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NEW
YORK - March 26 - Human Rights Watch today praised President Clinton's decision to sponsor a
resolution critical of China's human rights record at the United Nations
Commission on Human Rights in Geneva, and urged the Administration to launch a
high-level lobbying effort for its adoption.
"We welcome the U.S. decision to hold China accountable for its international
human rights obligations," said Mike Jendrzejczyk, Washington director of the Asia division of Human Rights Watch. "But this will be too little, too late
unless the U.S. puts some real diplomatic clout behind it." He called on Clinton, Vice President Gore, Secretary of State Albright and other senior
officials to lobby other governments at high levels, noting that both President Jiang Zemin and China's foreign minister were currently touring Europe, making
trade deals and reinforcing economic links between Western Europe and China.
"No doubt China hopes that economic interests will again triumph over
principle, and few governments will join the U.S. in Geneva. The Administration faces an uphill battle," Jendrzejczyk said. When U.S.
Secretary of Commerce William Daley visits Beijing next week with a delegation of twenty
CEO's, Jendrzejczyk said, he should express his support for the effort to censure China at the Commission, making it clear that the Administration
speaks with one voice.
The White House delayed a decision on sponsorship of a resolution until
after the Commission convened on March 22; the Commission's current session ends on April 30. By waiting so long, the Administration squandered
opportunities to gain the support of other key governments. On March 22, the European Union
(EU) foreign ministers decided in Brussels not to support a country-specific resolution on China in Geneva. "Had the U.S. made its
decision sooner the results might have been different," Jendrzejczyk said.
Germany's president, Gerhard Schroeder, met with President Clinton at the
White House on February 11, and China wasn't even on the agenda. (Germany is now in the presidency of the
EU.) Over the last few months, the U.S. also neglected to use opportunities to lobby Japanese, Australian, and other
government officials on behalf of action in Geneva.
"Frankly, it appears that the Administration is doing the right thing for the
wrong reason. Only when Congressional pressure became overwhelming, in advance of Zhu Rongji's visit to Washington, did the President decide to act," said
Jendrzejczyk. The Chinese premier is scheduled for a summit meeting on April 8-9 on his first official visit to the U.S.
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Human Rights Watch: Mission
Statement Human Rights Watch is dedicated to protecting the human rights of people around the world.
We stand with victims and activists to bring offenders to justice, to prevent
discrimination, to uphold political freedom and to protect people from inhumane conduct in wartime.
We investigate and expose human rights violations and hold abusers
accountable.
We challenge governments and those holding power to end abusive practices and
respect international human rights law.
We enlist the public and the international community to support the cause of
human rights for all. Kenneth Roth is the executive director and Jonathan Fanton is the chair of the
board.
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