Iran will not succumb to pressure: UN ambassador

Mohammad Khazaee made the remarks during a speech before the 67th Session of the General Assembly on the draft resolution A/C.3/67/L.51: Situation of Human Rights in the Islamic Republic of Iran.

The resolution, which was drafted by Canada and co-sponsored by other Western countries, passed on the same day in an 86-32 vote with 65 abstentions.

Following are excerpts of the text of Khazaee’s speech:

The Islamic Republic of Iran believes that the best approach to promote and protect human rights across the globe is to engage in a meaningful and sincere cooperation.

We have a choice of whether to advance the promotion and protection of human rights through serious engagement, or to set it back with politicized and unbalanced resolutions.

?Every distinguished representative here are well aware that the resolution L.51 is not about human rights but an abuse of the integrity and procedures of this august body for political purposes.

This resolution is not intended to promote and protect human rights in my country. There is much more to regret that this resolution has avoided any reference to human rights policies of my country and significant achievements of Iran in the field of promotion and protection of human rights. Therefore, we are convinced that the resolution L.51 shall not serve as an acceptable terms of reference for the real situation of human rights in the Islamic Republic of Iran.

It is deploring that despite the existence of the UPR mechanism in the Human Rights Council, so-called champions of human rights advocacy, continue to abuse the United Nations human rights mechanisms for short-sighted political expediencies by tabling a selective country specific resolution in the Human Rights Council and the United Nations General Assembly to satiate their political desires. This selective and destructive approach denigrates the highly valued concept of human rights into a tool of foreign policy for certain states.

We wonder if any member of this universal body can claim perfection in human rights situation within its territory and should be beyond the international scrutiny. It is a regret that the present system of human rights monitoring opens doors for a selective, arbitrary, partial, and unproductive treatment. As a result, it is no wonder that under such a system, Canada with a very questionable human rights record particularly on the rights of immigrants, African Canadian, and indigenous peoples and also known as a relentless supporter of the Israeli regime’s crimes against the Palestinians, assumes itself to pursue the old worn-out policy of introducing resolution on human rights situation in my country.

?The Islamic Republic of Iran is a dynamic and progressive society which has taken a genuine approach to safeguard human rights by ensuring its full compliance with the national and relevant international commitments, while upholding the promotion of principles enshrined in our Constitution. It is evident that this resolution does not reflect the realities on the ground.

?I have a simple message for those who gathered here today, no unfair targeted resolution can stop my Government from its commitment to the promotion and protection of all human rights of all Iranian peoples.

As for sponsors, mainly Canada, U.S., and their European allies, we should remind all that the policy of defamation and distortion of facts directed against the Islamic Republic of Iran has thus far led to nowhere. Long years of practicing this policy should have taught its initiators and sponsors important lessons that neither Iran nor any other country will submit to pressure, intimidation, and naming and shaming.

In view of these considerations, I hope the distinguished representatives of the United Nations member states to choose the right path by voting against the resolution L.51.

EP/PA
MNA
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