A/66/PV.60 General Assembly

Allow me, at the outset, to thank you, Mr. President, for the opportunity to speak on the agenda item concerning support by the United Nations system for efforts of Governments to promote and consolidate new or restored democracies. I would also thank the Secretary-General for his comprehensive report on this item (A/66/353), which is particularly meaningful for the Philippines as a nation that stands proud of its long tradition of democracy in Asia and as one of the founding members of the International Conference of New or Restored Democracies (ICNRD). It may be recalled that it was the Philippines that hosted the first International Conference of New or Restored Democracies and that it was during the second Conference, in Managua in 1994 — which built upon and expanded the experiences shared in Manila — that the ICNRD decided to ask the Secretary-General, at the forty-ninth session of the General Assembly, to undertake a study on ways in which the United Nations system could support the efforts of Governments to promote and consolidate new or restored democracies. We are happy to see that initiative alive, vibrant and more relevant today than ever. In recent months, we have witnessed a wave of popular aspiration for democracy in different parts of the world, including across parts of the Middle East and North Africa. People are voicing their hopes for more open and democratic societies, cognizant that democracy can further advance people’s fundamental rights and freedoms, such as the right of citizens to choose their representatives through regular, free and fair elections with universal and equal suffrage, the right to equal protection under the law, to freedom of opinion and expression, to peaceful assembly and association, and to freedom of thought, conscience and religion. During this critical juncture in the process of transition and consolidation of democracy in countries of those regions, it is essential that the United Nations stand ready to provide its expertise to ensure that democratic processes are strengthened, especially in those parts of the world where democracy is still fragile. In that regard, we welcome the broad range of multifaceted assistance that the United Nations continues to provide to enhance national efforts that foster and develop transparent, participatory and accountable democratic processes and institutions. That assistance includes support to strengthen democratic governance and the rule of law, to promote and protect human rights, to draft constitutions and electoral assistance, to enhance civil engagement and to empower women. We also support the Secretary-General’s approach of making use of lessons learned and the peer-to-peer exchange of proven practices as a valuable form of assistance. It enhances and complements the efforts and initiatives of global democracy movements such as the ICNRD and the Community of Democracies to promote democratic values in a spirit of international cooperation. It has been said that the future of a democratic Government cannot be divorced from the global context in which each society must function. A global dialogue, therefore, is clearly essential for all of us who embrace genuine and inclusive democracy so that we can act collectively to support gains made in the achievement of democracy and to address threats to democratic progress. New and restored democracies can learn from each other as well as from old and established democracies. Old and established democracies must also learn from newer ones, since democracy evolves with the challenges of changing times. My delegation recognizes the value of democracy as an integral part of political processes for the reconciliation and development of national societies and for peace and security in the international community within a broader and comprehensive concept of security. Our consistent support for initiatives and programmes of groups of countries with common aspirations, such as the ICNRD and the Community of Democracy, reflects our determination to promote democracy around the world as we continue to further strengthen our own democratic practices and institutions back home. It is in that context that we extend our full support to the United Nations system in the promotion of democracy and that we concur with the Secretary- General’s recommendations on enhancing the impact of the International Day of Democracy, on strengthening the democracy assistance of the United Nations and on building synergies and enhancing the degree of complementarity and coordination between the ICNRD and the Community of Democracies. My delegation is certain that our common aspiration for the achievement of democracy will enable us all to embrace genuine and inclusive democracy, to collectively address the challenges contained in the democratic ideals and turn them into opportunities to further and strengthen the institution of democracy all over the world.

The State of Qatar has for several years now been on its democratic march, with rapid and bold steps towards genuine democracy, under the wise sponsorship and instruction of His Excellency Sheik Hamid bin Khalifa Al-Thani, the Emir of Qatar. His Excellency has affirmed on many occasions his determination to continue this democratic process and to consolidate its foundations so that it may succeed in building a state of law based on transparency and accountability and the strengthening of the role of legislative and constitutional institutions. In confirmation of that, His Excellency declared, during the opening of the work of the Consultative Council, that in the second half of the year 2013 the State of Qatar will see the first elections to the Council. During the Consultative Council meeting we announced that those first elections will be held in the second have of 2013. The International Conferences on New or Restored Democracies have played an important role in the promotion of democracy. The role played by Governments, parliaments and civil society organizations in these Conferences, in an interactive and positive manner, is a groundbreaking experience that has provided equal opportunities in a climate of democracy, openness and freedom. Furthermore, it not only allows for exchange of information and expertise that enriches both theory and practice with regard to democratic reform; it also enables civil society organizations to establish partnerships and close cooperation in the process of consolidating democracy on the regional level. The Assembly is aware that we hosted the sixth International Conference on New or Restored Democracies in Doha in 2006. The aim of the Conference was to promote democracy at the international level by following up on and implementing recommendations of the Conference. Between 2006 and now, democratic action has seen considerable progress in many regions. A number of activities were undertaken to further objectives such as the promotion of the importance of democratic movements and the revitalization of international dialogue on the concepts and principles of democracy and the fundamental values of democracy, while also striving to develop a culture of partnership with governments and the Inter-Parliamentary Union, international forums on democracy, and the United Nations. The State of Qatar has also been striving to establish the infrastructure necessary to create an executive standing body that would be responsible for implementing the programme of the democratic movement. That could be an example for presidencies of the movement. With regard to the efforts of Governments to promote and consolidate new and restored democracies, we must pay tribute to the role being played by the United Nations in developing democratic institutions and practices. It does this by enhancing national capacities to implement democratic practices and principles, by supporting the holding of fair and free elections and encouraging civil society to participate therein, and by undertaking mediation efforts in problematic political situations in order to prevent conflicts. While we stress the importance of the United Nations in this regard, Qatar pays particular attention to the United Nations Democracy Fund, which is intended to encourage democracy throughout the world through providing assistance for projects that aim at promoting and consolidating democratic institutions and at facilitating democratic rule. Despite the many democratic reforms that have taken place in a number of regions, it is still the case that the challenges are enormous in many areas of the world. In order to achieve genuine democracy, the Millennium Declaration (resolution 55/2) stressed the importance for governments and national and local parliaments to work together with civil society to achieve the Millennium Development Goals and to transform these challenges into opportunities to promote democratic and effective governance, while taking account of the need to undertake homegrown democratic reforms that take into consideration the national cultures, traditions and particularities of each society, in accordance with the spirit and principles of relevant international instruments. One of the most important achievements of the International Conference on New or Restored Democracies that was chaired by Qatar was reflected in the decision by the General Assembly to observe on 15 September every year the International Day of Democracy (resolution 62/7), which was celebrated for the first time in 2008. The International Day of Democracy provides an opportunity to enhance awareness among citizens of the importance of democracy and of participation in establishing societies based on equity and equality. This year, we concentrated on activities involving the history of democracies through the evolution and victories that have been achieved, particularly by young people, in terms of freedom of expression and self-determination. There is no doubt that the wave of change that has swept over the Middle East in recent months has surprised many States, large and small, due to the acceleration of change arising from various factors. They include security and economic and development issues, including the need to alleviate poverty, improve living conditions and reduce youth unemployment — young people represent approximately 60 per cent of the population in many of these countries — and the failure of governments to take the necessary steps to ensure that work opportunities and productive employment exist for everyone. All these factors, including the right to education and effective health systems, have contributed to triggering modern revolutions in the Middle East. In this state of affairs, the young people have demanded their rights and a role in bringing genuine changes to contribute to socio-economic progress. The recent uprisings have shown that there are new and important ways for moving towards desired change. Young people in our societies have been able to use modern information technology and the Internet in a positive way in this unrest. The events have demonstrated that the governments that wish to work in a positive way with the young generation are the most capable of ensuring success and of adapting to change in their societies. As such, governments must learn how to work with young people in society and promote democratic process for change.

