Summary: EU Presidency Statement - Explanation of Vote: Elimination of Racism and Follow-up to Durban Declaration (23 November 2005: New York)
EU Presidency Explanation of Vote on the GLOBAL EFFORTS FOR THE TOTAL ELIMINATION OF RACISM, RACIAL DISCRIMINATION, XENOPHOBIA AND RELATED INTOLERANCE AND THE COMPERHENSIVE IMPLEMENTATION OF AND FOLLOW-UP TO THE DURBAN DECLARATION AND PROGRAMME OF ACTION, by the UK Mission to the UN on behalf of the European Union, UN General Assembly, Third Committee, New York
Mr. Chairperson,
I have the honour to speak on behalf of the European Union.
The EU has repeatedly stressed that international follow-up to Durban should be agreed by consensus. It is in this spirit that we have proposed a number of amendments during consultations on the present resolution with a view to improving the text and while sticking closely to agreed language. The EU is pleased that following constructive consultations many of its proposals have been integrated in the text. We would also like to pay tribute to the work of the Costa Rican delegation who played a
very helpful role in facilitating our discussions and bringing positions together.
That said, the EU has a number of outstanding questions about some of the text as tabled. First, the issue of complementary standards. The EU recalls that the report of the Committee on the Elimination of Racial Discrimination on the implementation of the Convention states (in para. 3) that "It is a State's failure to ratify or to implement the Convention, rather than gaps in the Convention itself which is the key issue in combating the contemporary forms of racism." This conclusion is fully in
line with the earlier acknowledgement contained in the Durban Declaration. The EU believes that the failure of States to implement their obligations should serve as a guiding principle for our discussions about new complementary standards and calls upon all states to ratify and fully implement the Convention as a matter of priority.
The EU also questions the value of a five-year review plan. We believe that the follow-up to the conference is already being ensured by a number of mechanisms, in particular the IGWG where we are carrying out important work. Should an additional follow-up be needed, the Durban conference should be part of the integrated follow-up of UN Conferences. We will, nonetheless, reflect further on this proposal.
In recognition of the efforts accomplished by all parties towards a better co-operation on a major issue, the EU, while having voiced its questions over two aspects of the text, will vote in favour of the text. The EU reiterates its firm will to cooperate with all delegations in combating racism and racial discrimination and looks forward to continued discussion and the achievement of consensus in this and other fora.
Thank you, Mr. Chairperson.
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