
politicized. This is borne out by the confrontation that inevitably accompanies the discussion of
contentious country issues.
(e) The Government considers that special sessions of the Council should make a
genuine contribution to resolving critical and urgent human rights situations requiring an urgent
response. Special sessions should however not be used as a means to introduce additional
confrontation and politicization into the work of the Council.
(f) It is the understanding of the Government that the aim of the universal periodic
review should be to reinforce and enhance the effectiveness of the United Nations human rights
system and the international human rights regime, including by increasing the significance of
voluntary cooperation between States. The review should be carried out in an impartial manner,
with the ultimate aim of encouraging full respect for human rights, rather than marginalizing or
condemning individual countries. The Government considers it necessary to take into account
the level of development of the State in question as well as its social structure, moral values,
religious and cultural traditions, judicial system and other characteristics.
(g) In its response, the Government stressed the importance of using objective and
reliable information, and welcomed the adoption of broad general guidelines for the preparation
of information by States under the universal periodic review (UPR). The UPR must be applied to
all United Nations Member States, without exception, to avoid a potential geographical
imbalance. In this regard, the adoption of a comprehensive timetable for all States at the sixth
session of the Council constituted an important step.
(h) The Government expressed the view that peace and stability in inter-ethnic and
interfaith relations is key to building a democratic and prosperous world order, in which all
human rights are fully respected. The Government stressed that the universal nature of the
United Nations makes it crucial to take into account the spiritual traditions and diversity of world
cultures and religions. It referred to various initiatives, including the World Summit of Religious
Leaders held in Moscow in July 2006. The Government expressed support for establishing a
more systematic dialogue between the religious communities under United Nations auspices. An
exchange of views among representatives of the main world faiths would strengthen
international cooperation and facilitate the elaboration and adoption of adequate and informed
decisions by the world community.
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