In November 2009, the General Assembly entrusted the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela with the chairmanship of the New or Restored Democracies movement. Unfortunately, and for reasons that are well known worldwide, my country was unable to host an international conference. In that context, my delegation thus began the procedures that are in consonance with the tradition and practice of the movement in order to transfer the chairmanship to a Member State of a different regional group. We wish to emphasize that during our chairmanship we carried out activities to promote the importance of the New or Restored Democracies movement worldwide, and we shall report on them at a later date. The process to elect the new Chairperson of the New or Restored Democracies movement is under way. It is up to the Eastern European countries to reach a consensus in order to choose the country to chair the upcoming session of the New or Restored Democracies movement. When that occurs, the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela, together with the country chairing the movement, will introduce a draft resolution on support by the United Nations system of the efforts of Governments to promote and consolidate new or restored democracies, under agenda item 32. My country underscores that all of the regions of the world, their Governments, parliaments and civil and social organizations are represented within the New or Restored Democracies movement. The movement promotes democratic values in the framework of social justice and religious and cultural diversity. Democracy should not be perceived as a merely political system; rather, it is an integral form of societal organization, a way of life that evolves taking into account the idiosyncrasies, cultures and specific traditions of every country and region of the world. A rich diversity of democracies and political and cultural plurality form the global landscape of our times. While democracies may share common features, there is no single or universal model of democracy. Under the leadership of President Hugo Chávez Frías, the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela has chosen a model of participatory democracy through a constituent and ongoing process based on the sovereignty of the people, thus enabling the people to decide on the path to their own destiny. As a result, political and civil liberties are thriving in Venezuela, and we are progressing towards successful achievement of a social, economic and cultural development that will benefit all Venezuelans, not only an economic or political elite that has in the past monopolized power in our country. No country has the right to hold itself up as a paradigm of democracy, or to seek to export its political model to countries of different histories, cultures and traditions. The use of force and violence to impose democracy negates its essence and contravenes its values and principles. We wish the incoming Chairperson of the New or Restored Democracies movement the best of success in carrying out its mandate.

