Kyodo News Service
Aug. 2, 2011
Twenty-eight human rights groups led by the Geneva-based nongovernmental organization U.N. Watch urged North Korea on Tuesday to hand over its presidency of the Conference on Disarmament to “a more suitable country.”
In a joint statement, the groups “strongly protest North Korea’s presidency,” saying its regime has “no credibility on disarmament” and called on all conference member states to protest against Pyongyang’s presidency, as Canada has already done.
In late June, North Korea assumed the rotating presidency of the international arms control body with its term through Aug. 21.
North Korea has decided to start the latest conference debate on Thursday by its chairman’s authority although the term of the plenary session started Tuesday.
Canada is boycotting the conference until North Korea’s presidency expires.
“As one of the world’s worst violators of human rights, North Korea should not be granted the symbolic legitimacy of chairing a world body dedicated to peace,” the statement said.
Copyright 2011, Kyodo News Service
