China urged to Protect Tibet’s Environment
Dharamsala, 19 November 2003: Norway has urged the People’s Republic of China to preserve “the culture, religious identity and national environment of the people of Tibet” at the general debate of the Third Committee of the 58th session of the UN General Assembly which concluded yesterday.
Addressing the Third Committee debate on “Human Rights Questions” on 14 November, Ms. Kjersti Rodsmoen, Minister Counsellor of the Permanent Norwegian Mission to the United Nations in New York, stated: “We welcome and appreciate China’s many efforts to improve its legal system and human rights standards. We continue, nevertheless, to follow closely the treatment of prisoners, freedom of speech, religion and association, and the use of the death penalty. We attach great importance to the preservation of the culture, religious identity and national environment of the people of Tibet.”
Referring to the human rights dialogue between Oslo and Beijing, Ms. Rodsmoen added: “Norway and China have for many years been engaged in a constructive human rights dialogue that addresses a number of issues. We regard our human rights dialogue as a valuable means of enhancing our knowledge and ability to address human rights issues and challenges in our respective countries.”
According to a UN press release of 17 November, a representative of China in the exercise of right of reply to statements made by Canada, Australia, New Zealand and Norway at the Third Committee said that the Chinese Government had always attached importance to human rights. No one could deny the achievements and progress made in China in its consolidation of democracy and the rule of law. China was interested in human rights dialogue but rejected baseless accusations filled with prejudice. It was hoped that the representatives of above mentioned countries would give up the notion that they were human rights judges”, the release added.