Thank you, Sir, for giving my country the opportunity to speak on this important topic. (spoke in French) Tunisia welcomes the report of the Secretary- General entitled “Support by the United Nations system of the efforts of Governments to promote and consolidate new or restored democracies” (A/66/353) and calls upon all Member States to pay particular attention to the recommendations in that important report. It is certain that the popular revolution experienced in Tunisia was a revolution against dictatorship, injustice and corruption. However, it was fundamentally an aspiration aimed at laying the groundwork for a society based on modern democratic values and citizenship that will prepare a new path forward in which each and every one will share the responsibility for ensuring a genuine society that is based on the universal values of freedom, justice and equality and seeks to preserve human dignity and guarantee the rights of the people against any form of discrimination or social exclusion. The revolution was a historic milestone. It was a decisive step that realigned Tunisia’s path, allowing it to resume its place within the concert of nations and within the vital forces that support the universal human rights of freedom, democracy, tolerance, equal opportunity and respect for human rights in all of their aspects and dimensions. Today, promoting human rights and defending civil liberties and democracy represent our country’s highest priorities. The transitional Tunisian Government is determined to make those values a genuine reality, in line with the objectives of the popular revolution. It has thus established an approach based on promoting and protecting human rights, which was especially demonstrated by a general amnesty for all political prisoners of the former regime; the dissolution of the political security apparatus; and Tunisia’s accession to the Rome Statute of the International Criminal Court, the Optional Protocols to the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights, the Convention against Torture and Other Cruel, Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or Punishment and the International Convention for the Protection of All Persons from Enforced Disappearance. In the same way, we have begun in Tunisia to open offices and representative facilities for many international agencies and organizations active in the area of human rights, including the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights and the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees. In that connection, the Government of Tunisia has endeavoured to accelerate reform of the judicial system in order to adapt it to the new demands to combat corruption and prosecute those who were involved in the killing of demonstrators and torture, as well as those who were involved in plundering public assets, by establishing two independent national commissions that are responsible for investigating cases of corruption and financial improprieties, for investigating violations and abuses against the Tunisian people during the revolution, and for implementing international machinery such as the 2003 United Nations Convention against Corruption, which Tunisia has adopted and in which respect it is readapting its national laws. Tunisia would like to take this opportunity to reiterate its appeal to all relevant States to help in the repatriation of Tunisian assets so as to ensure that they are used for the various urgent development programmes, which will assist in establishing democracy on a solid economic foundation. Tunisia is firmly determined to meet the challenge of establishing democracy, the genuine rule of law and democratic institutions. A major challenge for our country has been the organization of free and transparent elections for a national assembly, which was held on 23 October. Preparations for the elections were carried out by an independent electoral mechanism. Tunisians turned out in massive numbers for the first free and transparent elections of Tunisian history and were able to vote enthusiastically and passionately to elect a constituent assembly. That exercise was the first time that many Tunisians had voted in their life. The high turnout manifested the people’s longing for democracy, justice and liberty. In that regard, I would like to inform the Assembly that the turnout was clearly enormous, exceeding 80 per cent in many voting stations. I also take this opportunity to pay tribute to the efforts made by all United Nations bodies that undertook to support the democratic process in Tunisia since the beginning. I would also like to take this opportunity to repeat my warmest thanks to Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon, who always maintained confidence in the Tunisian people and their choices. He personally supported the democratic process in Tunisia ever since the revolution began on 14 January. I would like to emphasize once again the importance of implementing the recommendations in the Secretary-General’s report, particularly regarding the international assistance to be provided in support of democratic transitions and the special attention that should be given to young people as drivers of change and bearers of the values of democracy and freedom. Finally, allow me to reiterate how much Tunisia values its international and regional commitments as a country that is working for peace, international legality and the realization of the principles and values of the United Nations. We are determined to play an active role in the forefront of international relations and to meet the aspirations of a people who have achieved a peaceful revolution aimed at taking up the challenges of democracy and regaining their rights, freedom and dignity.

In accordance with resolution 57/32, of 19 November 2002, I now call on the observer of the Inter-Parliamentary Union.

The year 2011 has the potential to represent the greatest leap forward for democracy in a generation. Across the Arab world, popular aspirations for freedom and democracy have brought changes that were unimaginable only a year ago. Revolutions in Tunisia, Egypt and Libya have swept aside long-established regimes, and those countries have embarked on the difficult and uncertain path of democratization. Those transitions are fragile. No one can say how much progress will have been made a year from now, or what direction it will take. But the desire for freedom is a powerful one. Once unleashed, this is a force that cannot easily be stopped. The Inter-Parliamentary Union (IPU) believes that the international forums that facilitate the sharing of good practices among new or restored democracies are very important. Each democracy is unique, but the lessons learned in one country undergoing the process of democratization are likely to be of great interest to other countries travelling along a similar path. We will continue to provide a parliamentary dimension to the International Conference of New or Restored Democracies and will work towards its rapprochement with a similar mechanism, namely, the Community of Democracies. We invite all countries to participate actively in such gatherings in order to help strengthen democracy worldwide. Elections alone do not lead to political stability, and nothing guarantees that new democracies will not revert to authoritarian regimes. Most countries in the world have multiparty systems of Government. Yet much remains to be done to consolidate open and effective democratic institutions. The consolidation of democracy requires time, as well as long-term commitment on the part of State authorities. Without that commitment, political leaders may fail to satisfy the expectations of the people. Over the past year, we were reminded many times that the removal of an authoritarian leader does not automatically ensure the birth of democracy. That will require strong representative institutions that can further support a culture of democracy. Consolidating democracy therefore also requires active measures to ensure an ongoing dialogue between political representatives and citizens. A functional democracy must allow all voices of society to be heard. Parliaments play a crucial role in building a relationship between political leaders and citizens and in providing the basis for a viable democracy. As the most representative institution of Government, parliaments need to ensure that the diverse interests of society are reflected, reconciled and articulated in sound policies for the benefit of all. The IPU devotes much of its work to helping parliaments become ever more democratic, that is, more representative, transparent, accessible, accountable and effective. Over the past year, the IPU has engaged in capacity-building projects in Afghanistan, Cambodia, the Central African Republic, the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Guinea-Bissau, Maldives, Palestine, Rwanda, the Seychelles, Sierra Leone, the Sudan and Viet Nam. Those projects include, among many other aspects, the provision of advisory services on ethics and integrity, support for women parliamentarians and caucuses, and parliamentary engagement with the Millennium Development Goals. The basis for a trusting relationship between political representatives and citizens is, of course, free and fair elections and transparency and accountability in funding political life. To that end, the parliaments represented at the 124th IPU Assembly in April demonstrated political commitment by adopting a resolution on the prevention of electoral violence and another on transparency and accountability in the funding of political parties and election campaigns. Our upcoming Parliamentary Hearing at the United Nations, a week from now, will address the issue of political accountability from the perspective of the political participation of young people, effective cooperation with civil society, and budget transparency. The IPU also works to equip parliaments with the necessary tools to educate their constituents about the tenets of democracy and the role of parliaments within it. People around the world expect a lot from their representatives, especially in new or restored democracies, but those expectations may often be unrealistic. Parliamentarians are asked to help provide access to health care, schools and jobs, as well as, increasingly, to solve constituents’ personal problems. Citizens’ expectations can only be fulfilled if parliamentarians are given the opportunity to focus on their principal functions of making law and holding Government to account. To address that issue, the IPU theme for the International Day of Democracy this year was “What do citizens expect from their parliaments?” In order to better understand the relationship between parliaments and citizens, the IPU and the United Nations Development Programme are cooperating to publish the first global parliamentary report, which will appear in early 2012. More than 1,000 members of parliament from around the world were surveyed for the report, which explores how parliaments are adapting in order to effectively address the people’s continuously changing needs. In conclusion, regardless of historical, cultural, and economic differences, the aspiration to live in societies based on the rule of law, justice, equality, human rights and democratic values is universal. It is those values that will continue to guide the work of the IPU at this critical juncture in the development of democracy around the world. The future looks bright, as long as we are ready to seize the opportunity.

