Human rights situation in southern Lebanon – CHR – Summary record (excerpts)

COMMISSION ON HUMAN RIGHTS

Forty-ninth session

SUMMARY RECORD OF THE 65th MEETING

Held at the Palais des Nations, Geneva,

on Wednesday, 10 March 1993, at 10 a.m.

CONTENTS

The meeting was called to order at 10.40 a.m.

/…

CONSIDERATION OF DRAFT RESOLUTIONS AND DECISIONS RELATING TO AGENDA ITEM 12

/…

69. Mr. LEMINE (Mauritania), introducing draft resolution E/CN.4/1993/L.90 concerning the human rights situation in southern Lebanon, said that in the draft the Commission expressed its concern at Israel's decision to expel 415 Palestinians to the occupied territory of southern Lebanon, in violation of Lebanese sovereignty, and at Israel's refusal to implement Security Council resolution 799 (1992), in which the Council demanded the immediate return home of the deportees.  The Commission condemned the ongoing Israeli violations of human rights in southern Lebanon and demanded that Israel put an immediate end to those practices and withdraw from all Lebanese territory.  It also demanded that the Government of Israel, as the occupying Power in southern Lebanon, comply with the Geneva Conventions of 1949 and facilitate the humanitarian task of the International Committee of the Red Cross and other humanitarian organizations in the region.  Lastly, it requested the Secretary-General to inform the Government of Israel of the resolution and call upon it to provide all the information required concerning compliance therewith, and to report to the Commission at its fiftieth session on the results of his endeavours in that regard.  The Commission decided to continue the consideration of the question at its fiftieth session.  The cosponsors hoped that the Commission would unreservedly support the draft resolution and adopt it by consensus.

70. Mr. PACE (Secretary of the Commission) announced that Madagascar had joined the sponsors of the draft resolution.

71. The CHAIRMAN said that, at the request of the representative of the United States of America, the draft resolution would be put to a vote.

72. Draft resolution E/CN.4/1993/L.90 was adopted by 50 votes to 1.

73. Mr. CHABEN (Uruguay) said that for his country, which had always respected human rights and fundamental freedoms, strict application of the principles of international law was the only way to ensure peaceful coexistence between all members of the international community and to guarantee respect for the essential principles of State sovereignty and self-determination.  Accordingly, his delegation's vote on draft resolution E/CN.4/1993/L.90 should not be interpreted as reflecting its position on the substance of the problem.

/…

The meeting rose at 1 p.m.