Statement by Mr. Mei Yuncai, advisor of the Chinese Delegation on the Right to Self-determination (Item5) at the 57th Session of the Commission on Human Rights
2003-11-25 10:36
Mr. Chairman,
The right of peoples to
self-determination, which was historically important, was a
powerful weapon for the oppressed nations to fight against
imperialism and colonialism so as to win their national
independence and the liberation of their peoples, is still
of great relevance today. In the contemporary world, the
right to self-determination is a sacred principle. It means
that each people can choose its own political and social
system as well as its own economic model and path to
development, oppose foreign aggression, interference and
control, and safeguard sovereignty, independence and
territorial integrity.
Looking around the
world, we still see the powerful bullying the weak, the big
cowing the small, and the interference in the internal
affairs of other states by resorting to political pressure,
economic sanctions and even armed invasion. Such practices
not only flagrantly trample upon the UN Charter and the
right to self-determination and should be condemned by the
international community, but also demonstrate that there is
a long way to go before the right to self-determination can
be realized.
At the same time we should be
aware that there are some people, who, with their evil
intention, openly advocate the splitting of sovereign states
under the cloak of self-determination. Such practice also
tramples upon the UN Charter and the fundamental principles
of international law and deserves the condemnation and firm
opposition from all peoples of the world.
Mr.
Chairman,
Restoring to the Palestinian people
all the rights including the right to self-determination and
an early fair and just solution to the question of Palestine
are the crux for the realization of a lasting peace in the
Middle East. We are deeply concerned about the incessant
violent conflict in that area and hope that the parties
concerned will exercise the greatest restraint, stop saying
and doing things that are not conducive to the peace
process, so as to create the necessary atmosphere and
conditions for the renewal and acceleration of the peace negotiations.
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