In accordance with resolution 58/83, of 9 December 2003, I now call on the observer of the International Institute for Democracy and Electoral Assistance.

The International Institute for Democracy and Electoral Assistance (International IDEA) reaffirms its commitment to working in partnership with the United Nations, including within the context of processes for new or restored democracies, to support democracy- building by stressing the linkages between democracy and the pillars of the work of the United Nations. On the occasion of the most recent celebration of the International Day of Democracy, International IDEA stressed the need for everyone to understand that we are now firmly in the century of the citizen. Nothing exemplifies this better than the events of the past year in the Arab region. Over the past decade, we have witnessed a shift of power from the State to the people in an unprecedented way. Globalization has led to national boundaries breaking down, and the communications revolution has led to a flattening of information hierarchies in societies. People now have access to information as never before, and they are using that information to influence decision-making processes at the political level. Individuals and non-governmental organizations play ever-increasing roles in policymaking. Popular access to transnational information flows means that events in one country can rapidly cause ripple effects in another. Information about political decision-making is no longer in the hands of the few, but is communicated in real time around the world. That brings with it a more urgent need for accountability on the part of decision- makers. Backroom politics no longer holds, as citizens can more easily hold their political leaders to account. Economic development in many countries has led to the rise of the middle class, who are demanding not just fulfilment of their basic economic needs but equal access to economic opportunity and to political decision-making. Economic inequality, access to opportunity and a surging aspiration for basic freedom and human dignity are huge mobilizing forces in many countries, particularly among young women and men who feel excluded or marginalized by political or economic elites. Those were the issues that triggered a vegetable seller in Tunisia to protest — and thereby set in motion the events in the wider Arab world. In that light, what are the implications of the century of the citizen for democracy? Recent events have reaffirmed that citizens are at the heart of democracy and that democracy has proven itself central to citizens’ aspirations. Citizens are the driving force for democratic change, and international actors should respect their leadership in building their democracies. The shift of power to the citizen also brings many challenges, not least of which is the need to bridge the gap between popular mobilization and traditional political institutions. While political parties and traditional actors of democracy have been weakened, informal processes of expression and political mobilization are becoming stronger. Young people turn to social media rather that to democratic institutions to express their views, vent their frustrations and mobilize. At the same time, democracy cannot deliver without institutions. That means that we need to seek creative new approaches to allow democracy to be strengthened — and not weakened — by the ongoing power shift to the citizen. And we have to build on and gather from experiences from the global South, not only from the more traditional established democracies, in order to do so. International actors working with democracy need to reach out to new social groups and be a source of knowledge for the people, rather than just for the elites of societies. Most important of all, international actors working with democracy need to respect the people and support their integrity in their own democracy-building efforts. International IDEA stands ready, together with the United Nations, to meet those expectations.

We have heard the last speaker in the debate on this agenda item. The Assembly has thus concluded this stage of its consideration of agenda item 32.

The Government of Saudi Arabia would like to introduce the draft resolution presented by Saudi Arabia in document A/66/L.5/Rev.1, entitled “United Nations Counter-Terrorism Centre”. The draft resolution is being introduced in accordance with the agreement signed by Saudi Arabia on 19 September 2011, in which the Saudi Government expressed its interest in supporting international efforts to implement the United Nations Global Counter- Terrorism Strategy, in accordance with resolutions 60/288, 62/272, 64/235 and 64/297. My Government is fully aware of the financial crisis faced by the international community and the scarcity of financial resources for the United Nations Global Counter-Terrorism Strategy and programmes, and of the need for further efforts to build capacities in countries that need the most assistance for such programmes. Therefore, the United Nations Counter- Terrorism Centre and its trust fund in the amount of $10 million would serve to provide such support — relieving the United Nations of financial burdens over the next three years — and to give the Counter- Terrorism Implementation Task Force the chance to implement many important activities and projects in the field, in accordance with the relevant resolutions just mentioned. Intensive consultations have been conducted among the Member States during this sixty-sixth session of the General Assembly on the draft resolution before us, in a spirit of transparency and consensus. The first step towards that consensus was the adoption in the Sixth Committee of draft resolution A/C.6/66/L.25, on which there was general agreement at the Committee’s 30th meeting on 11 November. Many important meetings were held last month on the issue of counter-terrorism during the High-level Symposium on International Counter-Terrorism Cooperation under the auspices of the Secretary- General, and on the occasion of the tenth anniversary of the creation of the Security Council Committee established pursuant to resolution 1373 (2001) concerning counter-terrorism, as well as the Sixth Committee meeting in which we considered all measures to counter international terrorism. Those meetings reaffirmed the progress made in countering terrorism over the past decade, both in terms of national legislation and the exchange of experience. However, many challenges remain if the international community is to rid itself of terrorism. I would like to commend the efforts of the United Nations, its Member States, regional organizations and non-governmental organizations towards that noble objective. Today, let us celebrate our great achievement as a joint working group in establishing the first United Nations body specialized in countering terrorism, namely, the United Nations Counter-Terrorism Centre, and in giving it the necessary legislative mandate and strategy to counter terrorism. The Centre will play an important role in supporting the United Nations in the implementation of the United Nations Global Counter- Terrorism Strategy by supporting the capacity-building efforts of Member States that need counter-terrorism assistance. At the beginning of this session, under the auspices of Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon, the General Assembly witnessed significant progress on the strengthening of the efforts and activities of all relevant international bodies to truly implement resolution 64/235 of 2009 at the High-level Symposium, held on 19 September. In line with the initiative launched by the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques following the Brazilian declaration of the Arab-Latin American Summit, held on 11 and 12 May 2005, the Arab summit held in Algeria on 22 and 23 March 2005, the Ministerial Meeting between the Gulf Cooperation Council States and the European Union on 5 April 2005, the ministerial meeting of the Gulf Cooperation Council States on 13 March 2005 and the Yemen meeting on 22 and 23 June 2005, we look forward to the international counter-terrorism conference expected to be hosted by the Kingdom in the first quarter of 2012 as a first step towards eliminating international terrorism and achieving a world of peaceful coexistence and amity among all cultures, religions and ethnicities without exception. We call on the General Assembly to adopt the draft resolution by consensus without a vote.

