UN restores Libya to human rights council
2011-11-18 21:40
New York - The UN General Assembly voted overwhelmingly Friday voted to restore Libya to the UN human rights council after the downfall of Muammar Gaddafi.
"The people of Libya have got rid of the tyrant and have started a political process to establish a democratic state that respects human rights and basic freedoms," Libya's deputy UN envoy Ibrahim Dabbashi told the 193 member assembly.
The vote was passed with 123 countries supporting Libya, four opposed - Bolivia, Ecuador, Nicaragua and Venezuela - and six abstentions.
Dabbashi said the March 1 decision by the General Assembly to suspend Libya had been "wise" as Gaddafi had "left no stone unturned to kill and torment the people of Libya."
Gaddafi government was the first to be suspended by the Geneva-based council because of human rights violations.
"The new Libya deserves to return to the human rights council to contribute with other members to the promotion of values of human rights," the envoy said.
"No violations of human rights will take place on Libyan territory in the future and if it happens the perpetrator will never get away with it," he vowed.
The United States and all the European powers who carried out the Nato campaign backed Libya's return but warned that there has to be a full investigation into violations during the Libyan uprising.
A group of South American nations voted against the measure. Most had voted against the suspension of Libya in March.
The suspension "was an attempt by imperialist powers to pave the way for their intervention in a sovereign country", said Venezuela's ambassador, Jorge Valero, condemning the Nato raids in Libya.
He said the UN should condemn the "macabre" way that Gaddafi was killed in October.
Libya was first voted onto the 47-country council in 2010.