Page 15 - DIVA_2_2008_No.33

Council. This was quite a
success. We engaged all inter-
ested parties in very intense
bilateral and multilateral
consultations and ended with
the text that enjoyed the sup-
port of all stakeholders.

The last tg I would like to
mention here in terms of our
activities concerning the
Human Rights Council is our
recent election campaign for
the Advisory Con'imittee.
Again, it was a very long and
rewarding campaign. The
"'i' !I)
Eastern Europe Group, to
which we belong, was given
.1.
two vacancies, but there were
four candidates, because i'u'Ai
Russia, Poland and Croatia
also put forward candidates.
We presented oiu' candidate, a
renowned lawyer and profes- ting a lot of time and mutual respect of all concer- tive follow-up of the taken
sor of international humanita- efforts into this. ned will we be able to acieve decisions, wich is directly
rian law at Baku State feasible results on the ground. linked to the issue of credibi-
University, Mr Latif We are doing this with Without the engagement and lity of the Human Rights
Husseinov. We introduced dedication and with pleasure, coinmittnent of the govem- Council. It is not a secret that
him to all regional groups and we also gain valuable ment concemed, it's naive to one of the major setbacks that
where he presented bimself, experience. As a countg with believe that anything will may have triggered the demi-
described his CV, his inten- a relatively young diplomatic change. A government should se of the Cotnmissionwas the
tions and what he would do if corps, we need experts in this not feel that the Council is a fact that the implementation
he were elected. The result of fieldaswell. Genevaprovides tribunal, but rather an oppor- of adopted resolutions was at
the elections, which took an excellent training ground tunity for conshuctive dialog a very low level. Why?
place on the 26 March, was for diplomats, not only for that would lead to practical Simply because many of the
that he was elected, together junior staff but also senior betterment of the situation on decisions were adopted at the
with the candidate of the diplomats because it exposes the ground. That is why I do cost of the split membersip
Russian Federation. We are them to very different fields hope that given the first pro- and the adoption of decisions
confident, that given his vast of activity and organizations. rnising results the criticism of had become the end in itself
expertise and rich experience
the Council in the mass media and lead to unnecessary poli-
in the field of protection and Q: What would you say will be ebb. In the meantime, ticization of the whole body.
promotion of human rights
to people who believe it's also hard to expebl llial a
Professor Husseinov's work that the Human Rights body that has only served one Finally, we felt this new posi-
as a member of the Advisory Council has not really year can remedy all the diffi- tive spirit of constnictive
Committee will contribute to been a success? culties that exist. However, engagement and genuine
the efficiency and performan- the path that is being taken is cooperation in the course of
ce of this new advisory body I belong to the group of peo- the right one. The important the first two weeks of the
of the Human Rights Council. ple who, while assessing the tbing is that on the difficult Universal Periodic Review - a
perfomiance of the Council, and controversial issues, you majornewtool ofthe Council
We also would like to believe would rather talk about the always see willingness and to sciutinize the human rights
that his election is a recogni- glass being half full, rather readiness by the parties to records of all states of the
tion of the constnictive role than half empty. It is easy to engage in collective work and United Nations. I hope the
that Azerbaijan plays in the criticize and to say that it is come up with solutions. If spirit w'll prevail in the future
Council and is testimony to not very different from the you look at the ratio of deci- thus filling the new Council
our strong commihnent to previous Commission - but sions taken by the Council by with more motivation and

high cause of protection and the facts prove that it is! consensus and those by the strength.
promotion of human rights. Concrete examples that I have foimer Commission you w'll
We look forward to conti- cited above, as well as the see a stark difference. And I

nuing :auther our active parti- general attitude of the believe it is only good that
cipation in the Human Rights Member States, clearly consensus building starts to
Council in the months to demonstrate that we all are on become the name of the
come.
the right track. It is tbrough game. This adds to the ability
Q: You ace cea)[y fnves- conshuctive engagement and of the Council to ensure effec-
2 2008 Diva 13

wwwdivainternaNonalch