I call on the representative of the Syrian Arab Republic.

I would like to inform the Assembly that my Government has decided to withdraw its support for draft resolution A/66/L.5/Rev.1 on the establishment of the United Nations Counter-Terrorism Centre.

I call on the representative of Saudi Arabia to introduce oral revisions to draft resolution A/66/L.5/Rev.1.

In accordance with procedure, we would like to announce some oral revisions to draft resolution A/66/L.5/Rev.1. In paragraph 2, the wording would become the following: “Welcomes the decision of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia to fund for three years the United Nations Counter-Terrorism Centre established within the United Nations Counter-Terrorism Implementation Task Force Office to be funded through voluntary contributions.” The second amendment, in paragraph 5, would read as follows: “Decides to review the implementation of the present resolution at the sixty-eighth session of the General Assembly within the existing reporting and review framework of the fourth biennial review of the United Nations Global Counter-Terrorism Strategy.”

Before giving the floor to the speaker in explanation of vote before the vote, may I remind delegations that explanations of vote are limited to 10 minutes and should be made by delegations from their seats.

First of all, we would like to reiterate our condemnation of any act of terrorism in all its forms and manifestations by whomever, against whomever and wherever it is committed, including acts where there is the direct or indirect involvement of a State. Secondly, we wish to reiterate our commitment to the fight against terrorism. My country therefore welcomes any initiative seeking to achieve that objective. We are convinced that international cooperation is the only way to prevent such a scourge from spreading. The establishment of the United Nations Counter-Terrorism Centre seems to meet that aim. Unfortunately, today, we are concerned about the continued existence of the Centre following its three initial years once the donated funds are exhausted. We are also concerned about how the Centre will ultimately operate, its working methods, who will comprise its Advisory Board and how its members will be selected. However, in the light of those concerns and bearing in mind that the international community has given the Centre a unique character in the fight against terrorism, demonstrating its spirit of cooperation in adopting by consensus the United Nations Global Counter-Terrorism Strategy, my country will not violate that principle, which has prevailed to date. We have therefore joined the consensus as a sign of our commitment to the fight against terrorism. We hope that such a principle of consensus is taken into account whenever a draft resolution pertaining to the Global Strategy is to be adopted, because, if not, we will be promoting and jeopardizing progress in that area. Likewise, we hope to see the outcomes of the Centre in the next report, as stipulated in the draft resolution.

The Assembly will now take action on draft resolution A/66/L.5/Rev.1, entitled “United Nations Counter- Terrorism Centre”, as orally revised. I give the floor to the representative of the Secretariat.

I would like to announce that since the submission of draft resolution A/66/L.5/Rev.1, in addition to those delegations listed in the document, the following countries have also become sponsors of the draft resolution: Belgium, Bulgaria, Chad, Comoros, Finland, France, Germany, Hungary, Iraq, Italy, Madagascar, Montenegro, Portugal, Republic of Moldova, Romania, Slovenia, Spain, Turkey, United States of America, and Uzbekistan.

May I take it that the Assembly decides to adopt draft resolution A/66/L.5/Rev.1, as orally revised?

The Assembly has thus concluded this stage of its consideration of agenda item 118.

On 1 March, the General Assembly adopted resolution 65/265, by which it suspended Libya’s membership of the Human Rights Council. This was indeed a sound resolution in support of the Libyan people and in response to the crimes and violations of human rights that were being committed by the Al-Qadhafi regime, a regime that exploited every possibility available to it in killing and tormenting the people of Libya. Today, the people of Libya have succeeded in ridding themselves of the tyrant and have begun the political process for establishing a democratic State that respects human rights and basic freedoms. The new Libya deserves to return to the Human Rights Council in order to contribute, along with the rest of the Council’s members, to protecting and promoting the values of human rights as agreed on internationally and to defending those who defend those rights and freedoms. Here, I would like to reiterate the commitment of the National Transitional Council and all the Libyan authorities to respecting all of Libya’s obligations in the area of human rights. I want to reaffirm that the new Libyan authorities will devote great attention to establishing the rule of law and will in good faith and with the best of intentions meet its obligations under the conventions and agreements to which Libya is a party. The Government of Libya will cooperate with other States in protecting human rights everywhere in compliance with the mechanisms established within the Human Rights Council. The people of Libya have suffered greatly as a result of the violations of human rights over the 42 years of Al-Qadhafi’s rule. They have sacrificed more than 30,000 martyrs; 50,000 more have been maimed or wounded in their fight to restore their rights and dignity and to live in peace and security after ridding themselves of the tyrant. In the future, these people will accept no violations of their human rights or allow another tyrant to rule over them and dictate their destiny. The new Libyan authorities are well aware of the fact that some violations did take place during the confrontation between the revolutionary forces and those of the tyrant and directly after the arrest of Al-Qadhafi. That will not be overlooked. Those violations are, however, isolated, individual incidents that are being carefully investigated in order to achieve justice and the rule of law, and to make sure that they are not repeated. The new Libyan authorities will encourage civil society organizations, particularly those concerned with human rights, in order to promote a culture conducive to human rights and their protection. They will also provide support to the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights and cooperate with it to help achieve its mandate. I wish to assure everyone here that no violation of human rights will take place on Libyan territory in future, and if that should happen, the perpetrator will never get away with it. Draft resolution A/66/L.9 submitted to this Assembly reaffirms Libya’s commitment to its obligations and to fulfilling its duties in accordance with international human rights law to protect and strengthen human rights, democracy and the rule of law. The resolution also decides to restore Libya’s membership in the Human Rights Council. I am honoured on behalf of all the sponsors of the draft resolution to submit it to the General Assembly. I call on the General Assembly to adopt it without a vote.

The Assembly will now begin consideration of draft resolution A/66/L.9. Before giving the floor to the representative of Uruguay, who wishes to speak in explanation of vote before the voting, may I remind delegations that explanations of vote are limited to 10 minutes and should be made by delegations from their seats.

The Government of Uruguay takes note of draft resolution A/66/L.9 welcoming Libya’s declaration of its commitment to respect and protect human rights and its cooperation with the relevant international mechanisms, in particular with the Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights. We would like to emphasize that the fact that Uruguay joins the consensus on this draft resolution in no way alters our position with respect to our recognition of the new Libyan authorities. Uruguay continues to closely monitor the facts as they develop in order to reach a decision on that matter. Uruguay considers it advisable for the Human Rights Council to continue to track the situation in Libya, especially during its nineteenth session, at which the investigative commission will present its report and recommendations. Likewise, during that same session, the Council should adopt the outcome of the Universal Periodic Review of Libya, which is the appropriate moment for that country to declare its response to the recommendations of the working group, which met in November 2010. Uruguay hopes that Libya will take advantage of those opportunities to assume its commitments in the area of human rights and that it will be able to cooperate with the universal system for the promotion and protection of human rights. At the same time, Uruguay hopes that Libya will request the technical assistance and the support it needs from the United Nations system and from the international community in order to implement those recommendations.

The Assembly will now take action on draft resolution A/66/L.9, entitled “Restoration of the rights of membership of Libya in the Human Rights Council”. I give the floor to the representative of the Secretariat.

I should like to announce that in addition to those delegations listed on document A/66/L.9, the following countries have also become sponsors: Andorra, Austria, Belgium, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Bulgaria, Canada, Chad, Costa Rica, Croatia, Cyprus, Denmark, Djibouti, Egypt, Eritrea, Estonia, Georgia, Germany, Greece, Ireland, Iceland, Japan, Kazakhstan, Latvia, Lithuania, Monaco, Montenegro, Netherlands, New Zealand, Oman, Republic of Korea, Republic of Moldova, Romania, Saudi Arabia, Senegal, Thailand, Timor- Leste and the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia.

A recorded vote has been requested. [Subsequently, the delegations of Viet Nam, Bulgaria, Nigeria and the Netherlands advised the Secretariat that they had intended to vote in favour.]

Before giving the floor to speakers in explanation of vote after the voting, may I remind delegations that explanations of vote are limited to 10 minutes and should be made by delegations from their seats.

Cuba abstained in the voting on resolution 66/11, which has just been adopted. My delegation feels obliged to express its firmest rejection of the manner in which this subject has been manipulated within the organs of the United Nations, in particular in light of Security Council resolution 1973 (2011), under which NATO violated international law. For more than six months, NATO unceasingly bombarded Libya, leading to loss of life as well as suffering for countless human beings, while the General Assembly and the Human Rights Council did not lift a finger, failing to express the slightest note of concern. As a result of that aggression, we have now witnessed a humanitarian tragedy in Libya that calls into question the actions of the United Nations, in particular with respect to human rights. Cuba reiterates its belief that the clause in resolution 60/251 that allows the exclusion of members legitimately elected to the Human Rights Council leads to manipulation and the application of double standards.

Nicaragua wishes to explain its vote against resolution 66/11, just adopted by the General Assembly. As a fundamental principle, Nicaragua rejects the language of war between peoples and war as a means to resolve disputes between States. From the outset, Nicaragua has rejected and condemned the foreign aggression against the Libyan people and the violation of their right to full exercise of self-determination. We have all witnessed the shameful manipulation of Security Council resolution 1973 (2011) and the illegal nature of the war waged by NATO against the sovereignty of a United Nations Member State, a war that has violated the very Charter of the Organization. Western Powers and NATO have carried out illegal military attacks on a country to impose a change of regime that is in accord with their geopolitical and economic interests. The United Nations must not ignore the clamour of international public opinion and cannot be complicit in the massacres of civilians and violations of the human rights of the fraternal Libyan people that have been perpetrated in the name of the supposed responsibility to protect. Those countries that have arrogated the right to make themselves supreme judges of the supposed violations of human rights of third countries are themselves the greatest violators of human rights on the planet. Those same countries are blind to their own massive violations of human rights domestically and pretend that we all are ignorant of that. The Libyan people should be represented by a Government that is inclusive, legitimate and representative and that fully respects the human rights and the fundamental freedoms of all of its citizens. The Libyan people deserve respect for their right to peace and to the sovereign determination of their future through exercise of the right to self-determination. Only thus will its voice have validity and credibility in the Human Rights Council.

Venezuela voted against resolution 66/11 for the following reasons. First, I wish to recall that the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela energetically condemns the exclusion of the Libyan Arab Jamahiriya from the Human Rights Council. Venezuela opposed that exclusion, which it viewed as part of a manoeuvre by imperial Powers to pave the way to intervene — as subsequently happened — in a sovereign country, imposing a government through force and use of military intervention and occupation. We must recall that the NATO forces violated the mandates established by Security Council resolutions 1970 (2011) and 1973 (2011) by providing military assistance, offering weapons and political and military support to the forces opposing the Government of Muammar Al-Qadhafi. They thereby exacerbated the armed conflict that was taking place in the country, destroying years of economic and social progress achieved by the Libyan people and causing the death of thousands of innocent people. In the name of the defending civilians, incessant bombing campaigns murdered thousands of civilians. Only a few minutes ago, we were discussing democracies. Venezuela believes that wars, bombings, civilian deaths and invasions of countries are not mechanisms to establish democracies but, on the contrary, to deny them in the most absolute manner. The Bolivarian Government can only reject, and therefore vote against, the initiative to restore to Libya its status as a member of the Human Rights Council. As we have already said, the National Transitional Council does not legitimately represent the Libyan people. Furthermore, in Libya, with the endorsement of the National Transitional Council, horrendous and massive human rights violations have been carried out. We must condemn the festive manner in which the macabre assassination of the Libyan leader, Muammar Al-Qadhafi, was celebrated. We must condemn the manner in which the bodies of the Libyan leader and other leaders were put on display as if they were a spectacle. Such acts run counter to the most basic values of any religion that exists in the planet. The Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela reiterates that it does not and will not recognize any Government that has been installed by missiles, bombings and by the indiscriminate aggressive acts of imperialist Powers. The Government in this case does not embody the sovereign will of the Libyan people.

Chile welcomes the restoration of Libya to the Human Rights Council. We welcome the commitments Libya has assumed to respect its obligations under international human rights norms to promote and protect human rights, democracy and the rule of law and to cooperate with the relevant international human rights mechanisms. We refer in particular to the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights and the international commission of inquiry established by the Human Rights Council in its resolution S-15/1. Libya has overcome an historic stage in its political life. Now it must build a democratic system that responds to the sovereign wishes of its people. Chile hopes to be able to work with the Libyan delegation in Geneva, as we are both members of the Human Rights Council.

The delegation of the Plurinational State of Bolivia voted against resolution 66/11 supporting the reinstatement of Libya’s rights of membership in the Human Rights Council. Our position has not changed in any way. Like other delegations that made mention of this, we believe that Security Council resolution 1973 (2011) was manipulated and its objectives radically changed. The aim of the resolution was to protect unarmed civilians in Libya, but the outcome was regime change in that country, which was not the mandate of the United Nations or of the Security Council. We believe also that the circumstances surrounding the expulsion of Libya from the Human Rights Council have not changed. Shocking and flagrant violations of human rights continue to be committed in Libya before the very eyes of the international community. We believe that the situation involving human rights violations in Libya has not changed, and we therefore express our concern at the fact that the United Nations has not sought to monitor the situation. There are still armed militias in Libya; chaos continues to reign in terms of the imposition of authority; there is no clear transition or specific course charted for the country; no elections have been organized; there is no elected Government; and Colonel Al-Qadhafi was assassinated before the very eyes of the international community, when he should been tried fairly, with the right to defence, as is required under the rule of law. All these facts, witnessed by the international community in recent months, should have been taken into account when it came time to adopt the resolution. That is why Bolivia rejected it, aligning itself with a number of other countries that expressed similar views.

We have heard the last speaker in explanation of vote. I shall now give the floor to those representatives who wish to make statements following the voting.

I would like to speak on behalf of the European Free Trade Association member States Iceland, Norway, Switzerland and Liechtenstein to briefly put on record our understanding of the resolution we have just adopted. Paragraph 8 of resolution 60/251, on the establishment of the Human Rights Council, states that the General Assembly may suspend the rights of membership in the Council of a member of the Council that commits gross and systematic violations of human rights. In March 2011, Libya was the first member of the Council to have its rights of membership suspended in accordance with that provision. We welcomed that decision by the Assembly as both a clear statement on the human rights situation in Libya at that time and as an important precedent in the full implementation of the provisions governing the establishment of the Human Rights Council. The restoration of the membership rights that we have just decided on comes with a clear obligation on the part of Libya to uphold the highest standards in the promotion and protection of human rights, in accordance with paragraph 9 of resolution 60/251, as is the case for all other members of the Council. We therefore welcome Libya’s stated commitment to upholding its obligations under international human rights law, to promote and protect human rights, democracy and the rule of law, and to cooperate with the relevant international human rights mechanisms, as well as the Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights, the International Commission of Inquiry and the International Criminal Court. It is against this background that we co-sponsored the resolution. We would also like to place on record our understanding that decisions of the Assembly to suspend and restore membership rights are part of the competence given to the Assembly under resolution 62/51 and complementary to the Assembly’s competence to elect the membership of the Council. This role does not require input from the Human Rights Council itself, and we are pleased to see that the Assembly has made responsible use of its competence today.

I have the honour to speak on behalf of the European Union (EU). The candidate countries Turkey, Croatia, the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia and Montenegro; the countries of the Stabilization and Association Process and potential candidates Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina and Serbia; as well as Ukraine, the Republic of Moldova and Georgia, align themselves with this statement. On 1 March, the General Assembly took the unprecedented decision to suspend Libya’s human rights Council membership upon recommendation of the February 2011 special session of the Human Rights Council. In the meantime, the international community has been able to welcome the end of an era of despotism and repression in Libya. We are encouraged by the statements made by the Chair of the National Transitional Council on the need to respect the standards of international human rights and humanitarian law and to deliver concrete results in that regard. We support the new Libyan authorities in taking forward an inclusive transition process based on respect for democratic principles, human rights and, in particular, the rights of women and the rule of law. Following the decision of the General Assembly to recognize the National Transitional Council of Libya as the legitimate representative of the country and the human rights commitments made by Libya, the Human Rights Council, on 28 September, recommended to the General Assembly that it lift the suspension of Libya’s membership rights in the Human Rights Council at its current session. The EU welcomes the fact that recent developments have permitted the Assembly to reinstate Libya’s rights of membership in the United Nations body specifically set up to promote and protect human rights. In that regard, we would like to recall paragraph 9 of resolution 60/251 establishing the Human Rights Council, which stresses that members of the Council must uphold the highest standards in the promotion and protection of human rights and shall fully cooperate with the Council. The States members of the EU were pleased to vote in favour of that resolution. The EU now encourages Libya to ensure the full promotion and protection of human rights and to consider making voluntary pledges and commitments in that respect, in the spirit of paragraphs 8 and 9 of resolution 60/251 and in keeping with the obligations stemming from Human Rights Council membership.

We welcome Libya back to the Human Rights Council. Muammar Al-Qadhafi’s Libya was the only member of the Council that has ever been suspended for gross and systematic violations of human rights, as called for in resolution 60/251, which created the Council. We commend the new Libyan Government for the strong affirmation that it made in Geneva at the Human Rights Council’s most recent session committing Libya to “uphold[ing] the highest standards in the promotion and protection of human rights” for all its people, as provided for in paragraph 9 of the Human Rights Council’s founding resolution 60/251. We look forward to working closely with our Libyan colleagues to address critical human rights concerns in Libya and around the world. We see a future in Libya with a new Government that responds to the democratic aspirations of the Libyan people, respects their universal human rights and adheres to Libya’s international commitments and obligations. Backed by increasing international support, the National Transitional Council has demonstrated a clean break from the Al-Qadhafi legacy through its sincere willingness to protect and respect the rights and fundamental freedoms of the Libyan people and to respond to their legitimate aspirations for good governance that embraces human rights principles and gives its citizens a meaningful voice in how they are governed. We support that effort. Nonetheless, we remain concerned by reports of human rights abuses and violations in Libya. The National Transitional Council has stated that it will work to ensure security and accountability according to the rule of law and in line with Libya’s international obligations and commitments, which protect all people in Libya, regardless of nationality, race or political affiliation. We have called on the National Transitional Council to hold Libya to those commitments, and the Council has cooperated fully with the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees, the International Organization for Migration and non-governmental organizations as they have visited detention facilities to investigate reports of arbitrary detention and the abuse of Libyans and sub-Saharan Africans. We commend the National Transitional Council for its openness and willingness to work with the international community and for calling upon the United Nations to provide technical assistance to assist it in protecting human rights, particularly for individuals belonging to vulnerable groups, and to support transitional justice. The United Nations has invaluable expertise in areas that will be crucially important in the days, weeks and months ahead, including security sector reform, humanitarian affairs, political reconciliation, human rights assistance, constitutional development, transitional justice and elections. It will be important to ensure that assistance in those and other areas is coordinated across the United Nations system. As the situation stabilizes, the United States will continue to be fully engaged with our international partners, particularly the United Nations, to ensure that the Libyan people have the support they need to build their new country.

Canada voted in favour of the important resolution 66/11. The end of the Al-Qadhafi regime has allowed the Libyan people to turn the page on more than 40 years of tyranny and one-man rule. It opens a new chapter in Libya’s history, where the Libyan people can fulfil their aspirations for freedom, democracy and respect for human rights and the rule of law. The new Libya needs to be an inclusive Libya, where everyone can find a place. Consequently, Canada welcomes the strong commitment by the Prime Minister of Libya, Mr. El Keib, to establish a State based on human rights and the rule of law. Like him, we believe that the emergence of democracy and social equality in Libya will not happen without the full realization of women’s rights. The first Libyan women’s conference in the post- Qadhafi era, One Voice, was held in Tripoli this past weekend. The conference had an important message for all Libyans, namely, that Libyan women want to be included in all aspects of society, including the new Government. As the process to establish the interim Government draws to a conclusion and as Libyans look towards the new Constitution and democratic elections, it is Canada’s hope that the aspirations of all Libyans will be realized by respecting the rights of all Libyans. It is a reflection of that hope that we here are very pleased to see this resolution pass.

Costa Rica welcomes the reinstatement of Libya to the Human Rights Council. In doing so, we draw attention to the commitments that Libya has entered into to respect the obligations that derive from international human rights law, in particular its announcement that it will continue to promote and protect the rights of its peoples, democracy and the rule of law and to cooperate with international human rights mechanisms that are relevant in this field, especially with the Office of the High Commissioner of the United Nations for Human Rights, as well as with the International Commission of Inquiry that was established by the Human Rights Council in resolution S-15/1. Its cooperation and the cooperation of the entire international community with the International Criminal Court are of equal importance. Costa Rica wishes to underscore that, pursuant to resolution 60/251, the members of the Human Rights Council are called upon to apply the most stringent norms for the promotion and protection of human rights and cooperate fully with the Human Rights Council. They are also subject to the Universal Period Review mechanism throughout the term of their membership. We therefore call for the effective implementation of those commitments and for the establishment of specific machinery that will make that possible. The Libyan Government must continue its efforts aimed at ensuring that the rights of all individuals, including those who are suspected of having carried out war crimes or human rights violations, are respected, including the right to a fair trial and to due process. Finally, we believe that the international community must support the new Libyan authorities in their task of ensuring the full implementation of human rights in the country. The international community has the duty to improve its response capacity in order to provide proper assistance and support for humanitarian strategies. In that regard, Costa Rica earlier supported the suspension of Libya’s membership in the Human Rights Council for the reasons that were previously outlined and now we co-sponsored resolution 66/11 on Libya’s reinstatement and welcome the country back to the Council.

The General Assembly has thus concluded this stage of its consideration of item 120.